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Do you know of an outstanding athlete from Norfolk County who deserves to be inducted into the Norfolk County Sports Hall of Recognition? If so, there’s still time to submit nominations for the Class of 2024. The deadline for induction nominations is December 31, 2024.

Anyone who knows of a Norfolk County athlete who has consistently excelled at the highest levels of sport, a coach or builder who has left a lasting stamp on Norfolk’s sporting landscape, or a sports ambassador whose enthusiasm and commitment stands out above all others is welcome to submit a nomination package.

Nominations received by the December 31^st deadline will be considered for the Sports Hall’s Class of 2024, and those selected by the nomination committee will be honoured at the Sports Hall’s next Induction Dinner, tentatively scheduled for 2026.

Nomination forms are available on the Sports Hall’s web site, https://www.norfolksports.ca/. Click on the “Nomination Process” tab for more information. Completed nomination forms, along with supporting material, can be dropped off at the Simcoe Recreation Centre to the attention of the Sports Hall, or mailed to the updated address indicated on the current nomination form.

The Norfolk County Sports Hall of Recognition is currently celebrating its 30^th anniversary. Since its startup, the Norfolk County Sports Hall of Recognition has inducted over 90 individuals from throughout the county, including hockey greats Leonard “Red” Kelly and Ron “Chico” Maki as well as numerous builders and coaches without whose efforts the Norfolk sports landscape would look very different.

If you’d like to learn more about the Norfolk County Sports Hall of Recognition, check out the Sports Hall displays located in the pool viewing area of the Simcoe Recreation Centre. The “Hall” includes a permanent plaque wall as well as rotating displays featuring the most recent inductees.

Each year, Norfolk County and the Norfolk County Sports Hall of Recognition team up to host the Parade of Champions. This event recognizes individuals and teams who have medaled (i.e. finished first, second, or third) at provincial, national, or international championships, as well as anyone who has received individual honours (such as Coach of the Year) from provincial, national, or international sports organizations.

What’s Changing?
For the past few years, the Parade of Champions has been held at the Norfolk County Fair. This year, the Sports Hall Board has decided to try a different venue. This year’s Parade of Champions will take place at the Port Dover Community Centre on Sunday September 29^th. The event will begin at 2 p.m.

Who is Eligible?
The Parade of Champions will recognize:

• Norfolk County individuals and teams who have medaled (i.e. finished first, second, or third) at provincial, national, or international championships. (In the case of sports that don’t have a provincial championship to go to, we also recognize those who finished first, second, or third at highest competitive level available; for example, CWOSSA, in the case where there is no OFSSA championship in that sport.)
• Individuals from Norfolk who play on out-of-town teams (e.g. teams from other regions, provincial teams, etc.) are eligible for recognition if their team medaled at provincial, national, or international competitions
• Teams and Individuals who have received awards (such as Coach of the Year, Team of the Year, All-Star etc.) from provincial, national, or international sports organizations

How Can You Help?
If you know of a team or individual whose achievements since October 2023 would qualify them for the 2024 Parade of Champions, and they have not already been recognized at Council or at last year’s Parade of Champions, please contact us before September 16, 2024 at norfolkcountysportshall@gmail.com to let us know. In the case of a team, please provide a contact person willing to relay and provide information. We’re keeping a running list but don’t want to miss anyone!

How Will I Know If I’m Invited?
The Sports Hall will reach out to eligible individuals and teams (through a contact person), providing the details. However, if you don’t receive information about the event and think you should be included, please contact us at norfolkcountysportshall@gmail.com to let us know.

 

On June 15, 2024, 71 skaters hit the ice during on-ice sessions with Waterford’s Elaine Chuli, currently a goaltender with the Montreal team of the Professional Women’s Hockey League. Thank you to everyone who came out and made the Skate with the Greats event at Waterford Tricenturena such a success!

