Sheila Kelly honoured posthumously with national award

Posted by Matthew Gourlie on June 30, 2026

Sheila Kelly was honoured with the CASH Legacy Award at the annual Canadian Association for Sport Heritage Conference in Red Deer on June 25,2026.

In her remarks to present the award posthumously to Kelly, Caitlin Dyer, President of the Canadian Association for Sport Heritage said:

“For more than three decades, Sheila Kelly was a passionate advocate, a respected leader, and a trusted voice in our field. Her work shaped institutions, strengthened communities, and inspired colleagues across Saskatchewan, across Canada, and beyond.

“As Executive Director of the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame for more than 30 years, Sheila provided steady, visionary leadership. Under her guidance, the Hall of Fame evolved with the times while staying true to its mission. She helped lead gallery redevelopment, digital innovation, virtual access to exhibits, education programming, and interactive visitor experiences that opened sport history to broader and more diverse audiences.

“Her impact extended far beyond one institution. Sheila supported satellite sport halls across Saskatchewan, helped emerging organizations find their footing, and became the person so many in this field turned to for advice on governance, finance, funding, policy, and programming. Again and again, colleagues described her as their first phone call — not only because of her extraordinary knowledge, but because of her generosity in sharing it.

Caitlin Dyer, left, president of the Canadian Association for Sport Heritage presents the CASH Legacy Award to Sheila Kelly’s daughter Heather.

“Sheila also gave deeply of herself in service to the wider heritage community. After joining the CASH board in 1990, she served for more than a decade and became President from 1995 to 1998. During her presidency, CASH undertook its first operational review, helping establish important direction for the organization’s future. She later served as President of the Museums Association of Saskatchewan from 1999 to 2001, and then as President of the International Sports Heritage Association from 2009 to 2010. To lead all three organizations is a rare distinction, and it speaks volumes about the respect Sheila earned throughout the museum and sport heritage worlds.

“She was also an innovator. Sheila helped the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame’s Sport History Project flourish, supporting more than 50 projects documenting the province’s sport history. She spearheaded a mobile exhibit trailer that brought stories and artifacts directly to communities across Saskatchewan. During the pandemic, she helped the Hall pivot thoughtfully into virtual and online programming, ensuring it remained relevant, resilient, and connected to the public. Those efforts were recognized through major honours, including CASH Awards of Excellence and international recognition from ISHA. Sheila herself also received the W.R. “Bill” Schroeder Distinguished Service Award in 2017, one of the highest honours in the sport heritage industry.

“But as impressive as those accomplishments are, they do not fully explain Sheila’s legacy. Her greatest contribution was people.

Sheila Kelly, right, poses with the Stanley Cup on its visit to the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame in 2002.

“She mentored emerging professionals. She encouraged her peers. She helped other institutions become stronger. She combined strategic leadership with genuine warmth, and professional excellence with personal kindness. Those who knew her speak not only of her achievements, but of her friendship, her generosity, and the way she made others feel seen, supported, and capable. Her legacy lives on not only in exhibits, programs, and awards, but in the many people whose lives and careers she helped shape.

“The CASH Legacy Award recognizes individuals who have made lasting contributions to Canadian sporting heritage. Sheila Kelly embodied that purpose in every sense. She protected stories that mattered. She preserved history with care and professionalism. She promoted sport heritage with vision, conviction, and heart. And she did so at the local, provincial, national, and international levels.”

Sheila’s husband Dave and daughter Heather were on hand to accept the CASH Legacy Award on her behalf.

SSHF a WINNER!

Posted by Matthew Gourlie on April 10, 2017

SASKATCHEWAN SPORTS HALL OF FAME NAMED
SASKATCHEWAN TOURISM AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE WINNER

Regina – Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame (SSHF) was named Business of the Year (Under 20 Full-time Employees) during the 28^thannual Saskatchewan Tourism Awards of Excellence Gala, which was celebrated on April 5 at the Sheraton Cavalier Saskatoon Hotel. Other finalists in our category included Harvest Eatery and Fresh Market, Shaunavon, and Last Mountain Distillery, Lumsden.

