All-round Champion

“Google Calendar,” says Alexis Johnson with a laugh, “is my best friend!” While her ‘friend” has certainly helped her to manage high-performance sports, and community involvement, it’s Johnson’s amazing dedication, drive and passion that has led her to excel in each area of her life. 

For someone who has had a lot of amazing years, 2023-24 was, by any measure, an amazing year for Johnson. In February she was named the Canada West, Women’s Field Athlete of the Year. She followed that up in April with the 2024 Senate Service Award, one of UCalgary’s most prestigious awards for student athletes. 

The Senate Service Award is presented to a student athlete who demonstrates, “a significant commitment and involvement in engaging with and improving their community.”

“It was,” says Johnson, “the cherry on top,” of her final season as a Dino.

“I think I bring a sense of diversity to the award,” says the personable and high-spirited Johnson with a laugh. “In some ways it was like a stamp of approval on my community engagement.” 

“Heart and understanding”

Johnson began her UCalgary career with a Bachelor of Community Rehabilitation and Disability Studies through the Cumming School of Medicine. However, she felt the call to the social work profession, inspired, in part by her mother’s experiences in the field.

The other inspiration came from her own lived experience and a determination to help others. “I have so much heart and understanding for high-risk populations,” she says. 

Johnson’s community work with high-risk populations includes roles with the Society for Autism Support and Services and Hull Services, where she’s worked for more than two years.

Hull Services works with children, youth, and families who have experienced significant challenges, providing them an opportunity to seek well-being and happiness, with a focus on mental health. In her role there Johnson says she maintains a therapeutic relationship with the kids and leads them in activities while educating them on issues such as substance abuse or child exploitation. 

She says that previous role with the Society for Autism Support and Services, provided her with a strong foundation working with any population.

“Because of how complex the needs are of those youth at that program,” she adds, “the role has helped me grow into the person I am today.” 

Like many social workers Johnson says she’s learned as much from the students, as they’ve learned from her including life lessons in patience and adaptability. “Getting to feel like I can be part of their progress is really what sticks out to me,” she says, “it’s what I find so rewarding.”

Well qualified coach

Besides being a USports Academic All-Canadian (recognizing student-athletes who have achieved an academic average of 80 per cent or better) and all her community engagement work, Johnson has also found time to coach and mentor track and field athletes at her former high school, “A testament,” she says wryly, “of my own knowledge of the sport.” 

And a quick look at the Canada West and USports (national) record books provides quick confirmation, in being name the Canada West (CW) female track athlete of the year, Johnson was the Canada West champion in Weight Throw, and the USports Silver Medalist, as well as the CW Silver Medallist in Shot Put, ending her distinguished career as a Dinos Athlete, where she has been a standout every year. 

To an outsider, it feels like if one were to formulate an ideal recipe for a future social worker, you might put Alexis Johnson’s photo on the top.  And she prepares for her final year of her Bachelor of Social Work and her future as a professional social worker, Johnson says she feels ready for the challenge. 

It’s a confidence that, not surprisingly for a high-performance athlete, stems from good preparation. Her dedication and experience working with, and mentoring youth has, in her words, “worked together to formulate my experience, especially going into social work.” 

While she’s not 100 per cent sure where life will take her, she’s certain she wants to continue working with high-risk youth, perhaps with children’s services or with youth involved with the juvenile justice system. 

Johnson’s message to her young athletes and prospective social workers is simple, “Never give up,” she says. “Keep trying.” 

She pauses a moment then adds with a smile, “And don’t take life so seriously!”