Congratulations John Paton – NFHS 2025 Citation Award Winner
The Board of Directors of School Sport Canada would to congratulate one of our Past President, John Paton (ASAA), on being one of the recipients of the 2025 NFHS (National Federation of State High School Associations) Citation Awards. An accomplishment only one other Canadian, Morris Glimcher in 2003 had ever achieved. John has worked diligently for the student-athletes and coaches not just in Alberta but all of Canada over his 31 year tenure. He was the driving force behind many of our initiatives and research partnerships such as our partnerships with the Canadian Armed Forces, Coaching Association of Canada and developing courses such as Redefining Winning, Coaching for Life Skills, concussion research with the NFL and the University of Calgary, CIAAA and much much more.
We are very proud of you John, for what you’ve accomplished but most of all for your guidance and leadership over these last 30+ years. Enjoy your well-earned retirement mate!
Chicago, Illinois – Fourteen leaders in high school activity programs across the country have been selected to receive NFHS Citations.
An award designed to honor individuals who have made contributions to the NFHS, state high school associations, athletic director and coaching professions, the officiating avocation and fine arts/performing arts programs, the NFHS Citation is one of the most highly regarded achievements in high school athletics and performing arts.
Citations for state high school associations, coaching, officiating and performing arts will be presented July 1 at the annual NFHS Summer Meeting in Chicago, Illinois.
Eight of the 14 award recipients represent NFHS-member state high school associations, one honoree is from an NFHS affiliate member in Canada, and the other five represent NFHS professional organizations for officials, coaches, music leaders and speech/debate/theatre directors.
The NFHS will be awarding a Citation to John Paton, who recently retired as executive director of the Alberta Schools Athletic Association in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
John Paton, Alberta, Canada – Service to the NFHS
John Paton retired in December after 31 years as executive director of the Alberta (Canada) Schools Athletic Association. Without a doubt, Paton is at the top of the list of individuals who have advanced school sports in Canada during this timeframe.
Paton served two distinguished terms as president of School Sport Canada (2004-2005, 2014-2016) and led numerous provincial and national initiatives during his more than three decades of leadership.
Paton was the driving force in starting the CIAAA, the Canadian equivalent of the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA), which began in 2008 when Paton led a contingent to Indianapolis to meet with leaders of the NIAAA at the time. The CIAAA now offers an annual conference, leadership training programs, and development opportunities for athletic directors from coast to coast.
Paton has been a member of the NFHS Student Services Committee since 2005 and is attending his final committee meeting this week, marking 20 years of service. He has brought many of the best practices from Canada to the committee, as well as taking many ideas and programs from the committee and putting them into action in Alberta.
Paton was the key driver in the authoring and production of the Redefining Winning: Coaching in Schools course, taken by coaches across Canada to enhance the educational athletics experience for student-athletes. He also co-authored a 2007 study with researchers from the University of Alberta on quantifying the number of political and business leaders in Alberta that had participated in school sport revealing the significance of education-based athletics in the development of successful adults.
Prior to joining the Alberta association more than 30 years ago, Paton was a physical education department head, athletic director and teacher-coach in his native Australia.
