MindRight founder Myles Mattila honours Grant Sheridan with scholarship
By Contributor
Emanuel Sequeira, KIJHL Communications Manager
Myles Mattila is honouring former Kelowna Chiefs owner Grant Sheridan, who followed Mattila’s career since his bantam days in Prince George.
Mattila, founder of MindRight, has established the Remembering Grant Sheridan Scholarship that will be available to Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) players.
The scholarship will be initiated, administered and supported through MindRight for Athletes Society, which Mattila has created. The scholarship recognizes the recipient for their hockey commitment, community involvement and academic achievement. As the season progresses, details to apply for the scholarship will be announced.The Remembering Grand Sheridan Scholarship will be initiated during the Kelowna Chiefs home opener at Rutland Arena on Sept. 20 at 7 p.m.
“It is with heavy hearts the Kelowna Chiefs will be playing our home opener in memory of Grant. There will not be a dry eye in the house,” says Mattila.“Grant was a very special person who will be dearly missed by all. Grant and I had very similar fundamental beliefs in the core values of hockey, education, and community involvement, which included mental health.”
They also shared similar entrepreneurial and social support interests in technology – helping those in need get the support they require; not for profit support for the community and investing in the future.”
At a young age, Mattila discovered his passion for mental health. He quickly began to embody the necessary support attributes and characteristics by taking initiative, risks and generating hope for advancement on this issue. He has worked tirelessly for mental health advocacy by founding MindRight.info, and spearheading a summit. This self-developed wellness program is focused on early intervention and is intended on educating individuals about their own mental health, and the health of others through resources and connections to community services.
“Grant made me aware that he believed in me and he was proud of my representation of the Kelowna Chiefs,” says Mattila, a third-year business student, who earned the 2017 Chair of the Board Award for being Humanitarian of the Year from B.C. Hockey, and achieved the Prince George Secondary School Citizenship Award of 2017. “I’m very fortunate to have met Grant Sheridan, he was a great owner, general manager, good friend and mentor.”
About Mindright:
Myles Mattila, a student, mental health advocate and Kelowna Chiefs players in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League, founded MindRight five years ago. The program focuses on promoting wellness and positive living for young people through increasing community awareness and using existing mental health resources. The program’s vision is to help youth hockey players end the mental health stigma within their peer group.
