Category Archives: News

Celebrating Archives Week with oddities from sport history

Posted by on

It is the 20th annual Archives Week in Saskatchewan. To celebrate the important role archives play in preserving the history of the province, the Hall of Fame is sharing some of the archival oddities that capture the rich history of sport in Saskatchewan.

We have been digging through the archives to find interesting stories and photos that capture unique and lesser-known stories from the history of Saskatchewan sport. Each day during Archives Week we will share one of those stories, add it to this post and share it through our social media channels.

Monday’s Archive Week post features a photo of Joe Griffiths, an SSHF inductee who was a key figure in the history of the University of Saskatchewan athletics.

Ernest Wynne “Joe” Griffiths started his 32-year career as the University of Saskatchewan’s Physical Director in 1919. Griffiths mentored amateur and professional athletes including 1928 Olympic gold medalist Ethel Catherwood, breaststroke world record holder Phyllis Haslam, and Olympic decathlete Bob Adams. Griffiths himself coached swimming at the 1936 Olympics, track and field at the 1948 Olympics and was also part of the Canadian delegation in 1932.

In honour of Joe’s lengthy career, the University of Saskatchewan named their outdoor athletic field in his honour in 1936.

This photo features Griffiths at left firing the starter’s pistol during the Gil Watson memorial torch race during the “Griffiths Rally” held during Frosh Week at the U of S. Four students prepare to use flaming torches instead of batons during the race to compete for the Gil Watson memorial trophy.

Accession number: University of Saskatchewan Archives, A-1087

October 24, 1976, was George Reed Day at Taylor Field. Reed’s No. 34 was retired at half time of the Saskatchewan Roughriders game on the 11th anniversary of Reed’s 268-yard rushing day – still the second-most in CFL history.

Accession number: 2011_36_71 d

Tim Roth, left, and Gary Brandt from the Saskatchewan Roughriders carry a grandfather clock purchased by the Roughriders players, coaches and staff and onto Taylor Field to present to George Reed on George Reed Day in 1976.

There was a “presentation by the fans” of a green 1977 Cadillac purchased with proceeds from a fundraiser and delivered by future SSHF inductee Arnold Boldt at the half-time ceremony. Boldt had recently won two gold medals at the 1976 Olympiad for the Physically Disabled (a precursor to the Paralympics).

On Wednesday, February 5, the Provincial Archives of Saskatchewan (2440 Broad Street) will host a presentation by architectural historian Frank Korvemaker at 7 p.m. Archives Week: The Thrill of Discovery focuses on the “needles in a haystack” that he has researched throughout his career and his joy at discovering the answer in the archives.

There will be a guided behind-the-scenes tour of the Provincial Archives following the presentation and displays from local archives, including the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame. The SSHF’s “Major Bell Collection” will be on display and features some of the oldest artifacts in the Hall of Fame’s collection with trophies and medals dating back to the 19th century.

The five trophies on display (and pictures left to right) are: Governor General’s Cup – Dominion Match (1870), North-West Territorial Exhibition Cup (1895), Tanner-Sheppard Champion Cup (1892), Hudson’s Bay Company Cup (1887), and the Manitoba Club Rifle Association Loving Cup (1912).

The shadowbox features war medals and insignia, shooting medals and a Lieutenant-Governor’s Gold Medal from 1895. The oldest medals date back to 1865 and 1866.

Traditional Indigenous games highlight this year’s School’s Out program

Posted by on

This February, the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame has a unique way for you to get active and have fun over the school break.

For this year’s edition of our School’s Out program the Hall of Fame is partnering with Nature Saskatchewan to offer a chance to try four traditional Indigenous games for free from February 18-21 in Victoria Park.

The School’s Out program will run twice daily, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Participants will enjoy a guided tour of the SSHF galleries, active play on our adaptive curling rink, STEM Gallery, and multisport simulator. Then, weather permitting, we’ll head outside to play four traditional Indigenous games: run and scream, hoop and arrow, hoop and stick, and rock and fist.

