Todd Hinds

Todd William Hinds ((1967-12-05)5 December 1967 – 13 June 2015(2015-06-13) (aged 47)) was a Canadian wrestling coach and athlete from Thunder Bay, Ontario.

Early life

Hinds was born on 5 December 1967 in Thunder Bay to Brian Hinds and Irene Hinds. He attended Hammarskjold High School in Thunder Bay, where he was the Grade 13 valedictorian in the 1986–87 school year. He was a gifted multi-sport athlete from an early age, with his father as his mentor and personal coach. He competed first in hockey, but transitioned to wrestling at around age 12 when he found it better suited his build.

Valedictorian address

Hinds delivered the following valedictorian address to the Hammarskjold High School graduating class of 1987:

VALEDICTORIAN ADDRESS - GRADE 13 Good evening.

Tonight we say goodbye to Hammarskjold. It is difficult to say goodbye to the teachers, the friends, and the familiar sights and sounds that have been a part of our lives for the past five years. But it is time to go on and conquer new goals. Some of us will enter the working world, and some of us will be going to different universities in September. Very few of us will travel the same paths, so it is time to say farewell, and know that the next time we meet it will be exciting to hear what each of us has accomplished.

Looking back on our years at high school, I'm sure the first day, in Grade 9 seems to stand out in our memory. We were given a map and a list of classes. After being ten minutes late for class, we discovered the map did not work. The first week was the worst ... even learning how to spell Hammarskjold was a task in itself. We lived through it, and we were finally proud Little Vikings.

By Grade 10, we settled nicely into the Viking environment and we were starting to take chances and do a little experimenting. "THE" place to do this was at the school dances. Most of us can relate to the mischief that led us straight to the office Monday morning. By now the office staff were getting to know some of us by name ... right Brian, Kim, Denette?

Grade 11 began our Senior years, and this was the year we were sandwiched ... sandwiched between the attention of the Juniors, and the attention of the graduating Seniors. This was the start of the Great Caccamo Parties and we, as Grade 11's, were a part of this.

In Grade 12 we started thinking about our futures, but not enough that we could miss class and go to Trowbridge on a nice, hot, sunny day. When Grade 12 came to an end, we parted company with some of our friends when they went on to pursue their goals.

And then it was grade 13! We were really learning something now. Apart from our academic subjects, we were learning something more important ... responsibility and independence. For example. If our assignments weren't done in Mr. Hawarth's English class, he would say, "Go play in the traffic." We finally realized that the work we were doing was for our benefit, not the teachers. They were treating us differently now, more like adults, and we were thinking that they weren't so bad either.

Hammarskjold has a "Tradition of Excellence" ... excellence in Academics, which we have seen here tonight, and in Athletics. It started with our Senior Football Team beating Westgate for the city Championship ... and another Caccamo Victory Party. They went on to win NWOSSA easily. Then it was our Senior Girls' Basketball Team. They won with class, having a great time on the court. Westgate had a tough time this year against the Vikings. They are getting used to being second best. We beat them not only in football, but in hockey. For the second year in a row, we are the City Champions. This was a great year for the Vikings, and we simply dominated. We were the best, and the other schools knew that. No brag, just fact.

With these thoughts in mind, I'd like to say ... Mr. Andrew-Cotter, parents, teachers, and honoured guests, we the graduates would like to thank you for all the help and support you have given us over our high school years. We are graduates of Hammarskjold with the Viking spirit strong in our hearts which we will never lose.

It is an honour to have been chosen as Valedictorian on this 25th Anniversary, and I'd like to close by making a pledge with my fellow graduates that we will come together on Hammarskjold's 50th Anniversary to reminisce about these past five years we have shared. After all, we are "Friends Forever."

Thank you

By Todd Hinds

Wrestling career

Hinds wrestled at the University of Manitoba, and after graduating became an assistant wrestling coach there. He was subsequently appointed head coach of the University of Saskatchewan Huskies wrestling program, a position he held for seventeen years, and went on to earn a Master Coach designation.

While head coach at Saskatchewan, Hinds also coached the Canadian National Women's Wrestling Team, travelling internationally with his athletes. At the 2004 Athens Olympics he served as assistant coach for the Canadian women's wrestling team; Tonya Verbeek won the silver medal in her weight category at those Games.

Dale Spike Adams, a training partner who knew Hinds through wrestling at Lakehead University and later as a dedicated coach, remembered him: "Todd was a quality training partner who always had a smile on his face. He made us laugh often with his jokes and antics. A hard worker who's passion lead to much success. He passed these qualities onto others who knew him."

Personal life

Hinds was an avid golfer. He is survived by his mother Irene Hinds, sister Heather Lynn (married to Jari Pouru), and nieces Ashley Pouru and Heidi Pouru. He was predeceased by his father Brian Hinds.

Legacy

The University of Saskatchewan Huskies established the "Coach Todd Hinds Memorial Awards in Wrestling" in his honour.

Death

Hinds died on 13 June 2015 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. A funeral service was held on 22 June 2015 at the Glen Lawn Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home in Winnipeg, Manitoba.