Celebrating the 2023 Paris Sports Hall of Fame Inductees

The last of three induction ceremonies for the 2023 Brant Sports Hall of Fame wrapped up on Thursday, making the last stop in Paris to honour local athletes

Hall of Famers are both athletes or community builders of sport. Each year a committee reviews a list of nominations and determines who to induct, representing communities across the County

Don Pancoe was the first to be awarded in St George on September 28th , followed by Keith and Elaine Hall in Burford on October 7th . This past Thursday, October 26th , five individuals were inducted into the Hall of Fame: Robert Perley, Dennis McKinna, Linda Madden, Bill Cracknell and Mark Stewart Let’s take a look at their accomplishments and contributions to athletics in Brant County

MARK STEWARTATHLETE –

Trackand Field Dedicated

Born in Paris, 1984

UniversityAthletic Achievements:

•2006 Canadian University Champion

– 60m Hurdles (H)

•2006 University of Toronto Male

Athlete of the Year

•2007 Canadian University Champion – 60mH

•2008 Canadian University Champion

– 60mH

•Former University of Toronto Record Holder – 60mH – 8 02s (Now currently 3rdAll-Time)

• Former Captain of the University of Toronto Track and Field Team

•3-Year Undefeated Streak in Canadian University Competition Career Achievements:

• Canadian National Team Member –110mH

• North American Central American

Caribbean (NACAC) Championship

5th place finish 110mH

• 2008 Canadian Olympic Trials – 4th place finish 110mH

•Competed internationally in the United States, Belgium, Netherlands, Spain, and Dominican Republic

Lindamaddenathletesoftballdedicated

Born in Paris November 1958

*1975-1977 PD H S Female Athlete of the Year

*1979-2009 Basketball recordO.C.A.A. Mohawk College Most points in one game - 52

*1971 Softball start with Paris Girls Softball to Bad News Bears 1979-89 5X Brant County Fastball Champions

Continued on page 18

*1984-89 2X Brant County Fastball

M VP 1991 Provincial Champions

Masters and Coed “A” Canadian Finalists Ladies “A”

*1992 Provincial Champions Ladies “A”

*1993 Softball Canada Champions Ladies “A”

*1996 SPO & SPN Provincials

Champions Ladies “A” 2001 Provincial Champions Masters 35+ and Ladies

“A” 2010 Provincial Champions NSA World Series Coed “A”

*2014 Huntsman World Senior Games (Utah)- Silver 50+

*2017 Provincial Champions Ladies 40+

*2018 Provincial Champions Ladies 35+

*2019 Huntsman World Senior Games

GOLD 50+

*2022 Huntsman World Senior Games

Bronze x2 50+, 60+

*2023 Ontario Games 55+ Coed

Competitive Gold Medal

DENNIS McKINNA -

Community Builder Dedicated

Born in Paris - June, 1946

• Over 50 years of Volunteer work with sports in the Paris Area

• Starting coaching in Paris Minor Hockey 1968

• 25 years refereeing Minor Hockey, as well as referee assignor for Grand Valley Hockey league and Ontario Minor Hockey Association playdowns

• 20 years Paris Minor Hockey Association president and executive member

• President of Grand River Local league Hockey

• Appointed convenor for Ontario Minor Hockey Association from 1991 to present

• 16 years convenor, Beechey Juvenile Hockey League

• 15 years coaching fastball in Paris

• President and executive member of Paris Minor Fastball

• 32 years carded Fastball Ontario umpire

• Umpired 2012, U16 girls Canadian Championship

• 1992 Expositor volunteer of distinction award

• Inducted as lifetime member of Southern Counties Minor Hockey

• Inducted as lifetime member of Grand River Local League

• Ontario Municipal Recreational Committee Association award for Volunteering on the Town of Paris Recreation Committee

• Lifetime resident of Paris

Billcracknellcommunity Builder Dedicated

Born in Paris - September, 1936

• Paris Minor Hockey President 19701974

• Paris Minor Hockey executive member for 45 years

•Prepared Ontario Minor Hockey Association play-off contracts for 38 years

•Founded Grand Valley Hockey League 1963

•Paris Minor Hockey Local League convenor for 13 years

•Served as Paris Minor Hockey Peewee tournament convenor for 15 years

•Certificate of Recognition from the Government of Ontario for contributions for Paris and area hockey, 1987