After two hours of fun, participants can warm up with hot chocolate and cookies in our boardroom. The program is free, thanks to a Winter Initiatives Grant from the City of Regina and is best suited for children aged 4–12.

There is a limit of 20 participants per session (including children and adults). Parents/chaperones are expected to stay with their children and are welcome to join the activities. Please include parents/chaperones when registering the number of participants. Reserve your spot by selecting “School’s Out” under “Select Event Type” on the SSHF homepage.

Reminders:

  • Bring a water bottle.
  • Dress appropriately for outdoor activities.

Questions? Please email our Education Coordinator [email protected] or call 306-780-9232.

If you need to cancel, please email [email protected].

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2025 SSHF memberships now available!

Posted by on

As we head into the final days of the year, Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame memberships for 2025 are now available!

There are many ways to support the Hall of Fame but one of the simplest is through the purchase of an annual membership.

Memberships are a simple and effective way to contribute to the Hall of Fame’s mission of preserving and celebrating Saskatchewan’s sporting legacy. By joining, you are playing a direct role in supporting educational programs, maintaining the collection of over 20,000 artifacts, and ensuring that the stories of our province’s sporting heroes continue to inspire future generations.

Memberships are $35 per year for individuals or $50 per year for a family. Members receive exclusive Invitations to exhibit openings and other special events hosted at or by the SSHF. Members also receive unlimited access to the SSHF and a subscription to the For The Record newsletter.

A robust membership base allows the SSHF to demonstrate our impact in the province, which in turn helps us leverage more self-help funding opportunities. We thank our members for their continued support of the Hall of Fame. Your support allows us to continue fulfilling our mandate of preserving and sharing Saskatchewan’s rich sport history for future generations.

You can fill out the form below to purchase a membership or contact us at the Hall of Fame by email or by calling 306-780-9232.

Thank you for your continued support of the SSHF!

SSHF is out on the town in January!

Posted by on

This January, the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame is hitting the road and partnering with four local tourist attractions to bring our programming to their space.

Join us each Saturday in January from 1-3 p.m. for an hour of interactive STEAM programming and then an hour of fun games and activities outside.

The program will be held:
January 4: Royal Saskatchewan Museum (2445 Albert St.)
January 11: Saskatchewan Science Centre (2903 Powerhouse Dr.)
January 18: Government House (4607 Dewdney Ave.)
January 25: RCMP Heritage Centre (5907 Dewdney Ave.)

Our STEAM program shows how science, technology, engineering, art, and math relate to sport. You can test your physical fitness and learn about the great history of Saskatchewan sport. Visitors can test their long jump, grip strength, flexibility and more and then compare their scores to notable professional athletes from Saskatchewan and beyond.

The program is geared towards elementary school-aged students, but is fun for the whole family if more people want to take part. If you wish to join our program leaders and take part in our outdoor games, please ensure you dress for the weather.

Of course, visitors may also enjoy everything our host attraction has to offer while also getting a taste of the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame at the same time.

The Hall of Fame itself (2205 Victoria Ave.) will be closed on Saturdays in January while we offer our programming with our attractions partners.

Call for Donations/Consignments – SSHF Online Fundraising Auction!

Posted by on

The Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame is partnering with the Saskatchewan Network for Art Collecting to launch an online Art and Memorabilia Auction to raise funds to support the SSHF’s educational and outreach programming as well as other significant initiatives in the coming year.

Donations are invited from artists, art collectors, athletes and fans for a special online auction for the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame. We have limited space in the auction, but if you have items of value that you feel would contribute to the success of the auction, we would love to include them. We are accepting memorabilia and sports-themed artwork, but any piece of fine art would fit well within the items that are currently up for auction.

Any items brought to the Hall of Fame through this call-out will be auctioned off and will not be retained as part of our collection of artifacts.

If you have any item that you feel may be more appropriate to be part of our collection, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us to discuss an artifact donation.

