This past March, Executive Director Tracey Kinsella, Museum Operations Manager Breanna Suk, and Honored Member Alumni Terry Jones embarked on an ambitious and enlightening journey. Their nineday road trip took them through 13 of the finest museums and Halls of Fame across Ontario and the northeastern United States, covering over 2,618 kilometers and visiting eleven cities. The mission: to delve deep into the world of Halls of Fame, seeking inspiration, exchanging ideas, and forging lasting connections with their peers.
At each museum, Tracey, Breanna, and Terry accomplished their primary objectives and more. They gathered innovative ideas, discovered new ways to honour excellence in sports, and gained fresh perspectives on how to enhance the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame. They met with curators, directors, and staff members, exchanging insights and building lasting relationships that promise to benefit the Hall for years to come.
One of the most rewarding aspects of their journey was the opportunity to connect with their peers. These interactions provided invaluable insights and fostered a sense of camaraderie and shared purpose. The trio returned home not only with a wealth of ideas and inspiration but also with strengthened bonds within their own team.
Their nine-day adventure was a whirlwind of inspiration and discovery, filled with memorable moments and enriching experiences. As they look back on their journey, Tracey, Breanna, and Terry are infused with a renewed sense of purpose and passion for their work. The memories they made and the connections they forged will undoubtedly shape their efforts to make the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame an even more engaging and memorable destination for visitors. This trip has reaffirmed their commitment to celebrating sports excellence and has equipped them with the tools and inspiration to elevate the Hall to new heights.
Terry, Basketball Hall of Fame Springfield, Massachusetts
Tracey, Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame St. Marys, Ontario
Tracey, Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame Toronto, Ontario
Hockey Hall of Fame Toronto, Ontario
Terry, National Baseball Hall of Fame Cooperstown, New York
Breanna, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Cleveland, Ohio
Pro Football Hall of Fame Canton, Ohio
Breanna, Dr. Seuss Museum Springfield, Massachusetts
Board Chair Message
A Note From Dale Henwood
It has been an exhilarating year at the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame, filled with celebrations of remarkable achievements and inspiring moments that have strengthened our province.
Central to our efforts this year has been our commitment to outreach. We have taken our displays to communities throughout Alberta and participated in events alongside organizations that share our passion for celebrating local sporting excellence. These engagements have allowed us to connect with diverse audiences and highlight the remarkable stories of our
Honoured Members, who serve as beacons of inspiration and pillars of their communities.
At the heart of our mission is the belief that sport plays a crucial role in the development of children and youth. Our Honored Members exemplify these values through their extraordinary achievements and dedication to service.
Like any athlete or sports team, we are always looking ahead—to the next game, challenge, or project. We remain dedicated to continual improvement and growth, much like the athletes we honor. We are eager to hear your thoughts on how we can better share these incredible stories and further our mission.
Thank you for your ongoing support and enthusiasm. Here’s to another year of inspiring achievements and shared success. We recognize that our journey is ongoing, and we are steadfast in our commitment to surmount any challenges ahead. Together, we will continue to celebrate the spirit of sport and its transformative power in Alberta.
In Remembrance
Honouring the alumni we’ve lost this year
Dale Henwood Inducted 2012, Multisport Builder
Doug Kyle August 27, 2023 Track & Field Athlete Inducted 1959
Cedric Gyles September 24, 2023 1948 Calgary Stampeders Football Team Inducted 2000
John Short January 11, 2024 Bell Memorial Award Inducted 1988
Margaret Birdsell January 14, 2024 Figure Skating Builder Inducted 1983
Enid Dowdle Pepper February 28, 2024 Multisport Athlete Inducted 1982
Eric Upton May 23, 2024 1978-1982 Edmonton Eskimos Football Teams Inducted 1982
Marv Roberts May 30, 2024 1962-1964 Edmonton Eskimos Football Teams Inducted 1982
Hall of Fame News
Over the past year, we’ve experienced several exciting developments. From new funding announcements, renovating our boardroom, and inducting a new class into the Hall of Fame, it has been a busy year. Here is a recap of the major highlights from the past year.
Funding
We are excited to share not one, but two pieces of fantastic funding news!
Late last year, Honoured Member Cor Ouwerkerk initiated a legacy donation. Legacy donations are charitable gifts left in wills to support organizations or causes that individuals care about deeply. This generous contribution will help preserve sports history and inspire future generations for years to come.
