Yukon Table Tennis honours late president with food bank donation

It was a fitting tribute, combining two of the late Dave Stockdale's biggest passions: table tennis, and supporting the local food bank.

A memorial table tennis tournament was recently held in Whitehorse in honour of Stockdale, who died earlier this year. He was a 12-term city councillor, a longtime table tennis coach, and an early board member of the food bank.

“When I had the conversation with the [Yukon Table Tennis] board of directors and others, it was suggested entry fees be a non-perishable item,” said club president Kevin Murphy, about the tournament. “I thought to myself, 'this is perfect.'”

It turns out the idea was perfect. By tournament's end, Murphy’s car was packed with non-perishable items.

Murphy knew Stockdale well. For decades, Stockdale was the president and head coach of Yukon Table Tennis.

“I was like a fresh-faced 13- or 14-year-old when I went into the club,” said Murphy. “At that time it seemed Dave was the main driver of all things table tennis.”

Dave Stockdale was a force of nature- Dave Blottner, Executive Director Food Bank Society of the Yukon

Stockdale gave that same dedication to the food bank. He was one of the original board members when the food bank in Whitehorse was just getting started.

“Dave Stockdale was a force of nature,” said Dave Blottner, executive director of the food bank. “He came in and helped get the food bank off the ground.”

Stockdale was also instrumental in working with the Yukon government to secure a space for the food bank.

The "food for fines" program that is still run by the city every December was another idea of Stockdale’s. It allows people to pay for their parking ticket fines through food donations.

“That legacy lives on year after year of giving to the food bank,” said Blottner. “There’s all kinds of things like that we still see today.”

Blotter says this time of year is the busiest for the staff at the food bank. Not just because of the need, but also the logistics in sorting through the influx of donations that come in.

“Over the course of the month of December we raise about half of our fundraising for the entire year,” said Blottner.

On those busy days, Blottner says he’ll often think of the effort Stockdale put in to help feed Yukoners.

“I don't think I have a staff or volunteer here that hasn't been inspired by that.”

The donation from the table tennis club is especially timely as more Yukoners than ever are using the food bank.

In 2024, over 23,000 Yukoners accessed its services. Before the pandemic, that number was closer to 14,000.