The SSHF nomination was derived on the basis of our 50^th Anniversary year and the “big three” activities including Diamond Girls, 50^th Anniversary Traveling Exhibit and 50^th Anniversary Gala. We would like to recognize and thank a number of key people and organizations who were instrumental in making our 50^th Anniversary events, and thus this award selection, successful. Maureen Ulrich for her engaging & entertaining Diamond Girls script, Malia Becker for bringing history alive through her stellar performance of 21 characters!, director Kenn McLeod, technical director William Hales, and stage manager Shelby-Lyn Lowe. All of our inductees, some of whom traveled great distances, and chose to participate in one or more of our anniversary events including our 50^th Gala reunion celebrations. And last, but not least, to our key sponsors who shared the vision and passion in taking Saskatchewan’s sport history to the entire province including Saskatchewan Lotteries, Community Initiatives Fund, Saskatchewan Blue Cross, Creative Display, Sterling Truck & Trailer Sales, Hornoi Leasing, SaskTel and SGI.

We also wish to extend a heartfelt thank you to Tourism Saskatchewan for this award, as well as to our award sponsor, the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority. We could never have imagined a more perfect end to our 50^th Anniversary year.

For more information, contact:

Sheila Kelly, Executive Director: 306-780-9233, [email protected]
Autumn McDowell, Communications Coordinator: 306-780-9203, [email protected]

MEDIA RELEASE

Posted by Matthew Gourlie on March 6, 2017

For immediate release: March 6, 2017

SASKATCHEWAN SPORTS HALL OF FAME AMONG
SASKATCHEWAN TOURISM AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE FINALISTS

Regina – Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame (SSHF) has been named among the finalists for the Saskatchewan Tourism Awards of Excellence for 2016. Tourism Saskatchewan announced the list of finalists today (visit IndustryMatters.com for the full details).

The SSHF was nominated in the category of Business of the Year Award (Under 20 Full-time Employees). Other finalists in our category include Harvest Eatery and Fresh Market, Shaunavon, and Last Mountain Distillery, Lumsden.

The SSHF nomination was derived on the basis of our 50^th Anniversary year and the “big three” activities including Diamond Girls, 50^th Anniversary Traveling Exhibit and 50^th Anniversary Gala. We would like to recognize and thank a number of key people and organizations who were instrumental in making our 50^th Anniversary events, and thus this nomination, successful. Maureen Ulrich for her engaging & entertaining Diamond Girls script, Malia Becker for bringing history alive through her stellar performance of 21 characters!, director Kenn McLeod, technical director William Hales, and stage manager Shelby-Lyn Lowe. All of our inductees, some of whom traveled great distances, who chose to participate in one or more of our anniversary events including our 50^th Gala reunion celebrations. And last, but not least, to our key sponsors who shared the vision and passion in taking Saskatchewan’s sport history to the entire province including Saskatchewan Lotteries, Community Initiatives Fund, Saskatchewan Blue Cross, Creative Display, Sterling Truck & Trailer Sales, Hornoi Leasing, SaskTel and SGI.

The SSHF is also pleased to announce that past president, Trent Fraser, will be a recipient of the Tourism Builder Award. This award recognizes individuals who have made tourism an important part of their life’s work resulting in a positive impact on the industry they serve. Trent has been instrumental in the strategic stewardship of the SSHF for the past seven years which culminated in our successful 50^th celebrations. He is a most deserving recipient of this award.

The finalists and award recipients will be honoured at the 28^thannual Saskatchewan Tourism Awards of Excellence Gala, which will be celebrated on April 5 at the Sheraton Cavalier Saskatoon Hotel. The Tourism Builder Award will also be presented that night.

