Saskatchewan Sports Stories: Diane Jones Konihowski

The summer of 2020 has featured numerous postponements and cancellations across the sporting world — none bigger than the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics which were pushed back a year.

At the same time, the nexus of sports and politics has intersected at a level that has rarely been seen before.

Forty years ago, however, Saskatoon’s Diane Jones Konihowski experienced both political fallout and the loss of a chance to compete at the Olympics at the same time when she became the centre of controversy after speaking out following Canada’s decision to join the boycott of the 1980 Moscow Summer Olympic Games.

Jones Konihowski was one of the faces of amateur sport in Canada and had the endorsements, commercials and name recognition that came with it. That public goodwill evaporated seemingly overnight following her criticisms of the boycott at the height of the Cold War which led to hate mail and death threats directed at her, along with her family and friends.

“I was the only one speaking out against it, everyone else got sucked in,” Jones Konihowski said recently from her home in Calgary.

Diane Jones Konihowski speaking at her 1980 SSHF induction ceremony.

For Jones Konihowski, it would have been her third Games competing as a pentathlete, but it also constituted her last — and best — shot at an Olympic medal.

“I was alone in speaking out as far as I remember. It was easy for me to speak out because I was out of the country and I wasn’t being brainwashed. I could think very, very clearly and look at the scenario and think ‘this is very wrong on so many levels.’ I was able to articulate that. It took many years before people would come to me and say, ‘you know you were right,’” Jones Konihowski said. “To this day — and it was 40 years ago — people still come up to me and say that was so wrong at that time. Nobody had the guts. I can’t remember anyone else chastising the Canadian Olympic Association for their decision.

“It’s interesting this year that we were the first in the world to say that we’re not going (to the Tokyo Olympics) because of COVID. We led the world in saying it’s not safe to go. Then Australia fell in and Great Britain came and then the Games were postponed.”

Jones Konihowski was raised in Saskatoon and attended Aden Bowman Collegiate and the University of Saskatchewan where she excelled in track and field and also as a volleyball player with the Huskies. An exceptional all-around athlete, she was also a promising gymnast in her youth and was coached by Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame inductee Chuck Sebestyen before she out-grew the sport. 

“Looking back I really lucked out with some amazing Phys. Ed. teachers and sport coaches. They just motivated me to love what I was doing,” Jones Konihowksi said. “Two of my coaches were Olympic coaches. Bob Adams was my first coach in track and field and he was obviously an Olympic decathlete and he was one of the Olympic coaches in 1964. Chuck Sebestyen, one of my gymnastic coaches, was also (an Olympic) gymnastics coach in 1964.

“I just lucked-out meeting all of these people in my life. They were there for me to really nurture and push me to be a better athlete.”

Having excelled at multiple sports and being naturally competitive, it only made sense that Jones Konihowski would excel at the pentathlon which featured five events: shot put, high jump, long jump, the 200-metre run and the 100m hurdles.

She was 21 years old when she made her Olympic debut in Berlin where she finished in a very respectable 10th place.

“It was fabulous. There’s nothing like the Olympic Games. I don’t care what anyone else says,” Jones Konihowski said.

The joy of her first Olympics turned tragic when 11 members of the Israeli delegation were kidnapped from the Olympic Village, held hostage and ultimately killed by terrorists.

Jones Konihowski had just completed competition on September 5 when the pre-dawn attack occurred and was headed into the city with fellow Canadian track athlete Joyce Sadowick to meet up with another Canadian to do some sightseeing. When they woke up in the early hours there was already an eerie silence in the Athletes Village that tipped them off that something was wrong. As soon as they left the Village they were swarmed by reporters looking for information on the breaking story.

Diane Jones Konihowski competing in the high jump while at the University of Saskatchewan. photo courtesy the University of Saskatchewan.

“For me, I was touched by it because the day before I was training in hurdles with Esther Roth, who was a hurdler from Israel, and after training we went to lunch and she said ‘why don’t you come over and have lunch with us.’ So I had lunch with a bunch of wrestlers and basically, all of those guys were dead the next day,” Jones Konihowski said.

