By: Randy Pascal

Life’s trials and tribulations can often have a wonderful way of putting everything into perspective. So when current OFSAA convenor Gilbert Briscoe explained that he’s not about to get too worked up about dealing with an upset track and field coach, one can understand why. 

The long-time educator has had a life that has seen far more heartache and challenges than most of us could ever fathom. 

Born in Sudbury, Briscoe was the eldest of four children born into a family constantly scarred by alcoholism. His father’s sickness, and the effects on the family, impacted virtually every aspect of the life of the man who has been teaching at Confederation Secondary since 1990. Things very seldom came easy for Briscoe and his siblings, including sports. 

“When you wanted to be on a team, you either hitchhiked or, in my case, when I got to high school, I would run the five miles in to basketball practice, because I wasn’t allowed to hitchhike,” Briscoe said. “That was kind of how I got into running.”