Every year the East Coast Games appoints some long-time sports enthusiasts, coaches, organizers and athletes from the Saint John sports scene to be honorary chairs of our event. They help us do the fun stuff, like talk to the media, greet athletes, and give out awards. They’re special folks, and we’re honoured that they are willing and able to participate in the Games.
2023 Honorary Chair Bob Bonnell
Saint John, NB – The 2023 East Coast Games start on June 23rd, and the organizing committee is pleased to announce the selection of Bob Bonnell as the honorary chair for the 2023 games. Bob has been very active in the New Brunswick sporting community throughout the course of his career.
Dave McPherson, Bob Bonnell and Keith Raynes
Graduate of Fredericton High School 1965 and played Varsity Soccer, Basketball and Track and Field. Bob was a Provincial Champion in high jump and discus and represented New Brunswick at the Junior National Track and Field Championships . He also was selected to participate playing basketball, in the First Canada Games in Quebec City in 1967, and also competed in two Junior National Basketball Championships.
Bob continued playing basketball during the 80’s , at the senior level, and won the Maritime Championship with the Saint John Mooseheads.
Bob began his coaching career in 1970 as an assistant basketball coach at UNB, then continued on coaching soccer and basketball at UNBSJ, where he became a lecturer in 1971. After becoming an Associate Professor, Bob became the Athletic Director at UNBSJ from 1976-2003. During that time he coached 1 Provincial Championship Soccer team, 6 New Brunswick Basketball Championships and 2 Maine Championships. Moving over to the Womens’s program from 2000-2006, Bob lead the team to their first ever ACAA Championship. Over Bob’s career, he achieved over 400 victories and was awarded two Coach of the Year selections from the Maine Conference and one from the ACAA.
He was a Master Course Conductor for Basketball New Brunswick for over 20 years for their National Coaching Certification Program . He also served on the Board of Directors of Basketball New Brunswick for 10 years. With Basketball Canada, Bob served on their Development Committee and was Venue Manager for Basketball and Volleyball during the 1985 Canada Summer Games.
Basketball New Brunswick presented Bob with a Special Merit Award for his many years of outstanding service for the development and growth of basketball in New Brunswick.
Bob is married to Suzanne Bonnell (53 years) and they have a daughter Lindsey (Business Graduate from UBSJ) and Grand-Daughter Hillary (also a Graduate of UNB). Bob and Suzanne are long time residents of Saint John New Brunswick and lead a very active life.
The East Coast Games Committee is extremely honoured and thrilled to have Bob as our 2023 Honourary Chairperson.
