Man devotes his life to better the lives of youth

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It took 50 years, but the government of Canada finally took notice that Gordon Russell is doing a lot to help youth, especially youth without a lot of other supports.

On Jan. 14, Governor General Adrienne Clarkson appointed him a Member of the Order of Canada, to come in effect from last Oct. 18. The honor bestowed on this selfless promoter of young people and their dreams over the last half century is in the category of sport.

"It hasn't really sunk in yet," his wife Frances said four days after the announcement. "It's totally unbelievable. All I'm going to do is share with Gordon in his happiness."

All Russell said was, "Well, I guess it's pretty big."

Aboriginal people thought it was Russell's contribution to them that was big, which is why in 1994 he became the first non-Aboriginal person to be inducted into the Aboriginal Hall of Fame.

In 1997, he was also the first non-Aboriginal to receive the Metis Nation Citation for his contributions to Metis youth.

As a former boxer and trainer who also coached a girls' softball team to a streak of wins internationally, Russell is more often cited for his work with homeless street kids. He has taken more than a few to live with him-"he might still be doing it, for all I know," one admirer said-helping them to make sense of life, establish routines, get an education, a job and helping them out any way he could.

He's never made any distinction about race or nationality, but as it happens, many who Russell has tried to help build up their self-esteem through sports have been Native youth.

Chester Cunningham, who had a long career with Native Counselling Services of Alberta and himself is a recipient of the Order of Canada, said Russell "did a tremendous job with them (kids)" not only coaching them in sports, but counselling and guiding them.

About 75 per cent of the young people who hang out at the Crystal Kids Youth Centre that Russell helped found and which opened last year are of Native origin.

Russell himself was born in Bath, England and came to Canada when he was four. At age 20, he was a town policeman in Hannah, Alta.

In the 1950s, he embarked upon a brief professional boxing career and opened his first gym with a partner in 1950 and another in 1959 in the basement of a hardware store.

Among his coaching successes were Ralph Hozak, who boxed his way to the Olympics in Australia in 1956. Two years later, Russell trained Roy Garrnett from Rocky Mountain House, Alta., who became the youngest fighter to win a Canadian Championship, but who was two weeks under the age to go to the Commonwealth Games.

By 1970, Russell and his wife were hosting an average of 13 youth who trained two to three times a week in the basement of their house.

In two years, he moved the gym to the Canadian Native Friendship Centre, where he was program director. For 17 years, Russell coached the Native Boys Boxing Club, from which came Canadian Champions Guy Boutin and Denis Belair, as well as Randy Jackson (Golden Boy, Seattle).

He didn't neglect the girls either. Russell coached the Native Daughters ball team, which won four out of seven North American Indian Championships in which they played.

Shelley Gadoury was one of those girls. The 36-year-old mother of three was recently recognized herself with an induction into the Alberta Amateur Softball Association Hall of Fame and also the Canadian Softball Hall of fame.

Gadoury said she met Russell at about age 15 and played on his girls' softball team until age 18.

"He's a great guy. He allowed us to see the United States-he took us all over. He really cared for us and looked after us; our parents must have really trusted him. He's very trustworthy-a great man," said Gadoury.

It wasn't all sunshine along the way, however. Russell has had his disappointments, but he doesn't dwell on them. In 1989, he opened the Adrian Hope Centre drop-in place for inner city children, but it closed in 1992 because of lack of funds.

But the sameyear Russell partnered up with Phil Klein and Dr. Les Willox to create the Greater Edmonton Sports and Recreation Association, to provide a safe environment for inner city children. The storefront centre offered pool, crafts, movies, and a small boxing ring. There was one part-time employee. Russell's position as executive director was unpaid. During this time, Crystal Glass Ltd. paid the rent and Motor Village Ltd. paid the utilities.

At the end of 1998, Motor Village Ltd. donated three vacant lots next to the original location to build a new recreation centre. A year later they had the sod-turning ceremony in anticipation of a 9,000 square foot building. In December 1999, Russell resigned his position because of failing health and eyesight and his wife Frances assumed his responsibilities.

On Oct. 1, 2000, the first children came through the doors of the new centre. It opened debt-free thanks to Crystal Glass Ltd., Motor Village Ltd. and Saturn Isuzu of Edmonton South. Other financial help came from the Alberta Lottery Fund and the people of Edmonton.

Nearly 10,000 visits by youth occurred in the first year of operation. They now enjoy an Olympic-sized boxing ring, a gymnasium, commercial kitchen, a large foyer with pool table, and a computer-equipped room in which to do homework.

The new place got an official name change on Nov. 1, 2000: that's when the Greater Edmonton Sports and Recreation Association was registered with Alberta Corporate Registry as the Gordon Russell's Crystal Kids Youth Centre.

It's only fitting. After all these years of working on behalf of other people's kids, Russell is still there every afternoon keeping a kindly watch over his youthful visitors.

Although physically he can't join in their games as he once did, he's still integral to the operation of Crystal Kids, unique in its simple formula for success and the envy of some who would like to have such a great youth gathering place where they live.

Gordon Russell has been asked toconsider starting up a similar centre in Calgary.

"I might just do it yet," he said.