Additionally, we are thrilled to announce that the Alberta Government has allocated funds to bolster our initiatives. This generous support signifies their commitment to our cause and empowers us to further advance our mission of safeguarding and celebrating the history of sports in Alberta.
Class of 2024
This year, we were thrilled to welcome 12 new individuals into the Hall of Fame. During our Induction Ceremony on May 24th, we proudly honored Darwin Davidiuk, Julius Fodor, Ken Hitchcock, Patrick Jarvis, Darrell MacLachlan, Theresa Maxwell, Chris McGregor, Ozzie Sawicki, Ron Thompson, Tom Three Persons, Dr. John Utendale, and Shelley Vettese-Baert.
This was an especially exciting year as two new sports were introduced into the Hall. Julius Fodor was inducted as a Handball Builder, and Shelley Vettese-Baert was recognized as a Taekwondo Athlete.
Board of Directors
Following our AGM, we are happy to annouce that this year we will have Lloyd Bentz, Murray Cunningham, Al Lucas, Kerry Moynihan, Stephen Ohene-Adjei, Jasen Pratt, and Sara Pretzlaff sitting on our Board of Directors, along with Honoured Member Kelly Blackshaw, Dale Henwood, Diane Jones-Konihowski, Terry Morris, and Patrick Jarvis.
We are also saying goodbye to a few Board members that are retiring this year. We want to thank Shirley McClellan, Don Oszli, and Honoured Members Lisa Miller and Leslie Sproule for all of their dedication and hard work over the past few years. Their efforts have been greatly appreciated.
Boardroom Update
We are thrilled to announce the much-needed upgrade to our boardroom! Starting in early 2024, we embarked on a comprehensive renovation project, receiving tremendous support from various local businesses.
The upgrades are significant and include elegant new furniture provided by Outsource Installations, a fresh and vibrant coat of paint from The Painting Experts, modernized tech equipment installed with the help of Pass Electric, and stunning new artwork from The SnapHappy Photographer.
With these improvements, our boardroom is now a more flexible and versatile space, perfect for accommodating a wide range of meetings and events.
To book the boardroom, please call 403-341-8614 or email us at info@albertasportshall.ca.
Tourism & Sport Minister Joseph Schow ASHF Funding Announcement
Class of 2024 Induction Ceremony
New Board of Directors AGM
More News
As we aim to preserve Alberta’s sporting history by honouring the province’s sport heroes and sharing their stories, we have increased our outreach efforts. We’re continuing to build our relationships with Honoured Members, attend events around the province, create programs for kids of all ages, and host events for the community. Take a look at this recap of some of our outreach efforts.
Education
Our Beyond the Classroom education program, supported by the RBC Foundation, has been revitalized and expanded with the help of an Indigenous education advisor. Our most popular program, Lasting Traditions offers students a deeper exploration of Indigenous traditions and sports. To celebrate its relaunch, we hosted a Pipe Ceremony with Indigenous leaders from the community, symbolizing our commitment to understanding and appreciating Indigenous cultures.
We also launched a new adaptive sports program that honors inclusive sports pioneers and examines technological advancements. This program has quickly gained popularity and will be taught to various groups throughout the summer.
Additionally, an education outreach program was launched. Through this we are bringing our initiatives to schools across the province that aren’t able to visit the Hall themselves. Since January, we’ve reached communities like Taber, Beaumont, and Coronation, and we look forward to continuing this initiative in the new school year.
Honoured Member Relationships
The Alberta Sports Hall of Fame is dedicated to fostering strong relationships with our Honoured Member Alumni through various initiatives. We prioritize in-person meetings across the province and encourage visits to the Hall of Fame to gain insights, celebrate contributions, and share inspiring stories. Over a dozen alumni actively serve on boards and committees, enhancing our operations and community engagement. These collaborative efforts underscore our commitment to honoring our esteemed Honoured Members and ensuring the Hall’s continued success. We love you to visit, please let us know your travel plans.
Events
Our commitment to community engagement is evident through the events we attend around the province and those we host at our facility. These events not only promote the Hall but also allow us to share Alberta’s sport history with a wide audience.