The auction will be hosted by the Saskatchewan Network for Art Collecting, running online from January 30 to February 22, 2025, and will feature artwork and sport memorabilia.

DONATIONS: Artworks (any medium and subject, Saskatchewan or otherwise) and sport memorabilia will be offered with 100% of each winning bid going to the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame (SSHF) to support its programming throughout Saskatchewan.

CONSIGNMENTS: Additionally, artworks which feature sports imagery can be consigned to the auction with 50% of the winning bid going to the SSHF and 50% going back to the consignor.

Charitable Donation Receipts will be issued for SSHF revenue of $100 or more. This online auction will feature over 100 Saskatchewan, Canadian and international artworks, with artworks already confirmed by Michael Lonechild, Jason Robins, Henri Masson, Neville Clark, Zora Buchanan, Charles Bragg, Carol Ann Shelton and more, along with sports memorabilia from Saskatchewan, Canada and beyond.

For more information, and to offer a consignment or donation, contact the Hall of Fame:
email: [email protected]
phone: 306-780-9232

Or contact:
Robin Schlaht:
email: [email protected]
phone: 306-569-9102
or learn more at the SKNAC website.

Successful auction supports Hall’s initiatives

Posted by on

The Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame’s first online and silent auction was a rousing success.

This year, the Hall of Fame raised $7,830 thanks to the bids on their 13 auction items. In addition, an additional $987 was raised during a 50-50 draw held during our Induction Dinner & Ceremony. All told, $8,817 was raised at the end of the night.

These funds will support the Hall of Fame’s educational programming, outreach programming and other initiatives for the coming year. This support is vital in helping us preserve and share the stories of Saskatchewan’s rich sport history.

The Hall of Fame thanks everyone who bid and we hope our winning bidders are pleased with their items

This auction would not be possible without the outstanding support of a number of organizations and individuals who contributed items to be auctioned off.

A large thank you to:

All-Sask Coffee Service
Canadian Western Agribition
Conexus Arts Centre
Curl Canada
Knotted Thistle Pub
Kris Knoblach & The Oilers Entertainment Group
Leo’s Group
Regina Hotel Association
Regina Pats
Saskatchewan Roughriders
Starbucks
Sherwood Co-operative Association Ltd.
Urban Wine Cellars
Hayley Wickenheiser

Hall adds seven new members

Posted by on

The Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame welcomed its seven newest inductees at its annual Induction Dinner & Ceremony on Saturday, September 28.

The 2024 Induction Class features a pair of rodeo athletes who were inducted posthumously: Ray Mitsuing (Loon Lake – rodeo) and Carl Olson (Fir Mountain – rodeo) as well as Chelsea (Stone) Mazzei (Regina – taekwondo) who was also inducted in the athlete category. The two builders who were enshrined were Wayne Hellquist (Saskatoon – volleyball) and Karen Howard (Melville – figure skating). The 2018, 2019 & 2023 Sherry Anderson Senior Women’s Curling Team and the 2003-2004 University of Saskatchewan Huskies Men’s Volleyball Team were also inducted in the team category.

With the addition of this stellar class of inductees, there are now 554 honoured inductees who are in the Hall of Fame. These inductees include 254 athletes, 171 builders and 129 championship teams which represent 53 sports and 151 Saskatchewan communities.

The success of the evening could not have been possible without the sponsors who supported the Induction Dinner & Ceremony.

Access Communications were the broadcast & hot stove panel sponsors; Information Services Corporation, Saskatchewan Lotteries and Fire Cube Video were the Inductee vignette presenting sponsors; Signature PrintIt and T.G. Marketing were the print sponsors; Robertson Stromberg LLC sponsored the dessert table and were the volunteer sponsor; Barker’s Trophies Awards & Gifts, Conexus Arts Centre, SIGA and Prairie Plastic Engraving also graciously sponsored the event.

Darrell Romuld from CTV Morning Live once again emceed the event and hosted the hot stove panel with Chelsea (Stone) Mazzei, Sherry Anderson and Brandon Needham from the Huskies.

