OTTERBURNE, MB – It would be hard to conceive of a time when Providence did not have a thriving athletics program. For many, the Pilots are almost synonymous with the school itself, as these teams have put Providence on the map regionally, nationally, and south of the border. However, prior to 1975, students were not involved in any external leagues the way that they are today.
Most people know Dr. Dennis Hiebert from his 30 years of service at Providence as a Sociology professor, but some may not be aware that between 1975 and 1988 he worked as the founding Athletic Director. At that point in the university’s history, the gym in Otterburne was only in the early stages of being constructed and there were no full-time coaches.
“That first year, we had no gym,” remembers Hiebert. “We actually rented the high school in St. Pierre for volleyball and basketball. At that time, physical education was also a requirement. During their three or four years, students had to take at least three one-hour Phys Ed courses to graduate.”
In addition to teaching athletics in a classroom setting and organizing intramurals, Dr. Hiebert was the founder and served as Commissioner of the Manitoba Christian College Athletic Association (MCCAA), which allowed students to compete at a provincial level. Even in those early years, the teams consisted of both women’s and men’s basketball, soccer and volleyball, and at that time they were known as the “Freemen.”
The MCCAA would later be renamed the Central Plains Athletic Conference (CPAC) and then rebranded as the Manitoba Colleges Athletic Conference (MCAC) in 2008. As of 2019, the MCAC – which includes Assiniboine Community College, Brandon University, CMU, Providence University College and Université de Sainte-Boniface – became an officially recognized member of the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA), and Providence hosted their men’s national volleyball championship in Niverville earlier this year.
Providence’s current Vice President of Operations, Scott Masterson, similarly served as Director of Athletics. “We spent about a decade leading the charge to join the CCAA, so that’s something I’m very proud of. We’re excited to have been the first Manitoba school to host a national championship and to be hosting the women’s nationals in March 2026. It’s been an amazing journey.”
Sports at Providence is about more than simply competing. “The main reason why we are investing in student athletes is deeper than the sport itself,” shares Masterson. “People want to be part of something that’s successful while also pursuing academics and being in an environment that aligns with their character and faith development.”
For Masterson, being part of a varsity team is not only a great way for students “to learn life lessons, to be challenged and to develop leadership skills,” but it can also act as “the front porch of the university.” He explains: “Sometimes the athletics program is the first thing people come in contact with related to Providence, so we want that to be positive experience – to represent who Providence is, what our values are, what our mission is, and the quality of our education.”
“Sport is a microcosm of life in many ways,” continues Dr. Hiebert. “It’s physical, it’s social, it’s cognitive. It pushes the player to a more intense, extreme experience than you would get just hanging out. Teams are both competitive and cooperative; good for physical fitness and character development. The challenge is to find balance and to be well-rounded in this specialized pursuit of excellence. To really grow, athletes have to engage beyond their team and sport.”
“We’ve always enjoyed being competitive,” states Masterson, “but I don’t think it’s ever been prioritized over and above the mentorship that we want to accomplish that was initiated by people like Dennis and his vision for the program. It’s an incredible list of coaches who have served over the years. And what we’ve been able to accomplish during my time here is something I’m very proud of, and I think has set a foundation for the next group of leaders.”
Related to legacy, Dr. Hiebert concludes: “I sometimes shocked my athletes by saying, ‘This is not the most important thing’ before a championship game. But it’s about people, not the program. In the end, we’re all just passing through,” referencing a Leonard Cohen song.
“You do the best that you can in the context that you’re in and have a bit of a vision for what to build,” adds Masterson, “but it often takes the people who come after you to decide what the next step is. Myself – I’m really excited to see where that will be for the future of Providence Athletics.”
