Gooding named Citizen of the Year

When Tillsonburg Citizen of the Year Scott Gooding decided to take part in the Great Cycle Challenge to raise money for childhood cancer research, he did it in a big way, setting a personal goal of $50,000. A lifelong volunteer, Gooding is being recognized as Citizen of the Year for coaching and his selfless giving. (Jeff Helsdon photo)

Jeff Helsdon, Editor

Tillsonburg’s 2026 Citizen of the Year Scott Gooding is carrying on a family tradition by volunteering.

While most people don’t have a Citizen of the Year in their immediate family, Gooding has several. His mother was Citizen of the Year in Delhi, as were his two nieces. His sister-in-law, Lynne DePlancke, was Citizen of the Year in Norwich.

“The original trendsetter as far as volunteering was my mother,” he said. “She was involved in her church, the hospital in Simcoe, and all kinds of things.”

He was also quick to point out that his wife Kathy is a committed volunteer and was president of the Tillsonburg Figure Skating Club.

Volunteering started young for Gooding, as he coached a five-year-old soccer team when he was 12.

“That started the whole thing,” he said. “I loved it, and coached both in the community and at school.”

Gooding was surprised and humbled when he heard he had won. He was aware that Samantha Helsdon had had nominated him last year, as she asked if it was okay to do so.

“Even last year, it was surprising because there’s so many amazing people who do so much,” he said.

When Gooding came to Glendale High School as a teacher, he spent the next 34 years there, making positive impressions on students as a physical education, history, cooperative education, civics, and careers teacher, and as a guidance counselor providing future direction to students. He also provided English and math instruction for special education students for more than 20 years.

Gooding coached at Glendale for nearly 30 years, at the helm of boys’ and girls’ soccer, hockey, and ringette. He was the staff advisor for House Council, supported graduating students through the Green and Gold Council, participated in the COPE committee in its early years to support struggling students, and helped strengthen staff connections through the social committee. His impact was so meaningful that the Scott Gooding Spirit Award was established in his name to honour his exceptional commitment and positivity.

Outside of the school, Gooding coached minor soccer in Tillsonburg for 25 years, adult women’s soccer, ringette, and minor hockey, and volunteered with the Tillsonburg Skating Club for more than a decade. He currently serves on the Tillsonburg Youth Advisory Council and the Recreation and Sports Advisory Committee, where he continues to advocate for opportunities that support youth engagement and active living. He also lends his time and experience to the Tillsonburg Wall of Fame Committee.

But Gooding is more than just a coach to many. He proudly states that he attended the weddings of six of the girls on the U-18 soccer team he coached.

“You gain so much from being involved in the community,” he stated.

Gooding lives by these words, pointing out, “There’s so may people who complain about things in the community, but don’t step up to do anything. I think it’s important to make change in your community in whatever way you can.”

His involvement in the Great Cycle Challenge is an example of that. He takes part in the annual event to raise money for SickKids Hospital's childhood cancer research, and has a personal fundraising goal of $50,000. He said that the effort came about after his retirement, with his love of cycling and his mother's passing away from cancer.

“My wife mentioned you’re biking all the time, why don’t you do something good with it,” he recalled.

Being a volunteer canvasser for the Heart and Stroke Foundation is also on his volunteer resume.

Seeing the skyrocketing cost of sports equipment for high school sports, combined with decreasing funding, Gooding came up with a solution, starting Friends of Glendale to cover the shortfalls in athletics, support field trips and clubs, and more. Emily Sage, Rebecca Hailey, Sydney Lauszus, and Miranda Davis worked with him on this, and they started the For Our Gems golf tournament to raise money for it.

This year’s tournament will be Sept. 26 at the Bridges of Tillsonburg golf course.

Although he has been retired for six years, Gooding said volunteering keeps him busy.

“It’s something that takes up the time in my life,” he said.

Gooding will be presented with the Citizen of the Year award the evening of June 9 at the Lion's Den in the Tillsonburg Community Centre.