This year, we hosted a variety of exciting events, including
• Scotties Tournament of Hearts Bus Trip
• Night at the Museum Sleepover
• 30th Annual Golf Tournament
• Summer Camp
• New Year’s Eve Family Dance
• Adaptive Sport Discovery Day
Additionally, we attended numerous events across the province. Some of the events that we attended this year were
• Pinty’s Curling Grand Slam
• Sam Centre Opening Gala
• Wheelchair Rugby Nationals
• Sport Calgary’s All Sport One Day
• Northern Alberta Teachers’ Convention
• Leduc Sports Hall of Fame Induction
• Alberta Winter Games
• U Sports Women’s Basketball Championships
• CCAA Women’s Volleyball Championships
• Edmonton Elks 75th Anniversary Celebration
These engagements help us connect with diverse communities as we share and celebrate Alberta’s sporting heritage around the province. To book us at your next event, email programmer@albertasportshall.ca
Adaptive Sport Education Program
Booking Reading with Author Lisa Bowes
Tracey with Basil Bark and Joe Forzani
Honoured Members
Visits and News
Sharing the inspiring stories of the Alberta’s sporting heroes is the reason we exist. That’s why we are so grateful that so many of our Honoured Members stop in to visit us from time to time.
Dr. Gary Bowie Mutisport Builder Inducted 2014
George Kingston Hockey Builder Inducted 2022
Danny Rode Bell Memorial Award Inducted 1999
Stan Schwartz Football Builder Inducted 2005
Rick Duff
Boxing Athlete Inducted 2017
Dean Kozak Goalball Athlete Inducted 2013
Debbie Muir
Synchronized Swimming Builder Inducted 1994
Ron Thompson Athletics Builder Inducted 2024
Here is a summary of what our alumni have achieved over the past year.
• Danielle Peers, Randy Ferbey, David Nedohin, Scott Pfeifer, & Marcel Rocque inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame
• Jackie Rae Greening & Kevin Martin inducted into the Governor General’s Curling Club
• Carla MacLeod named head coach of Ottawa’s PWHL team
• Dale Henwood inducted to University of Alberta’s Sports Wall of Fame
• Charlie Huddy inducted to the Edmonton Oilers Hall of Fame
• Deidra Dionne named Board Chair of Canadian Women & Sport
• Mike Vernon inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame
• Paul Coffey named Assistant Coach of the Edmonton Oilers
• Dr. Willie Littlechild appointed Companion of the Order of Canada
• Mel Davidson & Ryan Smyth to be inducted into IIHF Hall of Fame
• Ken Babey to be inducted into ACAC Hall of Fame
• Dave King & Craig MacTavish inducted into the Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame
• Normie Kwong featured in Heritage Minute video
• Lou Goodwin posthumously inducted into the Canada West Hall of Fame
• Patrick Jarvis named the Calgary Booster Club’s Sportsperson of the Year
• Catriona Le May Doan & Wade Buteau named as the Calgary Booster Club’s Honoured Athletic Leaders
• Robbie McNab announced his retirement
• Michael Slipchuk inducted into Skate Canada: Alberta/Northwest Territories/Nunvut Hall of Fame as Athlete/Builder
• Glen Sather announced his retirement
Dear Friends of Alberta Sports,
The Alberta Sports Hall of Fame is more than just a museum; it’s a vibrant celebration of Alberta’s rich sports heritage. The “Hall” is dedicated to preserving and sharing the stories of Alberta’s sports legends and the moments that have shaped our community.
With your help, this important work can continue. The Hall’s goal is to not only welcome more visitors to our facility but also to reach out and share exhibits and programs featuring Alberta’s sport heroes and sport legends with communities across the province. Here’s how your donations can make a difference:
Traveling Exhibits: You can help create and send exhibits to various communities, allowing more Albertans to experience the Hall of Fame.
Interactive Games: Your support will enable the Hall to acquire engaging and educational games that enhance the museum experience for all ages.
Classroom Visits: By sponsoring or supporting educational trips for children and youth to the Hall of Fame, you are inspiring the next generation of sports enthusiasts and historians.
Your generosity ensures that Alberta’s sports history continues to inspire and educate. Together, and thanks to your investment, the Hall can bring the excitement and pride of our sports heritage to every corner of the province.
Thank you for your support! Donations can be made https://www.albertasportshall.ca/donate
Warm regards,
Tracey Kinsella Executive Director Alberta Sports Hall of Fame
“The Alberta Sports Hall of Fame provides a continuum for sports in Alberta. I think it is an important part of history in Alberta and there is a need for those of us inducted to help that cause.”
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