As a teenager in Saint John, N.B., Don Hyslop (BA’72) imagined a future in sports journalism. As sports editor of his high school newspaper, he learned early how to tell a story and capture moments that mattered.  

Although that career path didn’t materialize right away, his love of sport and storytelling never faded. In his early twenties, while coaching teenage hockey players only a few years younger than himself, Don discovered something unexpected: he loved working with young people just as much as he loved the game.  

That realization ultimately drew him into teaching, where sport became a powerful extension of his role as an educator.  

When Don Hyslop reflects on his time at UNB, he doesn’t start with buildings or dates—he starts with people. “I consider myself very fortunate. I started UNB in 1967. And at that time, we were a two-year university in Saint John.” 

That sense of gratitude runs through Don’s story, from his early years as a UNB student to a decades-long career as an educator, coach, volunteer and community leader in Nova Scotia.  

From Saint John to Fredericton: a formative education 

Don’s first encounter with UNB’s Fredericton campus came in the fall of 1967, during a student protest. The day also happened to coincide with fall convocation—a memory he still remembers clearly. 

“I left the protest and I went up to Lady Beaverbrook residence, and I had a friend who I graduated high school with who was staying there. And we went in to watch game seven of the World Series with the Boston Red Sox against the St. Louis Cardinals.” 

“It was the day of fall convocation and Robert F. Kennedy was being honoured that year. As the parade came down the hill, heading towards the Lady Beaverbrook Arena,

Robert F. Kennedy yelled in, ‘What’s the score? So, we yelled back to him that the Cardinals were ahead, and he yelled back, ‘Well, I’m not unhappy that I missed it then.’” 

When Don later transferred to Fredericton to complete his degree, he encountered what he describes as an exceptional group of professors. 

“I had professors that were the gold standard of UNB professors. I took maritime studies from Dr. Stuart McNutt. I took British history from Dr. Chapman. I took American history from Dr. Condon. They gave me a love of history. A love of people. And a love of reaching out and making sure that you did more than just teach the facts.” 

“I had an all-star cast,” he says simply. That influence would shape the direction of his career. 

From aspiring journalist to teacher and coach 

After graduating from UNB, Don went on to get his teaching degree from Dalhousie University. Over more than 30 years as a junior high educator, he taught history, coached student athletes created opportunities that extended beyond the classroom.  

“I loved it. I loved working with young people. That’s what drew me to teaching.” 

His influence was felt most strongly, he says, in the relationships formed outside the classroom. “You became much closer to your students through that.”  

Coaching with purpose 

Don coached for many decades—girls’ softball, boys’ and girls’ hockey, from beginners to AAA levels. Along the way, his teams earned provincial and Eastern Canadian championships, but wins were never his main focus. 

“The journeys to get there,” he says, when asked what mattered most about the wins. “And the hard work.” 

Years later, when a team he coached was inducted into the local Sports Hall of Fame, former players reflected on his approach. “Even though I was hard on them at times, they knew that I cared about them.That meant a lot.” 

Rooted in Scottish heritage and community 

One of Don’s most enduring contributions grew out of a moment in his social studies classroom. 

“They knew nothing about their own history,” he says of his students, many of whom had Scottish heritage. 

Motivated by his own family roots, Don learned Gaelic in night classes, formed extracurricular clubs and helped organize concerts, heritage fairs and cultural exchanges that drew hundreds of community members. 

“At the end of the year, we would put on a Gaelic concert for the community, And the auditoriums were always full.” 

Recognition was never the goal. Building understanding and connection was. He often cites Picasso: “The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.” 

Service, continued 

Even after retirement, Don’s commitment to service didn’t slow. A long-time member of the Kinsmen Club, he eventually took on leadership roles in health-care advocacy, eventually chairing a hospital foundation board and working to address physician shortages in his region. 

He and his colleagues decided to form a subcommittee called the Mid-Valley Region Physician Recruitment and Retention Committee. 

“We began by taking money out of our own pockets. We started a GoFundMe page, applied for grants and we recently had a government grant of almost $100,000 to spend on that.” 

In 2002, his volunteerism was formally recognized with what is now known as the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers. 

Still, when asked what he’s most proud of, Don doesn’t mention awards.“I’m proud of the fact that I have so many of my former students I consider friends today.” 

Dreams realized—and smiling along the way 

The career Don once imagined as a teenager in Saint John didn’t arrive all at once. But in retirement, he finally returned to sports journalism writing for Red Sox Nation, interviewing players and having his work published in anthology books. 

It was a fitting moment for someone who spent a lifetime believing in stories, people and the power of showing up. 

Reflecting on how he hopes people will remember him, Don doesn’t hesitate. “I hope when they hear my name, they can have a little smile.”