The Induction ceremony will be broadcast on Access Communications with the first airing being shown on Friday, Oct. 11 at 3 p.m.

Chelsea (Stone) Mazzei, left, Brandon Needham, and Sherry Anderson take part in the hot stove panel.

Remembering Sheila Kelly

Posted by on

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.

SSHF closed to reflect and commemorate National Truth and Reconciliation Day

Posted by on

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30 honours the children who never came home and the survivors of the residential school system as well as their families and communities.

The Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame will be closed on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation as we pause to reflect on the impact and enduring legacy of the residential school system in Canada as we commit to moving toward reconciliation.

The commemoration of the history and ongoing impact of the residential school system is an important part of the reconciliation process. The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation was established in response to Call to Action 80 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada which called for a federal statutory day of commemoration.

At the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame, we are committed to following the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s 87th Call to Action that calls on sports halls of fame to provide public education that tells the national story of Aboriginal athletes in history.

This year the Hall of Fame added a new exhibit called Truth and Reconciliation: Calls To Action which features artifacts and displays celebrating Saskatchewan indigenous sporting achievement. It also features a dedicated tablet that tells their stories in detail.

We continue to offer our Indigenous Legacies in Sport outreach exhibit to classrooms across the province where we share the vital role that Indigenous athletes and builders have played in Saskatchewan’s sport and cultural history.

The Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame also has a display case and video kiosk celebrating Saskatchewan Indigenous athletes and their achievements, which is permanent displayed in the Physical Activity Complex at the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Kinesiology in Saskatoon.

The Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame currently has 11 individual athletes who identify as Indigenous and have been inducted. Those athletes and builders are: Paul Acoose, Colette Bourgonje, Tony Cote, Alex Decoteau, David Greyeyes, Jacqueline Lavallee, Ray Mitsuing, Jim Neilson, Claude Petit, Fred Sasakamoose, and Bryan Trottier.

In addition to the individual Indigenous inductees, there are also Indigenous inductees who were enshrined in the Hall of Fame as members of a team.

Ray Mitsuing is part of the 2024 Induction Class that was installed on September 28th. He is the first chuckwagon driver to be inducted into the SSHF. You can learn more about his story in his induction video below.

There are several inductees in the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame who were victims of the residential school system.

Fred Sasakamoose wrote vividly and candidly about his experience at the residential school in his 2021 autobiography Call Me Indian: From the Trauma of Residential School to Becoming the NHL’s First Treaty Indigenous Player. He suffered horrible abuse at the school as well as dehumanizing treatment along with the other students.

Despite all that he suffered as a child, Sasakamoose reached the National Hockey League as a 19-year-old in 1953 with the Chicago Black Hawks. In doing so, Sasakamoose became the first Indigenous person with Treaty status to play in the NHL.

Fred Sasakamoose at the opening of the SSHF’s Indigenous sport exhibit at the University of Saskatchewan.
David Stobbe/StobbePhoto.ca

Kenneth Moore, from the Peepeekisis Cree Nation, was inducted into the SSHF as a member of the 1930 Regina Pats hockey team that won the Memorial Cup. Moore is also the first Indigenous athlete to win an Olympic gold medal.

Moore was the third of eight siblings. His two older brothers had been taken to the Brandon Indian Residential School in Manitoba – more than 300 kilometres away. They both died after being sent to the residential school. Kenneth would have been forced to attend the school when he turned seven. Instead, the Moore family fled the Peepeekisis First Nation in the middle of the night.

These stories from two of our inductees are just a small example of the countless ways the residential school system has impacted the Indigenous population.

The Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame is proud to be physically located in Treaty 4 territory, which is home to the Cree, Dakota, Lakota, Nakota, and Saulteaux people since time immemorial and are the traditional homelands of the Métis Nation. The Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame also celebrates the history of sport and the people from the land that is covered by Treaties 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, and 10. These lands have been the home of the Cree, Dakota, Dene, Lakota, Nakota, and Saulteaux people since time immemorial and are the traditional homelands of the Métis Nation.

