Collingwood’s Sports Hall of Fame is making room on the shelf for more local athletes, coaches, and volunteers as it prepares for an induction ceremony in the fall.
A news release issued by the hall of fame directors announced nominations are open for this year’s list of inductees.
The hall of fame recognizes people in the builders, athletes, and team categories based on publicly-submitted nominations, and inductees are chosen by a selection committee and approved by the board of directors.
All inductees to the hall of fame must have achieved local, provincial, national, or international recognition in their sport, and must have been a permanent resident of Collingwood and district at the time of his or her accomplishments. Part-time residents will also be considered if they were participating on a Collingwod team or sports club at the time of their outstanding achievement.
The selection committee considers not only the playing ability of the athlete or team, but also the sportsmanship, character, and the honour brought to Collingwood and to sport in general.
The hall of fame inductions are made in three categories: athletes, builders, and team.
Athletes may only be inducted into the hall of fame if they have concluded their sports career at least five years ago, or if the athlete is 50 years or older. Athletes must have attained national or international status in their sport.
Previous athlete inductees include Jay Morrill, a two-time national team champion cross-country runner and graduate of Collingwood Collegiate Institute, and Paul Shaw, a trap shooter born and raised in Ravenna who represented Canada at the 1996 Olympic games, at four Pan American Games, and at two Commonwealth games.
A team must start on the wall if it's to make it into the hall. Nominations for the wall of fame are open to teams based in Collingwood that have won provincial, national, or international championships. Teams are only eligible for the hall of fame five years after they have been added to the wall of fame.
Teams currently in the hall of fame include the 1973-1974 Collingwood Juvenile Lions, the Ontario Minor Hockey Association champions.
The builder category is for individuals who have brought honour to the sporting culture, have built athletes or teams in Collingwood, have built a general knowledge of the sport, and have helped build opportunity in the sport locally.
Builders currently in the hall of fame include Michel Le Goaix, the founder of the Collingwood Cycling Club, and Harold Horner who was a coach and volunteer for local hockey, baseball and swimming.
Collingwood’s Hall of Fame holds induction ceremonies every two years. This year’s inductees will be announced in May, and the ceremony will take place Oct. 27, 2020. This will be the 46th anniversary of the Collingwood Sports Hall of Fame, which was opened in 1974. There are 152 athletes and builders in the hall of fame.
You can learn more about the Collingwood Sports Hall of Fame and find nomination forms online here or at the Town of Collingwood Parks, Recreation, and Culture department at 55 Ste. Marie Street (Collingwood Public Library) or at the Centennial Aquatic Centre (451 Third Street).
The deadline for nominations this year is Feb. 28 at 4:30 p.m.
