BONNYVILLE - Orienteering is not only a passion project for Dorothy Penner, it’s a way of life that has resulted in an induction into a very niche hall of fame.
The former Lakeland Catholic School student is being inducted into the Orienteering Canada Hall of Fame in the Coaching Leadership category.
Penner described the non-focused sport as a “mix of running and problem solving,” where you use a map and a compass to navigate through a course.
“It’s a lot of work, but it’s also a lot of fun,” she said.
Penner grew up with an adventurous spirit in the Cold Lake area, attending Lakeland Catholic Schools from Kindergarten through to her graduation from Assumption Jr/Sr High School in 1998.
Her parents always encouraged Penner and her siblings to get out and explore.
“I think a lot of it comes down to my parents. My mom has been a Catholic School trustee with LCSD for over three decades. She has always been really involved with Catholic education and my dad was always such a huge supporter,” detailed Penner. “We would travel as a family to the trustee conference, and our parents always encouraged us to go out and explore the city.”
She continued, “When I was in what is now Cold Lake… you would spend all day outside regardless of the weather.”
Penner discovered orienteering in 2006, and in 2011 she joined the Edmonton Orienteering Club as a coach for the youth programs. Four years later, she was running the Kids Run Wild Youth program.
Now, Penner is head coach for the Kids Run Wild Family programs and the school programs in the Edmonton-area. Last year, over 8,000 students from Kindergarten to University participated in the school-based orienteering program.
On March 15, 2024, she received an email that “was a huge surprise,” from Orienteering Canada, announcing her induction into their Hall of Fame.
“I had no idea our club nominated me. It’s really cool to be involved,” she said.
This won’t be the first time Penner has received accolades for her role in the sport.
In 2023, the Kids Run Wild Family Programs received the Best Children’s Outdoor Pursuit and Fitness Programme - Western Canada from Acquisition International, GHP Fitness and Nutrition Award for Best Children’s Outdoor Pursuits and Fitness Programme 2023 - Western Canada, and the Biannual national Practice Award for Best Outdoor Play Program in Canada, which is presented by Outdoor Play Canada.