Our nomination process is open to the public and if you believe you know of an athlete, builder or team that deserves inclusion in the Hall of Fame we invite you to nominate them. You can learn more about that process here.

Winter fun Saturdays at the SSHF this December!

Posted by on

Winter has arrived in Saskatchewan and that means it’s time to have some fun in the snow!

The Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame will be hosting its Winter Pop-Up Event again this year on December 7, 14 & 21 from 1-3 p.m. This free event will be fun for the whole family and a great way for kids to get outside and have some fun this winter.

Join us at the Hall of Fame for a quick look around the Hall of Fame galleries, followed by games on our simulator, adaptive curling ice and interactive STEM Gallery sponsored by SaskTel. Then we will go outside to Victoria Park for some outdoor games in the snow. Afterwards everyone is invited back inside the Hall of Fame to warm-up with some hot chocolate and cookies. Guests are welcome to spend more time inside the Hall of Fame before we close at 4 p.m.

You can ensure your space at the event by registering on our website and choosing “Winter Pop-Up Event” under “Event Type” and your preferred date. Guests are also welcome to attend without pre-registering.

The program and the refreshments are free to all thanks to the support of the City of Regina’s Winter Initiatives Grant. Please be sure to dress for the weather and be prepared to be outside for close to an hour if you wish to enjoy all of the outdoor activities. We ask that everyone arrive at the Hall of Fame 10 minutes before we begin at 1 p.m.

SSHF online auction is now live!

Posted by on

The Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame is holding an online auction that is live and will transition into a live silent auction during the 2024 Hall of Fame Induction Dinner & Ceremony on September 28, 2024, at the Conexus Arts Centre.

We are excited about the quality and range of items up for auction thanks to the generous support of a number of businesses and organizations.

The auction features a signed No. 97 Connor McDavid home Adidas Edmonton Oilers jersey generously donated by head coach Kris Knoblauch and the Oilers Entertainment Group. The jersey is a size large and features the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs patch. It comes with a certificate of authenticity.

Generously donated by 2023 inductee Hayley Wickenheiser, is a signed Team Canada XS-sized jersey that features a Canada 150 patch, an IIHF patch and has room on the back for your own nameplate and number.

The auction also features a number of ticket packages up for auction including a private suite for six at the Connexus Arts Centre for your choice of one of their world-class shows in the coming year. There are four East Side gold tickets to the October 12 Saskatchewan Roughriders game against the B.C. Lions. This package also includes two Rider game programs against the Lions from the 1960s.

The 2025 BKT Tires World Men’s Curling Championship is being held in Moose Jaw from March 29-April 6, 2025 and there are two opening weekend passes that cover five draws of the event up for auction. Also up for auction are vouchers to Regina Pats games this coming season as well some Pats memorabilia and a copy of the Junior Hockey’s Royal Franchise book. The Canadian Western Agribition has you rodeo ready with some CWA swag and a voucher for bonze-level rodeo seats during Agribition.

 

There are also gifts and packages from SaskEnergy, All-Sask Coffee, Over the Hill Orchards, the Knotted Thistle Pub, Leopold’s Tavern, and the SSHF as there is truly something for every interest and budget.

Online bidding will conclude at 4 p.m. on September 28. The in-person bidding will begin at the start of the Induction Dinner & Ceremony. Tickets are still available for the Induction Dinner & Ceremony if an interested bidder would like to be able to attend and bid in person.

SSHF offre des visites guidées en français

Posted by on

Notre guide touristique, Sebastian, est photographié en train de diriger notre programme Creating Active Champions.

Le Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame offre cet été deux jours de visites guidées en français !

Nous sommes ravis d’offrir pour la première fois une programmation dans les deux langues officielles du Canada. Ces visites guidées auront lieu les 27 juillet et 10 août, avec des visites à 13 h et 15 h chaque jour. Pour vous inscrire à la visite, veuillez cliquer sur «Select Event Type» sur notre site web et choisir «visites guidées en français», puis choisir votre date et heure pour réserver votre place.

