To All WOBA Local Representatives and Presidents,
As the holiday season approaches, I want to take a moment to wish each of you and your families a safe, healthy, and enjoyable holiday season. This time of year gives us all an opportunity to reflect on what matters most—family, community, and the people who make a difference in our lives.
I would also like to
sincerely thank you for the time, energy, and commitment you continue to give
to youth baseball in your communities. At a time when volunteering (and life in
general) is becoming increasingly challenging for many, your dedication speaks
volumes. The work you do does not go unnoticed, and your communities are
stronger because of your leadership and your passion for this great game. As I
have recently been appointed President of the Western Ontario Baseball
Association, I wanted to take this opportunity to introduce myself and share
some of the experiences that have shaped my perspective on baseball,
volunteerism, and leadership. I am truly excited for the opportunity to work
alongside each of you, and to build upon the strong foundation that already
exists within WOBA.
I
grew up playing baseball in Brampton (COBA) and Woodbridge/Vaughan (YSBA). From
ages 7 through 14, I played house league in Brampton and was fortunate to
participate in the House League All-Star program for several years—an
experience similar to what many would recognize today as House Select baseball.
Coming from a split household, opportunities to play Rep baseball existed, but
the costs and travel requirements made that difficult, so house league and
All-Star baseball became my early pathway in the game. At age 15, our House
League All-Star team approached the BMBI Executive with a proposal to form a
Dedicated Select team. While the idea was not supported at the time, our
coaching staff—many of whom were long-time volunteers and former Executive
members—made the decision to move the team to Woodbridge, where we were given
the opportunity to build something new. In our first season, we experienced
immediate success, including a SOBA Championship, and I continued playing
through the Vaughan Vikings program following the Maple/Woodbridge
amalgamation.
My
playing career continued into Junior and Senior baseball with the Brampton
Royals AAA program, including being part of the early years of the Brampton
Senior Battlecats (now Royals). I was honored to be inducted into the Brampton
Senior Royals Wall of Fame as part of the 2021 class ( https://www.bramptonseniorbaseball.com/wall-of-fame-2019
). Like many, my playing days eventually gave way to family life. However, my
involvement in the game never stopped. I began coaching pee-wee house league at
19, and when my family moved to Orangeville in 2013, I immediately became
involved with Orangeville Minor Baseball. Over a 10-year period, I served in
multiple Executive roles, including President from 2020 to 2023. During that
time, we formally registered the association as a not-for-profit, pursued
facility and diamond improvements, and worked closely with municipal partners
to strengthen the organization and the experience for our families. I also
spent many years coaching both house league and AA Rep baseball and even
returned to the field briefly with the Orangeville Giants of the NDBL. Throughout
my time as an Executive member and President, I have strongly believed that
successful baseball programs are built on three core principles: community, leadership, and development.
At
the end of the 2023 season, my family relocated to Owen Sound / Georgian
Bluffs, bringing me into the WOBA landscape for the first time as a local
association member. While I initially intended to support from behind the
scenes, I was soon asked to step into the role of President of Owen Sound Minor
Baseball. In a short period of time, we have been able to rebrand, grow
participation, register as a not for profit, and strengthen relationships with
municipalities, community groups, and local partners—always with the goal of
improving the experience for both our players and the visiting teams that come
to our community. I have also had the opportunity to be both an Assistant and
Head Rep Coach in Owen Sound, and in 2025 I stepped back onto the field
again to throw a couple innings (at 41 years old) as a member of the Sr Baysox
team. I share all of this not to focus on myself, but to be transparent about
the experiences that shape how I approach leadership. I have been fortunate to
see community baseball from many angles—as a player, coach, volunteer,
Executive member, and President—across associations of different sizes,
resources, and stages of development.
As
we look ahead to the next chapter of the Western Ontario Baseball Association,
I believe this diversity of experience—across all of our member associations—is
one of our greatest strengths. My goal is to foster a culture built on
collaboration, trust, open communication, and shared learning, where we work
together to support one another and continue to grow the game across Western
Ontario. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve, and I look forward to
working with each of you in the months and year ahead.
Yours in baseball,
Jesse
M. Edmunds
Co-President
Western
Ontario Baseball Association
[email protected]
#Community
#Leadership #Development