John David “Jack” Walker

1951 was a significant year in the history of Bridgetown. To begin, Bridgetown Regional High School (hereafter known as BRHS) opened its doors to students for the very first time. Secondly, there was a growing interest in the creation of an organized province-wide school sport organization.Though track and field had enjoyed some organized competition for several years, the same could not be said for most other sports. Finally, but certainly not least, a teacher fresh out of Acadia had been hired as the new BRHS physical education instructor. His name was John David Walker (hereafter known as Jack, or more correctly, Mr. Walker).
Over the ensuing decades, the results of those three events coming together in space and time would lead directly and indirectly to an unrivaled sports heritage.
Over the next 16 years, Jack would coach an astounding 117 teams, with those athletes capturing 66 Congress titles, 35 regional banners, and an incredible 22 Headmasters Provincial Championships.
Jack’s amazing success came from many attributes; He was knowledgeable, intelligent, consistent, compassionate, competitive and fair. He had a way of coaching that made you feel that you wanted to expect more of yourself. He believed strongly in sportsmanship, in commitment, and in winning and losing with class. In total, he coached over 1400 male and female athletes in seven different sports.
From 1955 to 1965 inclusive, his teams won Headmasters Championships in every year; 1955 – Sen. Girls soccer, Sen. Boys track and field, 1956 Sen. boys track and field, 1957 – Sen. Boys track and field, 1958 – Sen. Girls soccer, Sen. Boys track and field, 1959 – Sen. Boys soccer, Sen. Boys volleyball, 1960 – Sen. Boys Soccer, Sen. Boys volleyball, Sen. Boys track and field, 1961 – Sen. Boys Soccer, Sen. Boys track and field, 1962 – Sen. Boys track and field, 1963 – Sen. Boys basketball, Sen. Boys track and field, 1964 – Sen. Boys volleyball, Sen. Boys basketball, Sen. Boys track and field, 1965 – Sen. Boys Soccer, Sen. Boys volleyball.
For many, if not most, the lessons learned on the gym floor, the pitch, the ice, and the track were principals and values that they carried with them well beyond their school years.
From 1952 to 1969, BRHS won more Provincial Championships than any other school in the province. 29 in total, 22 with Jack as head coach.
Many would suggest that beyond the success and the victories, Jack’s greatest accomplishment as coach lay in the impact he had on so many future coaches. Long after Jack had left coaching to become principal at BRHS, his influence could be seen and felt on sports teams from the school and within the community at large.
For all the reasons listed above, it is easy to suggest that Jack can rightfully take his place as one of the greatest coaches in Nova Scotia sport history.