Three directors elected at SSHF AGM

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

Notice: Annual General Meeting will be held on June 5

 

On behalf of Trent Blezy, Board Chair of the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame (SSHF), this post serves as an official notice of the Annual General Meeting of the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame which will be held at the following date and time:

Date: Wednesday, June 5, 2024

Time: 7:00 p.m.

Location: Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame at 2205 Victoria Avenue, Regina

(the meeting can also be accessed virtually via Microsoft Teams)

The agenda will include the Annual Report, presentation of the 2023/24 Financial Statements, the appointment of the auditor for 2024/25, and reports on the election of Board Directors.

The meeting package, plus the 2023 Annual Report, 2023/24 Financial Statements, and all other pertinent materials for the Annual General Meeting have been posted on the SSHF website and are available for review before the meeting by clicking on the links above.

We welcome members to join the SSHF AGM in-person at the Hall of Fame, however we are also pleased to offer a virtual option to join the meeting via Microsoft Teams.

Please fill out this registration form to RSVP for the meeting and to receive your access credentials to attend the meeting virtually through Microsoft Team if that is your preference. These credentials will be distributed no later than noon on Wednesday, June 5.

All members of the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame in good standing are welcome to virtually attend and vote during the Annual General Meeting.

If you are uncertain if you are eligible to vote in the Annual General Meeting – or if you have any other questions – please contact the Hall of Fame at 306-780-9232 or email [email protected].

SSHF Board Chair elected to another three-year term at AGM

The Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame (SSHF) held their Annual General Meeting on Thursday, May 25, 2023.

The SSHF’s financial statement was presented along with the 2023/24 operating budget along with reports from the Chair, the Acting Executive Director, the SSHF staff, the Governance Committee, and the Sport History Project.

Trent Blezy, Chair of the SSHF Board of Directors, was re-elected for a second three-year term on the Board. He is entering his second year as Chair. The other Officers of the Hall also remain unchanged.

Trent Blezy, Chair of the SSHF Board of Directors.

To date, Trent Blezy’s professional career includes the Government of Saskatchewan and the Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy, where his main areas of responsibility have been in managing public relations issues and advancing public policy utilizing a variety of mechanisms.

As a volunteer Blezy has worked in fundraising capacities to support the Saskatchewan Children’s Hospital Foundation and has held a number of positions with various Constituency Associations through the Conservative Party and the Saskatchewan Party.

Two new Directors – Amber Day and Scott Kistner – were both elected to three-year terms on the Board.

Amber Day is employed at the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA) as Director of Human Resources and has worked in Human Resources field for 15 years. In her current role, she is responsible for the design, development and implementation of HR strategies, initiatives and programs that align with SIGA’s strategic goals and priorities. Day holds an Aboriginal Self-Government Administration Diploma and a Masters of Human Resource Management.

Scott Kistner grew up on a farm near Disley, Saskatchewan. He is currently the Assistant Deputy Minister of Lands and Corporate Services in the Energy and Resources sector for the Government of Saskatchewan. Kistner has served on several boards and been a member of organizations including: the Government of Saskatchewan Information Management Committee (2018-current); member of the Lumsden Lions Club (2018-current); member of the Canadian Payroll Association (2015-current); member of the Government of Saskatchewan Extended Health Care Joint Board (2015-2018); member of the Inter-provincial HR Information Management Systems Council (2014-2018), member of the Oracle Human Capital Management User Group (2013-current); as well as local sports organizations in Lumsden.

Samer Awadh and Laurel Garven both completed their terms on the Board. For Laurel this was her third, three-year term, while Samer served two, three-year terms. They both provided an incredible wealth of knowledge to the Board and staff over their many years of service and their contributions were greatly appreciated and will be missed.

 

The 2022-23 Board of Directors

OFFICERS OF THE HALL

Chair– Trent Blezy (Regina)

Vice Chair – Karen Meban (Regina)

Treasurer – Mike Babcock (Regina)

Past Chair – Robb Elchuk (Regina)

DIRECTORS

Amber Day (Saskatoon)

Tennille Grimeau (Saskatoon)

Scott Kistner (Lumsden)

Tim Leier (Saskatoon)

Jeff Lightheart (Regina)

Kelvin Ostapowich (Regina)

Christopher Weitzel (Regina)

Cary Wessel (Regina)

Blezy named new Chair and four new directors added to SSHF Board

The Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame (SSHF) held their Annual and Special Meeting on Thursday, May 26, 2022. The meeting minutes are now available.

The Bylaw change to clarify the language on Hall of Fame membership passed unanimously. The updated SSHF Bylaws can be found here.

Trent Blezy is the new Chair of the Hall of Fame and will begin a two-year term in the role. Robb Elchuk has completed two years as Chair and will move into the non-elected position of Past Chair. Rankin Jaworski has completed two years as Past Chair for a combined eight years on the board and will retire from the Board.

The other Officers of the Hall of Fame are Karen Meban, who is beginning her first term on the board and will assume the Vice Chair role. Mike Babcock remains in the role of Treasurer.

