Kent MacSweyn

​Kent MacSweyn, born to Donald and Ella MacSweyn in 1939, he was the second of nine children. He learnt at a young age how to work hard on the farm and get along with others. MacSweyn’s first game in a covered arena, in the Vankleek Hill Arena. The Pine Grove School (population 26) accepted a challenge from the much larger Vankleek Hill Public School. Kent’s father, Donald, transported the entire team (8 students). The Pine Grove team beat Vankleek Hill’s team 4-2. Kent took over the family farm at the young age of 15, with his younger brother Ralph. Kent continued his schooling with help from his mother Ella and his grandfather.

MacSweyn played fullback for the McCrimmon/Laggan soccer team during most of his career but remembers being moved to center forward for the 1960 season. This proved a memorable year for not only did he miss the scoring award by a single goal but he suffered a broken leg in a play-off game in Greenfield. As a 16-year-old Kent was invited to join the Lochiel Soccer Team (Glengarry Champs) in a play- off series with the winner of the Ottawa and Area Division to determine the Eastern Ontario Soccer Championship. He was the recipient of the Most Gentlemanly player award in 1955 and 1957, as well as the MVP award in 1959. He went on to win the Championship trophy with McCrimmon after Lochiel’s long domination.

Kent was also recognized as a consistent scorer and on-ice leader, while he played his minor and junior career in Alexandria.  He was selected by the Glen Robertson Midget team during his second year of organized hockey to strengthen their team in the ODMHA play-offs against. MacSweyn was also named captain of the Alexandria Junior Glens.

In September 1959 Kent enrolled at Ottawa Teachers College, he later accepted his first teaching position in South Gloucester, at St. Mary’s School he was appointed Principal in his second year and remained there for the next three years. In 1965, He travelled to Europe as a teacher with the Canadian Military Forces, there he was the Vice-principal of a 300-pupil school, in Metz, France. In September 1968, Kent went to Lahr, Germany to become to head teacher at the grade 7-8 division of the grade 7-12 school. In March 1969, Kent flew home to Glengarry for an interview for the principal position at the newly built school in Laggan. Kent remained Principal for 26 years, retiring in 1995.

While at Laggan Public School, Kent coached minor soccer teams and worked to upgrade recreational facilities at Laggan School. He served as director of Alexandria & District Minor Hockey Association, he organized Recreational Associations in Lochiel and Kenyon Townships with the goal to provide direction and financial assistance for recreation programs in these townships. He built and maintained an outdoor rink with change room facilities. He brought Guy Lombrado and his Royal Canadians to the Angus Grey Center as a fundraiser to build double tennis courts on the school playgrounds.