For more information, contact:

Sheila Kelly, Executive Director: 306-780-9233, [email protected]

Autumn McDowell, Communications Coordinator, 306-780-9203, [email protected]

Saskatchewan Athlete Of The Year Awards

Posted by Matthew Gourlie on February 14, 2013

Sask Sport Inc. is the umbrella organization for amateur sport in the province. Each year Sask Sport comes together with members of the sporting community, as well as the media, to select a group of individuals and teams from across the province to vie for their annual Sask Sport Awards. This year the competition for these accolades was as close as ever, thanks to the fact that our province continues to produce world-class caliber participants.

The list of 2012 nominees was one of the most outstanding we have ever seen and included the best of the best from around the province not only in terms of athletes, but coaches, officials and volunteers as well. 2012 also included two key individuals who have contributed in major way to the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame and we wish to provide them some special recognition for their achievements.

Saskatoon’s Marg Tosh, has been an honoured member of the Saskatchewan Sports Hall Of Fame (SSHF) since 1978 and has played a major part in Canadian athletics history. Among her accomplishments, Tosh set a new Canadian open record in javelin at the Canadian Olympic trials in Hamilton, 1956. The record throw of 145’5” (44 m 32.3 cms) stood until 1964. Margaret competed in the Olympics at Melbourne, Australia in 1956. In 1957, at the Western Canada Championships, Margaret set a new provincial native record in javelin at 141 feet, 7 ½ inches (43 m 16.7 cms). She also finished first in the shot put. At the Commonwealth Games Trials in 1958, Marg placed first in javelin. A big congratulations goes out to her for being named 2012 Master Athlete of the Year for her continued success in athletics.

Kaylyn Kyle, also of Saskatoon, was the recipient of the Female Athlete of the Year award thanks to her performance at the London 2012 Olympic Games. Kaylyn was an integral part of the Canadian Women’s Soccer team who brought home the country’s first ever medal in the sport of Women’s Soccer and no doubt has set the stage for ongoing success in that arena. Earlier this year Kaylyn took time out of her busy schedule to come to the SSHF, sign autographs, take photos and inspire the youth of our province to chase their dreams no matter how big they may seem.

Of course, like Kaylyn many names on this list are still actively involved in sport and as such they are not currently eligible for induction into the SSHF. This does not mean, however, that they and numerous others may not someday have a home with us. The work they are putting in now is the hard part, after that they are welcome to be nominated for induction and a permanent place among the best in Saskatchewan sports history. The first step in that direction is of course nomination, which we welcome at any time and information on the subject can be found right here.

For the time being, we will enjoy the accomplishments of all of these athletes and builders as they continue to shape the face of sport in Saskatchewan for years to come. Below is a list of all this year’s winner and we at the Sask Sports Hall Of Fame would like to send a heartfelt congratulations to each and every one of them.

2012 Master Athlete of the Year
Marg Tosh, 75, Saskatoon, Athletics

2012 Youth Male Athlete of the Year
Jarret Kenke, 18, Saskatoon, Canoe Kayak

2012 Youth Female Athlete of the Year
Katelyn Lehner, 17, Prince Albert, Athletics – Heptathlon

2012 Male Athlete of the Year
Kelly Wiebe, 23, Regina, Athletics

2012 Female Athlete of the Year
Kaylyn Kyle, 24, Saskatoon, Soccer

2012 Team of the Year
Saskatoon Hilltops, Saskatoon, Football

2012 Volunteer Awards
Errol Berenbaum, Saskatoon, Canoe Kayak Saskatchewan
Elan Paluck, Regina, Saskatchewan Baton Twirling Association

2012 Coach of the Year Award
Tom Sargeant, Saskatoon, Football Saskatchewan

2012 Coach Dedication Award – Male
Brendan Curson, Saskatoon, Canoe Kayak Saskatchewan

2012 Coach Dedication Award – Female
Myra Kirk, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Baton Twirling Association

2012 Official Award – Male
Ken McArton, Dilke, Saskatchewan Curling Association

2012 Official Award – Female
Brenda O’Connor, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Athletics

-Winners list courtesy of Sask Sport Inc.