LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON - Growing up in northern Ontario, Dan Deschamps discovered that he had a knack for organizing sports events.

Dan Deschamps, right, the new recreation co-ordinator in Fort Simpson, provides instruction for the goalies at the Mackenzie Youth Hockey Challenge. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

At the age of 10, Deschamps was the general of fun. He was the child who would phone up other neighbourhood children to mobilize them into activities. As a young person in Espanola, a small town near Sudbury, you had to make up your own fun outside, said Deschamps.

"That was the age when there were no X-Boxes or things like that," he said.

As he got older, Deschamps got better at being organized. By the time he was 16, he was helping to put together basketball and hockey leagues, raising money to buy jerseys and organizing tournaments.

These early sporting events led Deschamps to realize that recreation was a field he was interested in. Following this path has taken Deschamps, 38, through a number of recreation positions and led him to Fort Simpson, where he's the new recreation co-ordinator.

Arriving in the village on Jan. 4, Deschamps immediately found himself drawn into local sports.

While having supper at the Sub Arctic on his first night in town, Deschamps overheard nearby diners talking about curling. Expressing an interest he found himself on a team playing that night. A day later Deschamps was on the ice in the arena playing men's hockey.

He approached his new job in much the same manner, finding himself immediately in the thick of things in his role as the recreation co-ordinator. Since starting work on Jan. 7, Deschamps has had a speed skating clinic, a basketball tournament and a hockey camp move through the centre in addition to all the usual weekly practices.

Having such a busy beginning has allowed him to meet everyone very quickly, he said.

"It's been busy but it's been good," Deschamps said.

In his first week on the job more than 400 people used the facility.

"This is definitely the hub for the community," Deschamps said.

"This building is extremely crucial for this town."

As part of his position, Deschamps said he'll be working to showcase the facility and show how important it is to the community. It will also be important to make sure the centre is well run so people will feel comfortable coming into the building, he said.

One of the biggest challenges will be to co-ordinate everyone who uses the centre, he said. Already event organizers and coaches have been helpful in looking after the participants they've brought in for events, said Deschamps.

During the next three months, Deschamps said he plans to focus on improving the facility to better meet customers' needs.

With his wife still working in Homer, Alaska, where Deschamps was previously the special events and marketing co-ordinator for the Homer Ice Rink, Deschamps said he'll be spending a lot of time at the recreation centre.

"I'm going to be working here and I'm going to be playing here," he said.