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Dave Sidoo thinks about a lot of things these days.

He thinks of his father, Mall Singh, who emigrated to Canada from the Punjab, worked the sawmills on Annacis Island and instilled in his son the virtues of family, community and hard work.

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He thinks of Frank Smith, his coach at UBC, who put his arm around his young player after his father passed away and told him, “You’re going to play professional football and take care of your family.”

And he thinks of his own family: his wife, Manjy, who he met at UBC; his two sons, Dylan and Jordan; and the foundation — Sidoo Family Giving— he’s established in their name.

Mall Singh passed away in 1980 and didn’t see his son win a Vanier Cup at UBC, didn’t see him become the CFL’s first Indo-Canadian player and didn’t see him become a giant in his hometown. But he did know what he instilled in him and knew it was the bedrock on which an honourable life is built.

On Wednesday, Sidoo received a great honour when he was announced as the recipient of the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame’s W.A.C. Bennett Award for his many and varied contributions to the sporting life of this province and country. They include his pioneering role in the CIS and the CFL and his part in helping to rebuild the football program at his beloved alma mater.