Mike Babcock and Tennille Grimeau were both re-elected to a second three-year term on the Board.

Babcock has been a member of the Board since 2017. He has a Bachelor of Commerce Degree (Honours) from Laurentian University and received his Certified General Accountants designation in 2007 and his Chartered Professional Accounts Designation in 2014 when the three national accounting designations unified. He opened his own accounting practice in 2016.

Grimeau is originally from Melville and received a Diploma in Hospitality & Tourism Marketing and a Masters Certificate in Project Management. She spent 20 years in loyalty marketing with the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA) where she was responsible for the strategic development and marketing of the Players Club loyalty program for SIGA’s seven casino properties, including member acquisition, direct marketing, data analytics, and branding. In the fall of 2021, she began her new role at Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL) in the position of Loyalty Manager, where she is responsible for supporting the successful build, operationalization, and implementation of a new consumer loyalty program across Western Canada.

Eight members of the 2022-23 SSHF Board pictured during a board retreat: Karen Meban, back left, Tim Leier, Laurel Garvan, Robb Elchuk, Jeff Lightheart, front left, Cary Wessel, Tennille Grimeau, and Trent Blezy.

Four new Directors – Jeff Lightheart, Karen Meban, Christopher Weitzel, and Cary Wessel – were also elected for three-year terms on the SSHF Board.

Jeff Lightheart is a Certified Financial Planner and is the owner of a planning firm in Regina. He has a close affiliation with the Hall of Fame as his wife Nancy was a member of the 1991 Sundown Optimist Buffalo Gals who were inducted in 1996. Nancy’s sister, Jill Zimmer was also on that world championship-winning team. Jeff and Nancy’s daughters became baton twirlers and continue to be coached by another inductee, Maureen Johnson. If that weren’t enough, Nancy’s dad, brother, and uncle are also in the Hall.

Karen Meban is employed at CBC Regina as an Integrated Account Lead and has worked in media advertising sales for 22 years. She graduated from Laurentian University as a five-year veteran of the nationally-ranked Lady Vees basketball program. Upon graduation, and while starting her career, Meban was the assistant coach for the Lady Vees program before moving to Regina in 2003. She is the mother of three active kids and volunteers as a coach in basketball, ringette, and hockey.

Christopher Weitzel graduated from the University of Regina in 2000 with a BA and then went on to the University of Saskatchewan College of Law and Capital Law School earning his Juris Doctor (J.D.) in 2003 from the U of S. He is currently the Associate General Counsel – Corporate at Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI). His practice involves contract, procurement, privacy, litigation, and trademark issues as well as leadership responsibilities. He also earned his Certified In-House Counsel (CIC.C) designation in 2020 from Rotman School of Management and in 2020 received his Saskatchewan Queen’s Counsel (QC) designation. He is currently on the Canadian Bar Association Executive Board for Saskatchewan and was President of the CBA SK in 2020-21.

Cary Wessel graduated from the University of Regina in 2000 with a B.Sc. and then went on to the University of Saskatchewan College of Law earning his Juris Doctor (J.D.) in 2007. Wessel was called to the Bar of Saskatchewan in 2010. He is currently an Associate at Gerrand Rath Johnson LLP in Regina, where he practices in a wide array of legal areas, specializing in corporate and commercial matters. Wessel is active in several outdoors endeavours, including cycling, mountain biking, skiing, and camping. He is the Patrol Leader for Canadian Ski Patrol – Qu’Appelle Zone, involved as an instructor for Advanced First Aid, and a sitting executive with both the local zone and the provincial division.

 

The 2022-23 Board of Directors

OFFICERS OF THE HALL

Chair– Trent Blezy (Regina)

Vice Chair – Karen Meban (Regina)

Treasurer – Mike Babcock (Regina)

Past Chair – Robb Elchuk (Regina)

DIRECTORS

Samer Awadh (Regina)

Laurel Garven (Regina)

Tennille Grimeau (Saskatoon)

Tim Leier (Saskatoon)

Jeff Lightheart (Regina)

Kelvin Ostapowich (Regina)

Christopher Weitzel (Regina)

Cary Wessel (Regina)

Notice: Annual and Special Meeting will be held on May 26th

On behalf of Robb Elchuk, Board Chair of the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame (SSHF), this post serves as an official notice of the Annual and Special Meeting of the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame which will be held at the following date and time:

Date: Thursday, May 26, 2022

Time: 7:00 p.m.

Location: Virtually via Microsoft Teams

The agenda will include Annual Reports, Bylaw revisions, presentation of Financial Statements, the appointment of the auditor for 2022/23, and reports on the election of Board Directors.

The meeting package, plus the 2021 Annual Report, 2021/22 Financial Statements, and all other pertinent materials for the Annual and Special Meeting have been posted on the SSHF website and are available for review before the meeting.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic and in the interest of the health and wellness of our Members, the Annual and Special Meeting will be held virtually via Microsoft Teams. Please fill out this registration form to receive your access credentials for the meeting which will be distributed no later than noon on Thursday, May 26.

All members of the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame in good standing are welcome to virtually attend and vote during the Annual and Special Meeting.

