Another gift…The Arns Falcon Bantams informed us that they will be honored to present the Jordan Chartier Memorial Trophy to this year’s (and for years to come)Outstanding Lineman.   

We also learned that the Bantam Team wore black arm bands this season to celebrate and honour the lives of Quinn Stevenson and Jordan Chartier who were Falcons.  Coach Chris Lemkky told the boys that “once a Falcon, always a Falcon at heart and to wear these arm bands with pride”.  This slide of Jordan and Quinn ran in the slide show during the banquet.

They asked us to prepare something that could be read when the trophy was awarded:

Jordan Chartier was an exceptional young man.  An Evan Hardy Soul, he graduated from Grade 12 as one of the top 10 students; qualifying him as a Greystone scholar. He received academic awards for the highest marks in science and in industrial arts and the furniture he built in Woods was of artisan quality.

Jordan held himself to such incredibly important values: kindness, honesty, trustworthiness. He had a strong work ethic, strong views on social justice, a commitment to physical health, and he leveraged the Chartier gene for determination (some might say stubbornness) to be successful in everything he tried.

He believed in community service and demonstrated that commitment by donating blood and volunteering for 3 years with the PAALS program on campus; spending every Saturday morning assisting children with physical and intellectual impairments participate in physical activities. During his first year at the University of Saskatchewan, Jordan was a volunteer coach for the Titans.

He was a talented athlete who achieved success in several sports (track, triathlon, hockey, soccer), but football was his true passion. Jordan shared his love for the game with his grandfather, Rusty Chartier, who was a member of the 1953 Canadian Championship Hilltops Football Club.  It was also a point of great pride that the team his Grandfather played for was coached by Bob Arn and John Babineau.

Jordan spent five years playing for the Falcon’s, beginning with the Peewee team in 2000. He was 11 years old and we were stunned when they put this skinny kid on the Offensive Line where he played center and on special teams. We thought the coaches were crazy but they clearly saw something in Jordan and he responded to the challenge.

Jordan led by example, starting with never missing a practice rain, snow or shine and he played with the same level of intensity regardless of whether it was a practice or a provincial championship.  A former teammate described an occasion when he had let his guard down during a practice only to find himself on the receiving end of a crushing blow from Jordan. “You do not stop until the whistle is blown” Jordan reminded him.

His proudest moment as a Falcon was when the team went undefeated; capping the season with the city championships. He brought his extensive football experience with him to the Evan Hardy Senior Football team continuing to play offense, defense and special teams; there were many games where Jordan didn’t come off the field. His leadership and skills contributed to the Souls achieving the High School Championship and going to provincial finals. At his final football awards banquet, Jordan was presented with the “Fighting Heart” award; two words that perfectly describe his drive and determination and his love for the game.

Many of the values Jordan lived his life by were honed and reinforced by his experience with Kinsmen Football. He learned the value of hard work, about discipline and commitment, teamwork and respect for others.  At the first Falcon awards banquet he ever attended, Jordan was given a certificate with the motto “Fortune Favors the Brave”. And that is probably the most valuable lesson Jordan received from playing football – to be brave under difficult circumstances, to have the courage to tackle impossible tasks, to never stop fighting.

Once a Falcon, always a Falcon.