An event of this nature would not be successful without the contributions of people and organizations. The Sports Hall would like to thank (in no particular order):

• Holly VanNetten, who served as a skate patroller
• Elaine and her family, for setting up a great display of helmets, jerseys, etc.
• Our Sports Hall volunteers at the event, Jean Montgomery, Heather King, Sandy Smith, and Lisa Timpf
• Lori Roloson, for her opening remarks
• The Roloson family, for designating the Sports Hall as a venue for in memoriam donations for Donald Roloson. The generous donations made in memoriam funded the Skate with the Greats event, enabling the Sports Hall to offer this event free of charge
• Waterford Tim Hortons for donating coffee, hot chocolate, and Timbits
• Springview Farm Golf Course, for donating bags of chips
• Norfolk County, for allowing us to partner with their Community Days event
• All of the participants and parents, for making it such a pleasant and fun

  

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• Those who made donations at the event to support the Sports Hall
• And, of course, Elaine herself for being willing to participate in the event so that fans could meet her in person

A copy of the group photos will be sent to the email address of whoever registered the participants in the day’s event. If you don’t receive a photo by June 21, 2024, please contact us at norfolkcountysportshall@gmail.com

 

The Norfolk County Sports Hall of Recognition will hold its next Induction Dinner July 13, 2024 at the Hungarian Hall in Delhi. The event will honour 2022 inductees Shane Bergman and Shirley Shaw, as well as 2023 inductees Barry Boughner and the late Paul Smithson.

Bergman spent seven seasons with the Canadian Football League’s Calgary Stampeders, and was a member of two Grey Cup-winning teams. Shaw is a long-time coach and organizer for Special Olympics, and was named Special Olympics Ontario Female Coach of the Year in 2016.

Boughner played six years of professional hockey in the IHL, CHL, AHL, and NHL. A standout baseball player, he was also named to the Gold Bat Club as one of the top 100 Intercounty Baseball League players since 1919.

Smithson’s curling career spanned 37 years and included two provincial championship titles, two berths in the provincial finals, and 15 Zone championships. Described as “a great ambassador for the sport,” Smithson also assisted with running bonspiels, promoting the game, and introducing new people to curling.

John Axford, who was named as a 2023 inductee, is unavailable for this year’s ceremony due to previous commitments, and will be honoured at a future induction event.

Tickets for the Induction Dinner are on sale until June 20, and are available for purchase at the Simcoe Recreation Centre Customer Service Desk and at Dave’s Variety in Delhi. Tickets are $60 per adult, and $20 for children aged 6 to 12. Admission is free for children 5 and under.

Doors will open at 4 p.m., with the 2022 and 2023 inductees being introduced at 4:45. The dinner will begin at 5:00, with the induction ceremony to follow.

This year marks the thirtieth anniversary of the Norfolk County Sports Hall of Recognition, whose displays can be viewed on the pool viewing deck of the Simcoe Recreation Centre. More information about the Norfolk County Sports Hall of Recognition and its activities is available at our web site, https://www.norfolksports.ca/.

Elaine Chuli will be the featured guest at a “Skate with the Greats” event at the Waterford Tricenturena June 15, 2024. Hosted by the Norfolk County Sports Hall of Recognition, this event will allow participants to meet and skate with Chuli, a goaltender with the Montreal team of the Professional Women’s Hockey League.

The on-ice portion of the event will run from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. There are still openings in the  11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. time slot (as of June 6, the 12:15 to 1 p.m. time slot has been filled.) Though there is no fee to participate, pre-registration is required.

Helmets are recommended for on-ice participants. A group photo will be taken with Elaine at the end of each on-ice session. Participants are welcome to wear hockey jerseys if they wish.

To register, contact norfolkcountysportshall@gmail.com, and provide the first and last names of anyone who is participating in the on-ice session (we need this information for registration). Openings are only available in the 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. time slot.

Registration will be limited to 50 people per session. Registration will close June 10, 2024, or earlier if slots are filled.

After the on-ice sessions, Elaine will be available from 1 to 2 p.m. in the Tricenturena lobby area for autograph signing and photo opportunities.

The event is available free of charge thanks to generous donations made to the Norfolk County Sports Hall of Recognition in memory of the late Donald Roloson. The Sports Hall also thanks Waterford Tim Horton’s and Springview Farm Golf Course for their support.

The Skate With the Greats event will be part of Norfolk’s Community Days celebrations. As the Tricenturena parking lot will be occupied with other displays, participants will need to park off-site.

Originally from Waterford, Ontario, Chuli has amassed an impressive hockey resume. She played goal for the University of Connecticut Huskies, earning team MVP honours in 2014, 2015, and 2016.

