When he’s not coaching the boys basketball team at St. Joseph’s High School in Renfrew, Gerry Benoit is putting those skills to use at an international level.
Gerry served as Head Coach for Team Ontario’s Under-14 Boys Basketball team at the 2023 North American Indigenous Games, which welcomed in over 5,000 competitors from across North America earlier this summer in Halifax.
Sharing the experience of the games with the younger generation and celebrating Indigenous culture through sport is a big reason why he’s continued to take part, either as a player or coach, since he was one of just two from the area selected to play for Team Ontario back in 2002.
Basing his coaching style on seeing the next play through and never giving up, Benoit says he is proud to have been a part as his team battled humid conditions inside and outside of the gymnasium on their way to a silver medal finish, which was punctuated by a stunning 20-point comeback in the semi-finals against British Columbia.
He’s also hoping to be back for one more Indigenous Games when they head to Calgary in 2027, which he will be able to share with his son for the first time.
