Mike Livermore (left) receiving the 2021/22 Mike Kocay Memorial Volunteer of the Year award from Bob Dybvig (right), Vice President of Finance for the Prairie Junior Hockey League (PJHL) (Submitted photo/Dean Hardie))

By Ben Tompkins

Heroes are remembered but legends never die

Carrot River man remembered for lengthy legacy left behind

Dec 7, 2022 | 3:56 PM

One of Carrot River’s most cherished longtime residents has passed away.

Mike Livermore was a teacher for many years, a coach of nearly every sport, a town councillor, a volunteer for multiple community projects, and a board member and billet for the Carrot River Outback Thunder junior hockey team.

Kevin Trew, a former town administrator, had many run-ins with Livermore and spoke about the impact he had on the community. Trew was a student of Livermore’s, a neighbour, and a co-worker and even described him as a role model.

“My older brother played on his basketball team in high school, so I recall how he coached and how he had the respect of his players,” he said, “He was kind, he had a kind of a gruff demeanour, but yet, everybody knew that he was on their side and that he would do anything for them.”

“I’ve had a chance to reflect a little bit in the last few days and I can tell you for sure, that my first impressions of Mike, at that young age, have been something that has just been proven back to me, all through my life with him. He had kind of a no-nonsense attitude about everything, yet you could see in his eyes, he always had a heart of gold.”

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Later on in life, Trew would be married and buy a new house with his wife, which would end up being right across the street from the Livermores.

There, Trew’s wife would have interactions with Livermore, as they both worked as substitute teachers at the local school.

Trew’s daughter even had interactions with him, as he helped coach her when she became interested in high school basketball.

In 2017, Livermore successfully ran for town council and began his work, alongside Trew. Livermore would hold that position until 2020.

Trew explained Livermore’s time on council as effective and community-minded.

“When he’s in the community, he will work in the background, and he will talk to and identify who the key people are,” he said. “He has a quiet way of championing the community, he works kind of behind the scenes, and he brings the right players to the table. He left a lasting impression and a good impression, and he didn’t just teach you something about the world, he taught you something about yourself.”

“Mike Livermore definitely was a champion in such a way, he had that effect on so many people that were growing up, as a teacher, he was a character and he’s somebody that is just one of a kind. There’s definitely some legacy pieces in the community that he’s leaving behind, he just had so much impact on so many people and that’s probably his greatest legacy.”

Livermore was also heavily involved with the Outback Thunder of the Prairie Junior Hockey League (PJHL), winning the league’s 2021-22 Mike Kocay Memorial Volunteer of the Year award.

A board member since 2016, the team is forever grateful for all the contributions he and his family had, throughout the years.

The team’s general manager Dean Hardie spoke on the organization’s behalf, as they plan to honour him for years to come.

“He wasn’t scared to stick his neck out there to help the team out,” Hardie told northeastNOW. “Mike and Heather (Mike’s wife) worked at every game, you just don’t find those people every day.”

Mike helped the team purchase a bus by putting his name behind the loans, he was the financial backing for the team’s new dressing room and he and Heather helped put heat lines in the floor and were either selling 50/50 tickets or working the doors.

“He will be dearly missed in the community,” said Hardie. “He was just an inspiration to a lot of us here, and it was just all the stuff he did without even wanting a thank you. That goes so far, and just kind of tells you what kind of a guy he and his wife are, they’re just honest, good people.”

“Mike actually taught me, he was one of my favourite hockey coaches, and he was my go-to guy when I started coaching seven years ago. I asked him a million questions, I used his drills from when I was 12 years old, and he was just a great guy to talk to about kids and what I needed to do to help them. He was just so full of knowledge and that’s stuff that I’m going to miss from him.”

The Thunder plan to get a custom sign made, which will read ‘Mike’s Place’, just outside the dressing room door, as a reminder of the values we should all have and the inspiration we can gain from him as a person.

There will also be a moment of silence at Saturday’s home game, against the Extreme Hockey Regina Capitals.

Hardie mentioned he hopes the family will be there, as they look to continue their great relationship with the Livermores.

“‘I’m sure Heather will still be involved with the club,” he said. “She was at the gate, every game and I’m sure she’ll want to come back and help out because that’s just the way she is. We would love to have her back because as sad as it may be, to see her every game, reminds us of all the hard work that Mike did and why we’re where we’re at right now.”

Mike is survived by his wife Heather and kids, along with the rest of his family and the Town and surrounding community of Carrot River.

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Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter @BenTompkins_8