He first arrived in the Pontiac in 1971, newly married to his wife Betty, after stints teaching in Val d’Or and Aylmer. He said that they had originally . . .

only planned to stay for a few years, but the community grew on them quickly.

“When we got into the Pontiac, it was a big adjustment because I’m from Montreal originally,” he said. “There nobody knows you on the street, but up here everybody asks you where you’re going, what you’re good for. It was kind of an adjustment.”

Having both a Bachelor’s in physical education and Master’s degree in education from the University of Ottawa, he took to coaching and mentoring students immediately.

“Kids were always important to me. I did a lot of coaching,” he said. “Having contact with the younger generation keeps you young, you know?”

“I was interested in all of [the sports], but I guess my priorities at Pontiac High School were cross-country running, rugby and volleyball, though I coached just about everything,” he continued. “Those were my loves, my passions. We gained quite a reputation as a very competitive school in girl’s volleyball.”

Betty also worked at the school and together with the help of Rick Valin, the trio got the local Terry Fox Run started, all the way back in 1981. This year will be the local run’s 40th anniversary.

“Involvement in the community was very important to Betty and I,” he said.

He added that he was grateful for all the dedicated people he worked with or coached when they were young, many of whom were included alongside him in the hall of fame.

“I’ve been lucky to have really good administrators that have supported me through thick and thin,” he said. “I’m bursting with pride over this.”

He had a fond memory of teaching a young Darcy Findlay, a PHS gym teacher and one of the driving forces behind the hall of fame.

“Darcy’s actually a former student of mine,” he said. “I can still remember him saying, ‘Mr. Petty someday I’m going to come up and take your job.’’’

Even in retirement, Petty couldn’t sit still, from volunteering with Big Brothers in Arnprior to rallying the community at the Terry Fox Run each year.

A colleague summarized Petty’s contributions to the community in a write up for his plaque at the Hall of Fame:

“John has been an inspiration to athletes in and beyond the halls of PPHS and PHS. His work in the school involved being a Phys. Ed. teacher to both genders and across all grade levels. He was the driving force behind the cross-country and running clubs. He also was deeply involved in Outdoor Education. John’s influence extended beyond the school walls. Since his retirement, John has been an active volunteer coach and also instrumental in forming the original Shawville Soccer Club. A true community Pioneer.”

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