It is with heavy hearts that the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame shares the passing of long-time executive director Sheila Kelly.
Sheila served as the SSHF Executive Director from 1989 until her retirement in 2023. She passed away on September 20th after a prolonged illness.
Her dedication, passion and professionalism not only helped the SSHF experience growth during her tenure, but she also became an industry leader in the sport heritage field in Canada and North America.
To that end, she received the W.R. “Bill” Schroeder Distinguished Service Award from the International Sports Heritage Association in 2017. The Schroeder Award is the highest honour presented by ISHA and bestowed to individuals for meritorious service of lasting nature in the sports heritage industry. The Schroeder Award is not bestowed annually, rather it is awarded only when someone has been deemed worthy of receiving it.
During Sheila’s time as executive director, the SSHF won nine provincial, national, or international awards.
Sheila was passionate about preserving and sharing sport heritage and celebrating the SSHF’s wonderful inductees. The SSHF’s Sport History Project grant is unique to Saskatchewan and under her stewardship, more than 40 significant projects were completed. She nurtured the development of many local Sports Halls of Fame in Saskatchewan and she helped bring the hall into the digital age by taking the stories and accomplishments of our inductees online, ensuring that rich history is broadly accessible. She was also instrumental in the creation of the Hall of Fame’s Travelling Mobile Exhibit as part of the SSHF’s 50th anniversary celebrations.
Sheila also guided the Hall of Fame through the pandemic and many other challenging periods during the decades when she led the organization. She left the Hall of Fame in robust health and on strong footing upon her retirement.
Sheila will be dearly missed by all of her former colleagues at the Hall of Fame – both past and present – and by the innumerable people whose lives she touched during her storied career.
At Sheila’s request, there will not be a celebration of life, but in lieu of flowers, the family asked that donations be made to the ALS Society in Sheila’s honour.