Jim McLuskey – Coach Jim (Mr. M) – I began teaching in 1968 at 18 years old and was immediately involved in coaching a number of sports. Early coaching interests centered around baseball on a variety of levels but in 1969 interests centered more around gymnastics. I expanded the school based gymnastic club from Altadore School where I,as principal, and a group of interested teachers continued to coach athletes after the gymnasts completed their elementary schooling. The “Altadore Club” trained in a variety of high school gymnasiums for several years eventually renting a closed school facility as a full time base. During this time, I continued coaching in the summers in the USA and our first athlete qualified for Nationals in 1971! Eventually the club rented a full time warehouse location in east Calgary and I left teaching to be a full time gymnastics head coach and director. After a number of years, I left this position and returned to teaching full time. After a few years of semi-retirement, coaching high school gymnastic squads and helping with a small club in Millarville, In 1996 I retired fully from teaching and opened Mountain Shadows and developed our club to its current status. Currently, I am still involved in administration and consulting with our younger coaches 5 days a week. With approximately 59 years of involvement in Canadian Gymnastics, it has been a great experience.
Jim McLuskey