After changes to the SSHF Bylaws at the 2021 Annual and Special Meeting, Members of the Hall may include the following:

    (i) Provincial Sport Governing Bodies;
    (ii) Satellite sports halls of fame and sport museums in Saskatchewan;
    (iii) Current members of the Board of the Hall;
    (iv) Past Board members of the Hall who completed at least one (1) term while serving on the Board within the previous five (5) year time period;
    (v) Individuals, families or corporations with three (3) years of paid dues in the Hall in the most recent four (4) years;
    (vi) Inductees to the Hall who receive a complimentary membership with voting privileges in the year of induction; paid dues are required thereafter to retain voting privileges in any given year.

If you are uncertain if you are eligible to vote in the Annual and Special Meeting – or if you have any other questions – please contact the Hall of Fame at 306-780-9232 or email [email protected].

New board elected for Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame

 The membership of the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame (SSHF) approved a new Board of Directors during the SSHF’s 2019-20 Annual General Meeting.

 

Following the meeting, Robb Elchuk began his term as SSHF President. Rankin Jaworski now moves into the non-elected position of Past President following his two terms as President.

 

Kevin Dureau assumes the role of Vice President, while Mike Babcock remains Treasurer and will also serve as Secretary.

 

Trent Blezy was elected to his first term on the Board, while Samer Awadh and Laurel Garven were each re-elected to another term.

 

Trent was born and raised in the southeastern part of the province and lives in White City. He works with the Ministry of Energy and Resources for the Government of Saskatchewan.  

 

As a volunteer, Trent has worked in fundraising capacities to support the Saskatchewan Children’s Hospital Foundation and has held several positions with various Constituency Associations through the Conservative Party and the Saskatchewan Party. 

 

Sports have always been and always will be a part of Trent’s life. He believes sports have a tremendous ability to bring people together, evoking an emotional response in people unlike other activities can. He looks forward to the opportunity of being a part of an organization involved with and celebrating those who elicit that emotional connection.

 

Linda Burnham, a two-time SSHF Inductee herself, is stepping off the board after three elected terms and two more years as Past President. Don Gallo and Nathan Morrison both completed their second term on the board and did not stand for re-election.

Minutes from the SSHF’s 2019-20 Annual General Meeting are available here.

 

The 2020-21 SSHF Board of Directors:

 

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

President – Robb Elchuk (Regina)

Vice President – Kevin Dureau (Regina)

Treasurer – Mike Babcock (Regina)

Secretary – Mike Babcock (Regina)

Past President – Rankin Jaworski (Regina)

 

DIRECTORS

Samer Awadh (Regina)

Trent Blezy (White City)

Lori Ebbesen (Saskatoon)

Laurel Garven (Regina)

Tennille Grimeau (Saskatoon)

Kelvin Ostapowich (Regina)

2019 Annual General Meeting notice

On behalf of Rankin Jaworski, President of the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame, this post serves as an official notice of the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame which will be held at the following date and time:

 

Date: Thursday, May 28, 2020

Time: 7:00 p.m.

Location: via conference call

 

The agenda will include Annual Reports, presentation of Financial Statements, appointment of the auditor for 2020/21 and reports on the election of Board Directors.

 

The 2019 Annual Report and the 2019/20 Financial Statements are posted on our website and available for review.

 

Due to the coronavirus pandemic and social distancing mandates from the Province of Saskatchewan, the AGM will be held via conference call. Please fill out this registration form to receive your access credentials for the meeting.

 

All members of the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame in good standing are welcome to virtually attend and vote during the AGM.

 

If you have questions, please contact the Hall of Fame at 306-780-9232 or email sshfm@sasktel.net

Save the date: Annual General Meeting on May 30, 2019

Annual General Meeting Notice

Rankin Jaworski, President of the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame, invites the membership to attend the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame which will be held at the following date and time:

Date: Thursday, May 30, 2019

Time: 7-8 p.m.

Location: Boardroom, Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame – 2205 Victoria Avenue, Regina

The agenda will include Annual Reports, presentation of Financial Statements, appointment of the auditor for 2019/20 and reports on the election of Board Directors.

The 2018/19 Financial Statements will be available for review on our website (www.sasksportshalloffame.com) by Thursday, May 16 and the 2018 Annual Report following the AGM.

All members of the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame in good standing are welcome to attend and vote during the AGM and learn more about the exciting year ahead for the SSHF.

If you have questions, please contact Sheila Kelly at 306-780-9233 or email [email protected]

 

 

AGM Reminder: June 7, 2018

On behalf of Rankin Jaworski, President of the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame, we would like to remind everyone of the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame which will be held at the following date and time:

Date: Thursday, June 7, 2018

Time: 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Location: Boardroom – 2205 Victoria Avenue, Regina

The agenda will include Annual Reports, presentation of Financial Statements, and reports on the election of Board Directors.  All members of the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame in good standing are welcome to attend and vote at the AGM.

You are welcome to view our Financial Statements and Annual Report in advance of the meeting.

2017 Financial Statements

2017 Annual Report