June 14, 2018
Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame #INSPIRECANADA Media Conference
Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame – Calgary, June 14, 2018 – The Class of 2018 Inductees are in Calgary for the first time and were able to see the Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame facility where their legacy will live on for generations to come. An exhibit featuring the Inductees will be opened in their honour following their official induction on Thursday, October 18, 2018 in Toronto. Induction into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame is one of Canada’s highest sporting honours.
2018 marks the second year of Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame’s, #InspireCanada campaign, aimed at encouraging young women in sports. 70% of girls quit sport by the age of 13. Proceeds from the #INSPIRECANADA Gala will be used to help create more awareness of this national issue by allowing us to engage girls to tell their stories of why sport is so important. Stephanie Dixon, Honoured Member and Paralympic Swimmer spoke to students this morning from St. Joan of Arc School in Calgary, on the importance of dedication in sports and the values they instill.
“We are excited to have the Class of 2018 visiting us today at Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame to continue supporting our Girls in Sport Initiative. They are a group of fantastic athletes that we feel well represents Canada’s rich sporting history.” – Cheryl Bernard, President and CEO, Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame.
We unveiled the cover of our 7th children’s book created in partnership with Literacy for Life and Schlumberger Canada. This book features the stories of our Class of 2018 Inductees along with a short novel written by Alberta author, Sigmund Brouwer. The book will be distributed to 10,000 youth who visit Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame in the upcoming year in hopes of inspiring them to be the best they can be in sport, school, work, and life.
The Class of 2018 includes:
- Jeff Adams – Six-time World Champion wheelchair racer, he captured thirteen Paralympic medals and is an advocate promoting equal treatment for people with disabilities.
- Damon Allen – Four-time Grey Cup champion and considered one of the most distinguished quarterbacks in the Canadian Football League.
- Mary Baker – The first Canadian to sign with the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League as a catcher and the first female sport broadcaster in Canada.
- Chandra Crawford – Olympic Gold Medallist in Cross Country Skiing and dedicated to empowering girls across North America to stick with sports and lead healthy, active lifestyles.
- Alexandre Despatie – First athlete ever crowned FINA world champion in all three categories of diving and two-time Olympic Silver Medallist.
- Dave Keon – Four-time Stanley Cup Champion with the Toronto Maple Leafs and the third-highest all-time points leader in franchise history.
- Dr. Sandra Kirby – A former Olympic rower and an accomplished educator, sport administrator, coach and activist fighting sexual harassment and abuse and violence against children in sport.
- Wilton Littlechild – A pioneering role model, organizer and advocate for Indigenous sport in Canada that spans over five decades.
Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame is a national charitable organization established in 1955. Each year, a class of the country’s most influential and inspiring athletes and sport builders are inducted. They are true Canadian sports heroes that can inspire all Canadians to be the best they can be in all aspects of life.
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The Class of 2018 present today, back row from L-R, Damon Allen, Maureen Baker (daughter of the late Mary Baker), Dr. Sandra Kirby, Chandra Crawford, and front, Jeff Adams
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ABOUT CANADA’S SPORTS HALL OF FAME
Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame is an international award-winning facility with over 40,000 square feet of inspiring experiences. Located at WinSport’s Canada Olympic Park, site of the 1988 Olympic Winter Games in Calgary, Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame features 12 galleries, dozens of hands-on interactive experiences and a collection of 100,000 artefacts. It is a place of honour for the 657 inducted sport legends and the 66 sports they represent. Our mission is to share the stories of the achievements of our inducted Honoured Members so that we can inspire all Canadians to be the best they can be in all aspects of life. Please visit www.sportshall.ca to learn more about the Girls in Sport initiative, education programs, and facility rentals.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Marina Montgomery
Marketing & Communications Manager
mmontgomery@cshof.ca
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