Le Hall of Fame propose des jeux amusants et interactifs pour tous les âges, et notre exposition principale célèbre les liens familiaux des athlètes de la Saskatchewan. Nous organisons également des expositions célébrant les athlètes autochtones, la participation historique de la province aux Jeux olympiques et honorant notre nouveau groupe d’intronisés.

Sebastian Weir a aidé à diriger notre programme d’été au cours des deux années précédentes. Il est un récent diplômé universitaire qui enseignera en français. Compte tenu de la maîtrise du français de Sebastian et des Jeux olympiques d’été qui se dérouleront à Paris, cela semblait le moment idéal pour proposer une visite en français.

Dans le cadre de cette initiative, nous avons également créé une version française de nos documents de visite autoguidée si les futurs visiteurs francophones souhaitent découvrir ce que nous avons à offrir.

•  •  •  •

The Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame is offering two days of guided tours in French this summer!

We are excited to offer programming in both of Canada’s official languages for the first time. This guided tour will take place on July 27 and August 10 with tours beginning at 13h et 15h each day. To register for the tour, please click on “Select Event Type” on our website and choose “visites guides en francais” and then choose your date and time to reserve your place.

The Hall of Fame has fun, interactive games for all ages and our featured exhibit celebrates the family links of Saskatchewan athletes. We also have exhibits celebrating our newest group of inductees as well as exhibits on the SSHF’s Indigenous inductees, and the province’s involvement in the Summer Olympics.

Sebastian Weir has helped lead our Creating Active Champions summer programming for the two previous summers and has recently graduated from the University of Regina and is set to begin his career as a French immersion teacher. Given Sebastian’s proficiency in French and with the Summer Olympics occurring in Paris, this seemed like an ideal to have Sebastian lead guided tours of the Hall of Fame in French.

As part of this initiative, we have also created a French version of our self-guided tour documents should future visitors wish to experience what the Hall of Fame has to offer in French.

Three directors elected at SSHF AGM

Posted by on

The Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame added two new Board members and re-elected a sitting Board member to another term at their Annual General Meeting on June 5.

Kelvin Ostapowich was re-elected to a third, three-year term, while Taylor Froehlich and Jennifer Leflar were each elected to their first, three-year terms.

The minutes from the 2024 SSHF AGM are now available here.

Froehlich is originally from Moose Jaw and grew up playing competitive fastball which she continues to play. After graduating from Mount Royal University in Calgary, she moved to Regina where she passed the Common Final Exam of the CPA program in 2019 and officially became a Chartered Professional Accountant in 2021. Froehlich works at The Corner Office as a Senior Associate, providing contracted CFO and Controller services to a diverse client base. She oversees more than 20 clients at The Corner Office, spanning across different industries, with a specialized focus on non-profit organizations.

Leflar is the vice president responsible for the enterprise change management team at SGI. Prior to her role as VP, she led one of the company’s busiest corporate functions, the communications, design and media relations teams. She also served as Director of Corporate Strategy in 2017 and 2018. Jennifer began her career as a radio and television news reporter, winning industry awards for breaking news coverage. Leflar holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Regina, with a focus on executive management. She lives in Regina with her husband and two kids. A lifelong baseball fan, she has visited many iconic ballparks and the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.

Ostapowich was inducted into the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame as a member of the 1986 Regina Rams national champion football team. He has been a long-serving member of the Rams’ Board. He works in the wealth management sector as a Portfolio Manager with CIBC Wood Gundy. Ostapowich sat as Chair of the Sport History Committee in 2023-24.

Both Tim Leier and Scott Kistner have finished their time on the SSHF Board and did not seek re-election.

