Bertil Johansson, cross-country coach for the Lethbridge College Kodiaks, has been nominated by Lethbridge Family Services for an Immigrant Achievement Award under the sports category.

The Immigrant Achievement Awards bring awareness to the valuable work of immigrants in the community. Some of the categories include Arts and Culture, Business and Community Service.
Many different people and businesses nominated Johansson for the award: Runner’s Soul, Running Room and individuals he has coached and taught over the years as well as individuals with professional medical backgrounds.
Johansson, who was born in Sweden, became a Canadian citizen this year after living in Canada since 1983.  Johansson says cross-country is more than a competition.
“For me it is not just about competing, it’s also about the health and wellness aspects.”
Johansson says he studied really hard for the Canadian citizenship exam and learned a lot about the political, cultural and historical diversity of Canada.
“I certainly have an increased knowledge of Canada now.”
Since 2000 Johansson has been recruiting international students primarily from Kenya for the cross-country program he runs.
He has recruited about 20 Kenyans to the college. Four of them are now married; of those four, three are still in Alberta and one is in Kenya.
“If it wasn’t for this program, the opportunity for these lives to be changed wouldn’t be there,” says Johansson.
When the athletes come to Canada for Johansson’s program, he makes sure they have housing. He has supported them financially and always makes sure they get to where they need to be.
Johansson gives these students “a chance to survive.”
“Lots of them are carrying jobs, sometimes more than one.”
“I try to be like their adopted uncle.”
The Kodiaks have won seven national championships in the last nine years. Johansson’s assistant coach is Luis Renteria, who is also an immigrant.
On March 19 Johansson will attend a gala awards ceremony at the Lethbridge Coast Hotel, where he will find out if he won.
“My athletes are running in the Moonlight Run that night.”
Johansson says he hopes he can go to the Moonlight Run after the dinner and he can be a winner along with his athletes.
“It’s an honour to be nominated.”
This past weekend the Kodiaks cross-country team received two gold medals at the Athletics Alberta indoor track and field provincials.
Willy Kimosop won in both the 1,500-metre and the 3,000-metre.
Kimosop is running the Vancouver Harry Springs 10km this upcoming weekend.
The Kodiaks men’s team scored Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) points from Peter Kayla, Curys Yagan, Dan Brown and Dayn Opel.
ACAC medals and honours went to Dennis Ronoh and Peter Kayla in the 1,500-metre and 800-metre.