Mena ­Briscoe

Mena ­Briscoe

Lacrosse Trailblazer

(Written by Rad Joseph)

Inducted into the Orangeville Sports Hall of Fame in 2005 and the Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame in the Builder category in 2016, there is very little Mena Briscoe has not accomplished in regards to contributing in lacrosse. She has been a parent, a coach, a team executive, a league executive member, a league administrator and overall trailblazer. Mena first took an interest in lacrosse beginning in the 1980s. Since then, she has committed thousands and thousands of hours to lacrosse particularly in the Orangeville and Brampton lacrosse communities.

In 1988, Mena began volunteering with the Orangeville and District Minor Lacrosse Association. By 1990, she had become President and served in that role until 2005. In addition, Mena was a driving force in the return of Junior “B” lacrosse to Orangeville where she served as Club President until 2005. While serving Orangeville lacrosse, Mena collected an array of championships as she coached six different women’s field lacrosse teams to medal championships including two gold medals. In 2001, Mena was awarded the Orangeville Minor Lacrosse Association’s Northmen Builder of the Year. Also in 2001, Mena was awarded the Ontario Lacrosse Association’s Merv Mackenzie Award. In 2005, Mena was inducted into the Orangeville Sports Hall of Fame in the Builder category.

If you have met Mena, you will quickly observe she is an exceptionally enthusiastic person, who does not hesitate to share her opinion providing insightful advice based upon her decades of direct involvement and experience. Below is a lacrosse biography for Mena, her experience as an executive member for various lacrosse organizations; coaching experience; other general lacrosse experience and a listing of multitude of awards and recognitions she has earned. Mena’s accomplishments are significant and her contributions immeasurable. Our game has benefitted immensely from the contribution of Mena Briscoe.

– INTEREST IN THE GAME WAS PIQUED IN HER HOME TOWN OF MIMICO.
– VOLUNTEERED AS MANAGER FOR THE BRAMPTON EXCELSIORS WHERE BOTH HER BOYS AND SPOUSE PLAYED AND `.
– MOVED TO ORANGEVILLE IN THE MID EIGHTIES WHERE SHE SERVED THE NORTHMEN ORGANIZATION UNTIL 2008, AND HELD NUMEROUS EXECUTIVE POSITION IN MINOR, JUNIOR “A” AND JUNIOR “B” organizations.
– OVER THE NEXT TWO DECADES, SHE ALONG WITH LIKE MINDED MEMBERS, BUILT THE MINOR SYSTEM TO BE A PREMIER CENTRE UTILIZING CUSTOMIZED DEVELOPMENT AND OPERATIONAL APPROACHES. Amongst the initiatives establishe were MINOR/MAJOR, TRYOUT POLICIES, RISK MANAGEMENT, COACHING SELECTION, and TEAM SELECTION processes..
– KEY PLAYER IN MOVE TO ZONE 10 PROVIDING CHILDREN WITH THE A LEVEL PLATFORM THAT PROPELLED THEM IN MANY SUCCESSFUL SEASONS.
– CHAMPIONED THE NORTHMEN WOMEN’S FIELD PROGRAM.
– SPEARHEADED THE MOVE TO REVIVE THE JUNIOR B PROGRAM AFTER AN 11 YEAR HIATUS TO PROVIDE MINOR GRADUATES ANOTHER AVENUE.
– STARTED THE OLA U16 FALL FIELD AS A PILOT TO FILL A DEVELOPMENT VOID. PROGRAM JUST COMPLETED SEASON 11.
– IN 2010 RETURNED TO THE EXCELSIORS WOMEN’S FIELD PROGRAM, AND CONTINUES HER PASSION TO PROVIDE ONGOING OPPORTUNITIES AND EQUALITY FOR FEMALE LACROSSE PLAYERS.
– AN INAUGURAL INDUCTEE INTO ORANGEVILLE SPORTS HALL OF FAME IN 2005.
– OTHER ACCOLADES FROM HER PEERS INCLUDE OWFL COACH OF THE YEAR, BENNETT FAMILY COACHING AWARD, AND JR. A AND JR. B BUILDER OF LACROSSE AWARD WITH THE NORTHMEN.
– RECIPIENT OF THE OMFLL LAURIE MONTGOMERY AWARD, AND THE EXCELSIORS’ BRUCE WANLESS AMBASSADOR AWARD.
– OLA HONOURED HER WITH BOTH THE MERV MACKENZIE AWARD, AND THE OLA PRESIDENTS AWARD.
– IN 2008 ROTARY INTERNATIONAL PRESENTED HER WITH A PAUL HARRIS FELLOW AWARD, THAT BROUGHT WITH IT $1,000 FELLOWSHIP AWARD PRESENTED TO A WORTHY CAUSE FOR YOUTH ON HER BEHALf

Executive Experience

2020 - 2021 – BELC Treasurer

2018 - 2021 – BELC Director

2017 - Present – Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame Selection Comm.

