Sport is about more than races, times, medals, and results. It is also about how we treat one another and what we do when nobody asks us to help. At the 2026 NWT Cross Country Run in Fort Providence, four students showed exactly what fair play and leadership can look like:
- Marin Rutherford-Simon
- Mairi Rutherford-Simon
- Loa Major
- Anya Marshall
Without being asked, the William MacDonald students began helping clean up after the event. They supported the kitchen cleanup and helped clean the floor, simply because they saw that something needed to be done. Their actions may have seemed small, but they made a big difference.
The NT School Sports Fair Play Pin recognizes young people who demonstrate kindness, respect, leadership, teamwork, and a willingness to support others. These qualities can be shown during competition, but they are just as important before and after an event.
Marin, Mairi, Loa, and Anya reminded us that leadership does not always require a title or an audience. Sometimes leadership means noticing that someone could use a hand and choosing to help. It means taking care of the spaces we share and showing appreciation for the volunteers and community members who make our events possible.
Hosting a territory-wide event takes many people. Volunteers prepare food, organize equipment, clean facilities, welcome visitors, manage the course, and complete countless other tasks behind the scenes. When students step forward to help, they become part of the team that makes the entire event successful.
Congratulations to Marin Rutherford-Simon, Mairi Rutherford-Simon, Loa Major, and Anya Marshall, our Fair Play Pin recipients at the 2026 NWT Cross Country Run. Thank you for leading by example and showing everyone that fair play continues long after the race is finished. These are the moments that make us proud and help build strong, caring communities through school sport.
