Ken Winslade - Record Detail

Ken Winslade. - August 14, 2003.

Image
Part Of:New Westminster Museum and Archives oral history collection  [Description]
Description Level Item
Series No. B
Item No. 22
Date Range August 14, 2003
Title Source Title based on content of item.
Physical Description 1 sound recording ( 54 min., 08 sec.) : digital (mp3)
History/Biographical Donald (Ken) Kenneth Winslade, a New Westminster native, was born in 1938.Ken played basketball at New Westminster's high schools, the Duke of Connaught and Lester Pearson. He and his team won the B.C. Championships in 1956 and he was named to the provincial All-Stars team. In 1957 Ken joined the University of British Columbia's basketball team as a guard and by the end of the season was named the "rookie of the year". During his time on the UBC basketball team he was twice the Western Canadian University scoring champion and led UBC to three Western Canadian championships, including an undefeated season in 1960/61. He was also the league's Most Valuable Player two times. Ken was New Westminster's 1960 Athlete of the Year. At one point he was invited to try out by the NBA's newly franchised Chicago Bulls.

Ken was first hired by the City of New Westminster in the summer of 1959 as a Summer Program Director in the Parks and Recreation Department. Ken completed a Master's Degree in Recreation and Parks Administration in 1963 from the University of British Columbia and in 1965 he became the City’s Recreation Director. In 1970, he took on the position of Parks and Recreation Administrator. In this position, the City's parks and recreation facilities underwent many changes and developments. With the goal of wanting people who drove through New Westminster to "get a good feeling from the plants and shrubs along the way", there was a focus on beautification which included the planning of flower beds and hanging baskets throughout the city, the planning of over 8,000 boulevard trees, the acquisition of 50% more parkland, and the creation of the first waterfront greenway and esplanade in the New Westminster. As well, many Parks and Recreation facilities were developed and redeveloped including; the creation of two community centres, an arena, the Canada Games Pool, a skate park, and the redevelopment of the Arenex. For his work in Parks and Recreation Administration, he received a great deal of recognition. This recognition included being the first Canadian to win the Distinguished Professional Award from the United States National Recreation and Parks Association and the first Canadian to be awarded the Pugsley Medal from the American Academy for Parks and Recreation Administration. Ken was also the first Canadian to be appointed to the National Recreation and Parks Association Board of Trustees. In 1997, he was appointed as New Westminster's Chief Administrative Officer, a position he held until his retirement in 2003.
Scope & Content This audio recording feature’s Ken Winslade's experiences playing basketball. The recording covers his experiences with basketball, as well as, other experiences related to coaching and playing basketball. It has been divided into 5 tracks.

1. The start of the recording to minute 11: It covers some biographical details. Ken speaks about the different sports he was involved with when he was a child. He speaks about how the neighborhood would get together to play different sports, as there were not many organized leagues. He describes playing on one organized softball league. He also discusses getting involved in basketball in high school and why he chose to only play basketball. Ken gives an overview of his basketball career from high school to university.

2. Minutes 11 to 21: Ken speaks about some of the other athletes he played with and some memories of them. He talks about why he attended UBC. Ken describes the different gyms that he played in during high school and university. He speaks about his time coaching at Burnaby Central and UBC. He also speaks about how he started to work for the City of New Westminster on a part time basis in 1959 before he got his job at the City's Recreation Director. He speaks about his career with the City of New Westminster and the YMCA facility in New Westminster.

3. Minutes 21 to 32: Ken describes playing basketball in high school and gives a brief history of basketball in the City of New Westminster and how Ken Wright (coach of Duke of Connaught) started the provincial Championships at the YMCA. He speaks about the intense rivalry between the Duke of Connaught and Trapp Tech and about playing for the Sangster Cup. He also speaks about the past culture around basketball and how it was very social and that they attended "sock-hops" after basketball games. He speaks about the two coaches of the rival teams, Ken Wright and Rudy Wiley, and describes the large audiences that used to come to the games. Ken speaks about the growth of basketball leagues and tells a story about almost going to the 1960 Olympics in Rome. He also speaks about what he enjoyed most about sports.

4. Minutes 32 to 42: Ken highlights some memorable experiences from playing basketball, including describing some exciting games that he played in. He briefly lists some of his basketball achievements and speaks about the different friendships that he has developed because of sports. Ken tells some basketball related stories regarding him and his friends.

5. Minute 42 to the end of the recording: Ken continues his conversation concerning stories related to playing basketball with his friends. Ken speaks about the impact that sports has had on his life and describes the many life lessons that sports has taught him and about how this has carried on in his professional career with the city. Ken also speaks about how sports, in New Westminster, are a part of the City's cultural history.
Access Restriction Access copy only available in MP3 format
Repro Restriction New Westminster Museum and Archives
Name Access Winslade, Ken
Subject Access Oral History | Sports - Basketball
Record ID 42871
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