• Ontario Minor Hockey Association Honour Award 1993

•Ontario Minor Hockey Association Patrick Hartley Administrators award finalist, 2001

• 1st ever Lifetime Award membership for Paris Minor Hockey Association, 2008

•Southern Counties Lifetime Achievement Award 2017

•Umpired Baseball, Fastball and Softball 1960’s

• Coached Paris Minor Baseball, Fastball and Softball 1960’s

• Lifetime resident of Paris

ROBERT PERLEY - COMMUNITY BUILDER DEDICATED

Born in Paris, January 6, 1930

• For 57 years, Robert has been a member of the Paris Curling Club joining the club in 1966

• Bob has served in every capacity with the Paris Curling Club from Bonspiel Coordinator to President

• Bob was the coordinator and convener of the Thursday Morning Mixed Curling club for 16 years

• Served as the Paris Curling Club Parking Volunteer Liaison for over 5 years

• Bob served as an ice maker, cleaner and mentor at the Paris Curling Club. He continues to be responsible for grounds and maintenance and is still a major driver of business sponsorship packages

• In 2017, Bob lead the largest renovation, since the original building, in the Curling Club history with the floor replacement project, serving as designer and project manager

• The last two years during COVID-19, Bob was in charge of the maintenance and well-being of the Club building, completing repairs himself or taking the lead in calling trades to perform necessary maintenance, if he can be convinced to use a professional service

• Bob has garnered the respect of everyone within the Paris Curling Club, surrounding clubs and industry specialists with whom he has been in contact

• The biggest take away from the above noted accomplishments is Bob is a volunteer He acts as a manager and keeper of the Paris Curling Club strictly as a volunteer

Senior Football season ends with dramatic 32-28 loss to St. John’s

Paris Panthers Reports with George Le Gresley

Sometimes football games are like a television dramas and thrillers, with twist and turns and surprise endings. Last year’s Grey Cup is an example of this, where the second string quarterback comes in and wins the game.

Thursday night’s Senior Football semifinal game between the 4th placed Paris Panthers and the 1st places St John’s Eagles, had the same drama of a great championship game.

The first quarter was dominated by the Panthers, with the Panthers driving down the field with Kruz Korslick and Jack Kelly carrying the ball to the 15-yard line. Kicker Jack Bailey kicks a field goal, and the Panthers took a 3-0 lead with 6:35 remaining in the quarter

The St John’s offence took possession at their 35-yard line with a pass that was intercepted by Panther Adam Floto, who ran it down to the 4-yard line. Jack Kelly took the snap and ran the ball in for a touchdown and with an extra point Paris took a 10-0 lead.

St John’s got possession of the ball, but their offence sputtered, and the Panthers took over and drove the ball from their 30-yard line to the Eagle’s goal line and scored a touchdown. Paris Panthers had the convert attempt blocked making the score Panthers 16Eagles 0.

The Eagles offence gets the ball but again but fails to make any progress and the Panthers took over and scored on a 35-yard Jack Kelly run for a TD to take the 22-0 lead. The Eagles took to the air and scored their first TD on a 46-yard pass to close the gap on the score board 22-7 still in favour of Paris.

The second half started with the Panthers offence backed in close to their goal line and gave up a safety, followed by the Eagles turning on their pass attack to score a TD and now the score is 22-17

The Panthers continue with their run game and Jack Kelly scores a TD and a 28-17 lead with 5:84 left in the 4th quarter. The Eagles quickly move the ball down the field on passes and score a TD, cutting the Panther led to three, make it 28-25 for Paris with 3:40 left in the game.

Paris’ next series failed to move the ball On a punt St John’s started their drive from centre field and with 10 completes and a 57-yard pass for a TD, St John’s took the four-point lead and eventual win 32-28.

In the end the Paris’ defence couldn’t stop the devastating long passes that the Eagles threw at them. Kudos to Jack Kelly, who ran for over 150 yards