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Al Neufeld is a big, friendly, energetic man whose attributes include two great enthusiasms: music and football.

But while he excels at both (his football skills took him all the way to a three-year stint as an offensive lineman in the CFL), they also have something in common that for him takes things a step further — both are group activities that require everyone’s participation and give everyone a role to play.

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By day, Neufeld is a teacher and head football coach at Thom Collegiate. But his evening gig is as music director for the Regina-based Living Skies Chorus, a group that sings barbershop style.

How he came to be in these positions says a lot about who he is and what he believes in.

Neufeld, 50, was born and raised in Saskatoon, and acquired his values early in life.

“One of the things that has been very consistently taught to me — from my family, through the coaches I’ve had, through the directors I’ve had, through people I’ve been in touch with, is to give back,” he said in a recent interview. “And so, just the way I’m wired is about giving back to the community, giving back to a sport, giving back to music, just giving back.”