The North Bay Sports Hall of Fame will hold the 40th Annual and 41st Annual Induction and Awards Dinners May 7 and May 14, respectively, at the Davedi Club. The 2020 and 2021 events were cancelled due to COVID pandemic restrictions on gatherings.
Newly announced inductions for the 41st event May 14 include: Geoff Burton, Rose (James) Gelinas, Peter Gavan and Mario Spina.
Scollard Hall athletic standout Mario Spina in 1975 receiving the Mike Mitchell Trophy from John Mitchell for contributions to the sport of football. Spina is among the 2021 inductees to the North Bay Sports Hall of Fame to be honoured at the awards dinner hosted by the Davedi Club May 14.
Sports Award Winners for 2020-2021:
Jack Burrows Memorial Award for Sports Achievement – Mike O’Shea; James Kelly Memorial Award for Team of the Year 2020 – Widdifield Senior Girl’s Volleyball; James Kelly Memorial Award for Team of the Year 2021– Lakers Women’s Soccer; Judge Harry J Reynolds Memorial Trophy for Hockey – Ben Gaudreau; Al Brennan Memorial Trophy for Coach of the Year – Dave Bitonti; Jim Aspin Memorial Award for Executive of the Year – Bill Jacko; Pete Palangio Award for Contribution to Sport – Dave Saad; Peter Handley Friend of Sport – Dick Tafel; John Toswell Memorial Award for Curling – Peter Finch; and Special Olympics Award of Excellence – Canadore School of Recreation and Sport Students.
Stephanie (Topolie) Loreto
Previously announced 2020 the 40th Annual Induction and Awards Dinner May 7 will honour inductees; Susan Fisher, Len Gushe and Claude Peloquin, plus newly appointed inductees Stephanie (Topolie) Loreto and Damon Topolie.
Sports Award Winners for 2019:
Jack Burrows Memorial Award for Sports Achievement – Jaimee Bull/Rob Shaw ; Dedication to Soccer (North Bay Youth Soccer) – Dan Kapitanchuk; James Kelly Memorial Award for Team of the Year – NB Major Midget AAA Trappers; Dominico Family Award for Contribution to Softball/Baseball – NB Novice Girl’s Select; George Martyn Memorial Trophy for Basketball – Rick Cowden; Judge Harry J Reynolds Memorial Trophy for Hockey – Rick Mitchell; Al Brennan Memorial Trophy for Coach of the Year – Jim Forsyth; Jim Aspin Memorial Award for Executive of the Year – Mark Brown; Mort Fellman Memorial Award for Female Athlete of the Year – Emma Shea; Britt Jessup Memorial Award for Male Athlete of the Year – James Piper/Keon Wallingford; Pete Palangio Award for Contribution to Sport – Richard Lachance; Peter Handley Friend of Sport – Moe Bedard; Mike Mitchell-Larry Avery Memorial Award for Football – Mark Robertson; John Toswell Memorial Award for Curling – Mike Callahan; and Special Olympics Award of Excellence – Hudson Booth.
Tickets are available from Executive Members: Dave Saad 705-472-7041, Larry Tougas 705-303-8104 or any Hall of Fame Board Member. Tickets are also available at the Davedi Club by calling 705-474-4190.
Those interested in searching past inductees are invited to explore the North Bay Sports Hall of Fame website at http://www.northbaysportshalloffame.ca
Writer, photographer and proud father. My mom’s family is from the Soo with its Algoma Highlands, dad hailed from Cobden in the Ottawa Valley and I spent my teen years in Capreol. Summers were at the beach on the Vermillion River and winters at ‘The Rink.’ Born in East York but Toronto never was my thing. Ever since a kid looking out the window on long trips, I imagined living on the highway in a little house with a big yard and trees growing all around me.
