Dallas Soonias

Dallas Soonias
Personal information
Full name	Dallas Randolph Soonias
Born	(1984-04-25) April 25, 1984 (age 41) Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
Height	2.00 m (6 ft 7 in)
Weight	91 kg (201 lb)
Spike	356 cm (140 in)
Block	323 cm (127 in)
College / University	Red Deer College University of Alberta
Volleyball information
Position	Opposite
Career
Years Teams 2004–2005 2006–2007 2007–2008 2008 2008–2009 2009–2011 2011–2012 2012–2013 2013–2014 2014–2015 2015–2016 Alberta Pandas Jadar Radom Arago de Sète Yaroslavich Yaroslavl Montpellier Volley CV Almería Hyundai Capital Plataneros de Corozal Fujian Volleyball Al Arabi Pallavolo Impavida Ortona
National team
2004–2016   Canada
Honours Men's volleyball Representing   Canada NORCECA Championship 2013 Langley 2011 Mayaguez Pan American Games 2015 Toronto
Last updated: 2024-08-01

Dallas Soonias (born April 25, 1984) is a male volleyball player from Canada, who competed for the Men's National Team as a right side hitter. He was a member of the national squad who won bronze at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He received the Indspire Award in the sports category in 2021. ^[1]

Personal life

Soonias is considered both Cree and Ojibwe. Along with his mother, he is registered at the Cape Croker First Nations reserve, whereas his father is Red Pheasant First Nation. ^[2]

Dallas is married to volleyball player, Jaimie Thibeault. ^[2]

They are both role models for Neechie Gear, a clothing brand which gives a 5% profit to give children the opportunity to participate in sports. ^[3] The title of the company refers to a Cree greeting, which is warm and friendly. ^[4]

Through Indigenous communities, he connects to youth to relate to them in a positive light, both through the court and through story telling. ^[5] Volleyball on the Move Clinic is an example of this, where he worked through the program in various elementary schools in Whitehorse, Yukon in partnership with Volleyball Yukon. ^[6]

Dallas has had experience assisted coaching at the University of Alberta for the men's volleyball team. ^[7] He was awarded the Indspire Award in the sports category in 2021. ^[8]

He appeared in the 2024 edition of Canada Reads , advocating for Jessica Johns's novel Bad Cree. ^[9]

References

1. "Dallas Soonias". Indspire. 2021-05-19. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
2. "Jaimie Thibeault - Taking to the court one last time". ONE VOLLEYBALL. Archived from the original on 2018-10-09. Retrieved 2018-10-08.
3. "Our Purpose – Neechie Gear®". www.neechiegear.com. Retrieved 2018-10-08.^{[ permanent dead link ]}
4. Thorton, Kevin (November 26, 2015). "Kendal Netmaker, set to succeed". Fort McMurray.
5. Bureau, International Indigenous Speakers. "Dallas Soonias". International Indigenous Speakers Bureau. Retrieved 2018-10-08.{{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
6. "Community Volleyball Tour with Dallas Soonias | Champagne and Aishihik First Nations". cafn.ca. Retrieved 2018-10-08.
7. "Saskatchewan Coaches Conference". www.saskcoach.ca. Archived from the original on 2018-10-09. Retrieved 2018-10-08.
8. "2021 INDSPIRE AWARDS | "My career took on a whole different purpose" Dallas Soonias was ready to leave sport behind, but then he realized he was a role model to indigenous... | By CBC Sports | Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
9. "Meet the Canada Reads 2024 contenders", CBC Books, January 11, 2024.

External links

• Dallas Soonias at Canada Rio 2007 Handbook at the Wayback Machine (archived 2008-12-04)
• Dallas Soonias at Team Canada
• Dallas Soonias at the European Volleyball Confederation