2017 - Zone 10 - Registrar

2017 - OMFLL - Fall Ball Competition Director

2017 - OMFLL - Registrar (Fall Season)

2015 - 2016 - OMFLL - Registrar (Spring & Fall Seasons)

2013 - U-13 Fall Field - Commissioner

2013 - U-13 Fall Field - League Registrar

2012 - 2014 - OWFL – Registrar

2010 - 2017 - BELC - General Manager Women’s Field

2010 - 2016 - BMLA - Women’s Field Director

2009 - 2021 - Oakville Titans Sr. B Lacrosse Club - Owner/President

2009 - Orangeville Minor Northmen - Past President

2007 - 2008 - OMFLL - Registrar (East)

2007 - Zone 10 - Head of Player Movement Committee

2006 - 2013 - U16 Fall Field - Commissioner (Created League)

2006 - 2013 - U16 Fall Field - League Registrar

2006 - 2008 - Zone 10 - Assistant Zone Director

2004 - OWFL - U19 Scheduler

2002 - 2016 - Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame Director

2001 - 2008 - Orangeville Northmen Jr. B - President

2001 - 2003 - OWFL - U-20 (currently U-19) Convenor

2000 - 2008 - Orangeville Minor Northmen - President

1999 - 2002 - Zone 10 Registrar

1999 - 2002 - Orangeville Northmen Jr. A - Fundraiser

1999 - Orangeville Minor Northmen - VP Box Rep

1998 - Orangeville Minor Northmen - Past President

1990 - 1997 - Orangeville Minor Northmen - President

1988 - 1989 - Orangeville Minor Northmen - Registrar

1988 - 1989 - Orangeville Minor Northmen - Fundraiser

Coaching Experience

2015 - Brampton Excelsiors - U-19 #2

2014 - Brampton Excelsiors - U-19 #2 (“C” Bronze Medalists)

2011 - Brampton Excelsiors - U-13

2011 - Brampton Excelsiors - Girls House League (Champions)

2010 - Brampton Excelsiors - U-11 (“A” Bronze Medalists)

2008 - Orangeville Northmen - Girls House League (Champions)

2008 - Orangeville Northmen - Senior (“A” Gold Medalists)

2008 - Orangeville Northmen - U-11 (Inaugural Gold Medalists)

2007 - Orangeville Northmen - Senior (Gold Medalists)

2006 - Orangeville Northmen - Senior (Gold Medalists)

2006 - Orangeville Northmen - U-19 #1 (“A” Silver Medalists)

2006 - Orangeville Northmen - Girls House League (Champions)

2005 - Orangeville Northmen - U-19 #1 (“A” Silver Medalists)

2004 - Orangeville Northmen - U-19 #1 (“A” Silver Medalists)

2004 - Orangeville Northmen - U-15 #1 (“A” Silver Medalists)

2003 - Orangeville Northmen - U-20 #1 (“A” Bronze Medalists)

2003 - Orangeville Northmen - U-15 #2

2002 - Orangeville Northmen - U-20 #1 (“A” Bronze Medalists)

2002 - Orangeville Northmen - U-15 #1 (“A” Gold Medalists)

2001 - Orangeville Northmen - U-20 #1 (“A” Gold Medalists)

1999 - Orangeville Northmen - U-15 #1 (“A” Silver Medalists)

Other Experience

2018 – OLA Regional Registrar

2002 - 2016 - Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame Induction Volunteer

2010 - Brampton Excelsiors - Manager - U-19 #1 Women’s Field

2000 - 2011 - Coach & Manager of several teams participating in

Goblin Games in Ithaca, NY (as many as 5 per year)

2000 - Orangeville Northmen - Manager - Bantam 2 Box

1999 - Orangeville Northmen - Manager - PeeWee 2 Box

1998 - Orangeville Northmen - Manager - PeeWee 2 Box

1997 - Orangeville Northmen - Manager - Novice 2 Box

1997 - Along with Kathy French, began the Barry Burman Memorial

Tournament in Orangeville

Conducted several modules at past OLA SAGM’s on topics such as;

Club Registration Processes, Club Risk Management & Best Practices

Awards / Recognition

2018 – Ontario Sr B Lacrosse Champions (Clare Levack Mem. Cup)

2018 – 4th Place at Presidents Cup in Nanaimo, BC

2017 - OLA Creator’s Game Award (30 Years of Volunteer Service)

2016 - Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame Inductee (Builder Category)

2014 - Bruce Wanless Ambassador Award (Brampton Excelsior Lacrosse Club Award). Inaugural Recipient - This award is presented to a player, coach, volunteer, executive member or fan in recognition of their exceptional ambassadorship of Brampton Lacrosse

2010 - Revis Bennett Excellence in Coaching Award (Brampton Minor Lacrosse Association Coaching Award)

2008 – Orangeville Junior “B” Northmen “Builder of Lacrosse” Award Recipient

2008 - Rotary International - Paul Harris Fellow Recipient; Given in appreciation of tangible & significant assistance given for the furtherance and better understanding & friendly relations among peoples of the World. A $1000 fellowship award was presented to a worthy cause on behalf of Mena Briscoe

2007 - OLA President’s Award (20 Years of Volunteer Service)

2007 - OMFLL - Laurie Montgomery Award

2005 – Charter Member into Orangeville Sports Hall of Fame

2001 - OLA - Merv Mackenzie Award Recipient

2001 – Orangeville Junior “A” Northmen “Builder of Lacrosse” Award Recipient

2001 – Ontario Women’s Field Lacrosse - U-20 Coach of the Year