Robb Elchuk returns to serve another year as the Chair of the Hall of Fame. Elchuk had served a two-year term as Chair from 2020 to 2022 and helped guide the SSHF through the pandemic before moving into the Past Chair role. Trent Blezy served as Chair for a two-year term from 2022-24 and led the Hall of Fame through a transitional time and the hiring of a new Executive Director. Blezy will now serve as the Past Chair. Karen Meban (Vice Chair) and Mike Babcock (Treasurer) retain their positions as Officers of the Hall.

During the AGM, Neal Fense from Virtus Group presented the independent auditor’s report and the financial statement for the 2023/24 fiscal year which is available here.

The 2024-25 SSHF Board of Directors:

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Chair – Robb Elchuk
Vice Chair – Karen Meban
Treasurer – Mike Babcock
Past Chair – Trent Blezy

DIRECTORS
Amber Day
Taylor Froehlich
Tenille Grimeau
Jennifer Leflar
Jeff Lightheart
Kelvin Ostapowich
Chris Weitzel
Cary Wessel

Get active with the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame!

Posted by on

Want something to do with your children this summer? Our Creating Active Champions summer program is the place to be for some fun and learning!  Choose one of these three options which best suits your needs! Our activities will be Olympic-themed this summer to coincide with the Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games. Get ready to compete!

Programming runs from July 2 – August 16

Book early to avoid disappointment!

All individuals and groups must pre-register

1) Bring your child or group for 90 minutes of fun both inside the Hall of Fame and across the street in Victoria Park.

For ages 4-12. A donation of $2 per child is requested. Adult chaperones must be present at all times. There is a maximum of 30 participants in each session.

The program is offered twice daily, Monday, Tuesday & Thursday:
9:30 – 11:00 a.m.
1:00 – 2:30 p.m.

2) Drop off your child to spend a half day with us having fun and learning about STEM in sport. Each week will be a different theme sports day. For ages 5-12. A donation of $10 per child is requested. There is a maximum of 12 participants in each session.

The program is offered on Wednesdays:
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

3) Let us bring the programming to your centre! Pick a morning or afternoon that suits you and we will deliver our programming at your facility. Centres must have enough participants to run 2 group sessions per visit.  Limited to one visit per location during the summer.

For ages 4-12. A $30 donation per location is requested. Adult chaperones must be present.

The program is offered twice daily on Fridays:
One location per time slot
9:30 – 11:45 a.m.  (2 sessions: 9:30 – 10:30, 10:45 – 11:45)
1:00 – 3:15 p.m.  (2 sessions: 1:00 – 2:00, 2:15 – 3:15)

 

A special thank you to our sponsors:

POINTS TO REMEMBER:

  • Outside activities will only proceed weather permitting. During inclement weather, all activities will take place inside the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame (SSHF) or your facility.
  • All group leaders/parents/guardians/chaperones must ensure their child is dressed for the weather and outfitted with sunscreen, bug spray and a water bottle. The water fountain in the SSHF building is off-limits other than to fill water bottles.
  • An adult chaperone must be present at all times with groups and individuals, except for the half-day sessions. We encourage their participation as well! For larger groups, we would appreciate a 1:8 chaperone/child ratio.
  • Donation fees for groups and individuals can be paid by cash, cheque or credit card. We do not have debit available at the location.
  • The SSHF reserves the right to cancel the program session if a minimum of 5 participants are not enrolled.
  • Pre-registration must occur a minimum of 24 hours in advance while programming space remains available.
  • We require at least 24 hours’ notice for cancellations.
  • The SSHF promotes admission by donation to its galleries on a regular basis. Summer participants are provided with a “donation pass” to encourage them to come back throughout the summer with their families to engage in our sport interactives.

SSHF will welcome seven new inductees in 2024 Class

Posted by on

The Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame (SSHF) is pleased to announce the seven (7) inductees who will become the newest members of the SSHF this fall.

The Class of 2024 features three inductees in the athlete category, two builders and two teams.