She was also a member of the Toronto Six of the Premier Hockey Federation, helping them win an Isobel Cup in 2023. In 2022, Chuli was named Goaltender of the Year for the PHF, and was also named the All-Star Game MVP.

Most recently, during the Professional Women’s Hockey League’s inaugural 2023-2024 season, Chuli played in eight games for Montreal, posting a league-leading 1.61 Goals Against Average.

Q&A:

Q: I’m going to be bringing a child to the event, but not participating on the ice. Do I need to register?

A: No. We only need the names of those participating in the on-ice portion, so we can check their names off on arrival

Q: Can I still attend the photo opp/autograph session if I don’t participate in the on-ice session?

A: Yes. The 1 to 2 p.m. photo opp/autograph session is open to all.

Q: Do I have to pay admission?

A: Thanks to in memoriam donations received by the Sports Hall in honour of Donald Roloson, we are able to offer this event at no charge to participants.

Q: Should on-ice participants bring hockey sticks?

A: No.

Q: If I want an autograph, should I bring something to sign?

A: We are planning to provide photos for Elaine to sign. However, if there is something you wish her to sign, that can be accommodated within reason.

Q: Will refreshments be available?

A: The Sports Hall is planning to have snacks and drinks available for purchase.

 

 

 

To keep everyone updated on the Sports Hall’s activities and events, we have launched a newsletter, which will be posted on the web site and emailed out to those who wish to receive it. If you’d like to be added to the mailing list for the newsletter, please contact us at norfolkcountysportshall@gmail.com.

You can navigate to the newsletter by clicking on the “Newsletter” tab on the web site’s menu.

 

 

The annual Parade of Champions, which is conducted by the County of Norfolk and the Norfolk County Sports Hall of Recognition, recognizes teams and individuals who have won provincial, national, or international sporting competitions. This year’s Parade of Champions will take place on Tuesday, October 3 at the Norfolk County Fair.

The Parade of Champions recognizes individuals from Norfolk County who have won provincial, national, or international championships between October 2022 and present, as well as those who have been honoured with awards, such as Coach of the Year, from a provincial, national, or international sports organization.

While the Sports Hall has been keeping a running tally of championship achievements listed by local media, we want to ensure we don’t miss anyone. If you know of a team or individual who qualifies for inclusion and hasn’t yet been contacted regarding this event, please get in touch with the Sports Hall at norfolkcountysportshall@gmail.com.

 

Registration is now open for the Norfolk County Sports Hall of Recognition’s fundraising golf tournament.

The event is slated for Friday, June 9, 2023 at Springview Farm Golf Course, with tee times beginning at 9 a.m.

Golfers can register as a team of four, with three divisions (Ladies’, Men’s, and Mixed) to choose from. Mixed teams must have 2 men and 2 women. Entry fee is $100 per golfer, and includes 18 holes of golf, a cart, and lunch.

The tournament will be played in a scramble format, with prizes awarded in each division.

The golf tournament is one of the main fundraising avenues for the Sports Hall, which hosts Induction Dinners every two years, as well as supporting other events like October’s Parade of Champions.

To register, contact Sandy Smith, Secretary, sandrasmith_9@hotmail.com.

The Sports Hall’s displays are available for viewing at the pool viewing area in the Simcoe Recreation Centre.

 

 

Norfolk County Sports Hall of Recognition: The First Twenty-Five Years is now available for $20 a copy, and can be purchased at the Simcoe Recreation Centre Customer Service Desk, at Firefly & Fox books in Simcoe, or at Nifty Gifty in Waterford.

The book, written by local historian and Sports Hall inductee George Pond, is a full-color softcover printed on quality paper. In addition to offering a history of the Sports Hall itself, the book includes photos and profiles of all individuals inducted to the Norfolk County Sports Hall of Recognition between 1996 and 2018, as well as photos of the 11 teams inducted into the Hall.

Lists of Reunion of Champions teams and Parade of Champions teams and individuals honored between 2003 up to 2018 are included, as are highlights of various events such as the Red Kelly Homecoming and 2009 Olympic Torch Relay.

 

Congratulations to David Baldock, whose name was drawn from among the correct entries to the Norfolk County Sports Hall of Recognition’s trivia contest held November 1 to December 31, 2022.

For his winning entry, David receives a $25 gift certificate for David’s Restaurant.

Thank you to all entrants, and to David’s Restaurant for donating the contest prize.