Canstar Soccer was born from a simple idea: to provide more youth players with opportunities to experience and enjoy soccer in a positive and healthy environment. While some players have thrived in existing local programs in and around Lethbridge, far too many have had negative experiences or faced closed doors that have led them to step away from the game. We are committed to playing a positive role in addressing these challenges and helping to open doors. We want to create a soccer program based on inclusion that as one of its primary goals seeks to foster growth and improvement for all. And, while some people in our communities might talk of a positive vision for soccer, our commitment is more than just words; we strive to embody our values through our actions. After all, we are who we are not because of what we say, but by what we do.

We recognize that we are not alone in our desire to make soccer a more fulfilling experience for everyone. That’s why we see community building – fostering connections from within through friendship, openness, and honesty – as a central pillar of our vision. We look forward to collaborating with others within and across communities who put youth players' interests first to help bring our positive vision to life. By focusing on the collective interests of all youth players rather than personal ambitions or the interests of a select few, we can strengthen our soccer culture together.

Canstar Soccer is led by Tom Perks, a dedicated coach with extensive experience in both playing and coaching, as well as a passion for sharing the soccer knowledge he has acquired over the years. 

As a youth player, Tom captained Canada’s Youth National Team at the 1989 FIFA U16 World Cup in Scotland. He later played at Western University from 1993 to 1997, earning U Sports All-Star Honours and Western University Athlete of the Year. After competing in semi-professional and competitive men’s leagues in Ontario, Edmonton, and Lethbridge for many years, even including once playing in an Ontario all-star exhibition game with Diego Maradona, he now enjoys playing soccer casually with friends each week.

Beginning his coaching career in the late 1990s, Tom helped establish a small business that offered youth soccer camps in various cities across southern Ontario, serving as its Technical Director. During this time, he also worked as a soccer course instructor at Western University for two years and was an assistant coach for the Western Mustangs Men’s Team, winning gold at the 1998 U Sports Men’s National Championships. After coaching the London Marconi Women’s Team for two seasons, he moved to Edmonton in 2002, where he served as player-coach for the Edmonton AC Milan Men’s Team from 2002 to 2005. Tom relocated to Lethbridge in 2005 to pursue a career as a sociology professor at the University of Lethbridge, with one of his primary research interests focusing on the study of sport and physical activity. His research interests have since evolved to exploring best practices in coaching and player development.

Following a break from coaching to concentrate on his academic career and family, Tom coached various house league teams in Lethbridge from 2015 to 2018, and subsequently coached Lethbridge Football Club’s Girls' and Boys' Teams from 2018 to 2024. He also served as an assistant coach for the Lethbridge AMSL Men's Team in 2023. Currently, Tom coaches the U15 Thunder FC Boy's Team based out of Coaldale.

Tom has completed several coaching certificates, including his Provincial B License (2006), National C License (2019), and National B License (2022).