The 2024 inductees are:

IN THE ATHLETE CATEGORY:

Ray Mitsuing (Loon Lake) – Rodeo

Carl Olson (Fir Mountain) – Rodeo

Chelsea Stone (Mazzei) (Regina) – Taekwondo

IN THE BUILDER CATEGORY:

Karen Howard (Melville) – Figure Skating

Wayne Hellquist (Saskatoon) – Volleyball

IN THE TEAM CATEGORY:

2018, 2019 & 2023 Sherry Anderson Senior Women’s Curling Rink

2003-04 University of Saskatchewan Huskies Men’s Volleyball Team

 

Members of the 2024 SSHF Induction Class pictured are Wayne Hellquist (back left), Nathan Johnson, and Brandon Needham from the 2003-04 University of Saskatchewan Huskies men’s volleyball team, and Brent Klein, great nephew of Carl Olson; Anita Silvernagle (front left), Patti Hersikorn, and Sherry Anderson from the Sherry Anderson senior curling team, Karen Howard, Chelsea Stone (Mazzei), and Ray Mitsuing.

The 2024 Induction Dinner & Ceremony will be held at the Conexus Arts Centre in Regina on Saturday, September 28, 2024. Tickets are now available by completing the form at the bottom of this page.

Karen Howard judged the women’s figure skating competition at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. She served as a judge and/or referee at three World Figure Skating Championships and four Junior World Figure Skating Championships. Closer to home she has been a judge, evaluator, and referee for Skate Saskatchewan for more than 40 years and continues to share her expertise to work with and mentor officials, skaters, coaches and parents.

Wayne Hellquist has served as a board member and executive at the national and provincial level in volleyball and was instrumental in the Canadian women’s national team being centralized in Regina during the 1980s. Wayne spent 14 years on the Board of the Canadian Olympic Committee, eight as vice president and he became the first person from Saskatchewan ever elected to serve as president. He also helped create the para-sport volleyball program and in 2000 he was Chef de Mission for the Canadian Paralympic team.

Ray Mitsuing competed as a chuckwagon driver for 36 years and qualified to compete at the Calgary Stampede for 36 consecutive years. In 1992 he won the Aggregate Championship at the Calgary Stampede and also earned the fastest time award there three times. He won the Canadian Professional Chuckwagon Association championship seven times during his distinguished career. He finished in the top-10 on the CPCA Tour in each of his last 12 seasons.

Carl Olson became the first Canadian-born cowboy to win a World Rodeo Championship in saddle bronc in 1947. Carl also won the first Canadian All-Around Rodeo title in 1945 and won again in 1948. He also won the saddle bronc national title three times and a national steer wrestling title. He was inducted into the Canadian Rodeo Hall of Fame in 1982 and passed away in 1983.

Chelsea Stone won 19 consecutive national championships in her weight class in sparring. She enjoyed an 18-year career as a member of the Canadian national team and served as team captain at five international competitions. In 2002 she was named the Canadian Taekwon-Do Federation International’s Athlete of the Year and the Sask Sport Female Athlete of the Year after winning four medals at junior worlds. She also medalled twice at the International Taekwon-Do Federation World Championships.

The 2003-04 University of Saskatchewan Huskies Men’s Volleyball Team won the school’s fourth men’s national collegiate volleyball title beating Alberta in five sets to claim the U Sports championship. The Huskies were the top-ranked team in the country after winning the Canada West title. During the pre-season they also beat Brigham Young University who would win the American NCAA volleyball title that year. Six of the Huskies starting seven-man rotation hailed from Saskatchewan and three members of the team won significant individual honours at season’s end.

The senior women’s curling foursome of Sherry Anderson, Patty Hersikorn, Brenda Goertzen, and Anita Silvernagle formed in 2016. They won six consecutive provincial senior curling titles, five consecutive national senior curling championships and three World Senior Curling Championships – each of which is a record. Based out of the Nutana Curling Club in Saskatoon, the Anderson foursome won their first senior world title in 2018 and repeated as champion in 2019 before winning again in 2023. This past year the rink was inducted into the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame.

Tickets for the 2024 Induction Dinner & Ceremony are no longer on sale.