Duff Montgomerie
Duff Montgomerie has traveled all over the world representing the Province of Nova Scotia but he is very much a Bridgetown boy. Duff graduated from BRHS in 1966 and during his years at school, he made a major impression as an athlete. Duff was the goalie on the Headmasters Provincial Championship Soccer team of 1964-65. He was also on three provincial winning teams in volleyball from 1962 to 1965. Duff was also a member of the 1964 Provincial Track and Field Championship team. Duff displayed his athletic skills at NS Teachers College as well. He was on the varsity basketball, volleyball and soccer teams.
In 1969, Duff returned to BRHS as the boys Physical Education Teacher and stayed until 1973. During this time, Duff proved to be an outstanding coach. He led the soccer team to three provincial “B” finals from 1970 to 1972 and won the championship in 72. Also during this period, Duff coached the volleyball team to three provincial “B” finals and won the title in 72. The basketball team did not win a provincial title but placed second for three years in a row. Overall, Duff ‘s coaching record was most impressive. It should be noted that it wasn’t the wins that were most notable, it was the attitude and sportsmanship shown by Montgomerie’s teams that stood out.
By 1973, Duff’s reputation as a teacher, coach and leader, was known throughout the province. As a result, Duff was hired in 1973 as the first Executive Director of the Nova Scotia School Athletic Federation. He held this position until 1976. Duff was instrumental in determining the philosophy and vision of this new school athletic organization. He visited every school in the province and set up district coordinators workshops to get their input as to how the NSSAF should be run. His love of sports and belief in fair play could be seen in the overall organization of the NSSAF. In 1973, Duff’s dedication was recognized by the Canadian Federation of Provincial School Athletic Associations with a National Certificate.
In 1976, Duff was appointed Co-ordinator of Sport for the NS Department of Recreation. Duff was responsible for working with over 60 provincial sport governing bodies to further amateur sport in NS. Duff also represented the province when he met with his counterparts from the other provinces and territories to discuss ways to improve amateur sport. He played a major role in the creation of a policy on the development of amateur sport in NS.
Duff’s outstanding qualities soon led to his involvement in the Canada Games. He was part of the Mission Staff in 1975 (Winter Games-Lethbridge), 1977 (Summer Games-Saint John’s), 1981 (Summer Games-Thunder Bay) and in 1983 Duff was chosen to be the Chef de Mission for NS in Chicoutimi.
In 1987, Duff was appointed Executive Director of the NS Sport and Recreation Commission. He was responsible for the administration of sport and recreation in NS while representing NS interests nationally. Duff met with sports governing bodies across the country to discuss various issues. In 2007, Duff was appointed Deputy Minister of the NS Department of Health Promotion and Protection.
Duff was a key member of the Board of Directors of the committee that was trying to win the bid to host the Commonwealth Games in Halifax in 2014. Even though the bid was withdrawn due to high costs, some good came from the process. Duff played a major role in a new policy that saw more money invested in new recreation facilities and in amateur sport in NS. Duff’s involvement in sport has brought him many awards of recognition at the provincial and national level for which he is most deserving. We are most fortunate to have had someone of his outstanding talents guiding our provincial government in such important areas as sport, health and recreation. As we watch our young athletes perform in various sporting events and leading healthy lives, we need to remember that one of our local boys played a major role in their success. Duff is currently the Deputy Minister of Natural Resources in the provincial government.