Despite being an Olympic pentathlete, Jones Konihowski was also still playing volleyball at the U of S, but a serious ankle injury at the end of the volleyball season required surgery and hurt her chances at the 1974 Commonwealth Games in Christchurch, New Zealand where she finished sixth.

Fully healthy, she won the pentathlon gold medal at the 1975 Pan American Games in Mexico City and expectations were high coming home for the 1976 Montreal Olympics. 

She had an endorsement deal with Canadian apparel company Penmans and appeared in commercials with Montreal Expos star Gary Carter, Olympic skier Nancy Greene, and hockey broadcaster Howie Meeker.

“Montreal was a huge learning experience. Because I was a media darling, they loved me all through the 70s — I was tall, long legs, long blonde hair and I was successful — I got a lot of media attention,” Jones Konihowski said.

Jones Konihowski was training in Santa Barbra, California in the lead-up to the ’76 Games, but was back in Canada every other weekend promoting the Games. She did a cross-country tour as the “coin girl” with André Ouellet, the Postmaster General at the time. Even when she arrived in Montreal, she was already kicking herself for disrupting her training schedule so significantly.

“The frustrating thing for me in ’76 was I could have got a medal. All the way through the competition I’m just thinking ‘damnit, if I was really at my peak I really could have got a medal,’” said Jones Konihowski who finished sixth in the pentathlon and also seventh in the long jump.

“I came out of Montreal really ticked off because I blew it. I realistically could have got an Olympic medal, but you learn. At the end of the day, it’s not about the hardware. I’ve always said that. We only learn from those times when you fail, you underperform and put in a disappointing performance. It’s the only time you learn. You don’t learn from your successes.” 

She competed under her maiden name as Diane Jones in ’72 and ’76 but married fellow SSHF member and former Huskies track athlete John Konihowski in 1977 while he was a member of the Canadian Football League’s Edmonton Eskimos. While making Edmonton their home, the 1978 Commonwealth Games would be in the Alberta capital and once again Jones Konihowski would be one of the faces of the event. She was the Queen’s Baton Final Runner – the Commonwealth Games equivalent to being the torchbearer at the opening ceremonies. However, nothing was going to distract Jones Konihowski from her goal. She won the pentathlon in a games record score. A year later she repeated as Pan American Games champion in San Juan, Puerto Rico. 

“Going into ’78 – Edmonton, hometown, really important to do well – I just said a lot of no’s. I didn’t get caught up in that and I did very well. Not only did I win the gold medal in Edmonton, but more importantly it was with a score that put me No. 1 in the world,” she said. “That told me that I’m on track to get on the podium in Moscow, two years later. I was very, very focused.  

“(The Pan American Games) was a really good performance — Canadian record, Pan American Games record, the whole bit — so I thought OK good, we’re right on track here.”

Diane Jones Konihowski

Still, she wanted to ensure she was free of distractions. Years earlier she had invited Karen Page, a pentathlete from New Zealand, to come up to Saskatoon to train with her coach at the U of S, Lyle Sanderson (who is also an SSHF inductee). After spending Christmas of 1979 at home, Diane, John, and Sanderson and his family all moved down to Auckland, New Zealand to train with Page and get laser-focused on Moscow with no distractions.  

The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in December of 1979 to start the Soviet-Afghan War and in January of 1980, U.S. President Jimmy Carter threatened to boycott the Moscow Olympics is the Soviets didn’t pull out of Afghanistan by February 20, 1980. Later that month, Canadian Prime Minister Joe Clark also threatened a boycott. Not coincidentally, the Lake Placid Winter Olympics would take place in February of 1980 with the Soviets competing in the U.S. Those Games concluded four days after Carter’s ultimatum.  

On April 22, 1980 – a date Jones Konihowski can recall with ease – with the U.S. State Secretary due in Ottawa the next day, the new Pierre Trudeau government formally backed the boycott. 

In New Zealand, Jones Konihowski found out that her Olympic medal dream was dashed when a reporter at an Edmonton radio station called her. She didn’t hold back in criticizing the decision. 

“I was very disappointed when I got the call on April 23,” Jones Konihowski said. “Of course I had not watched any media from back home, I had not read a thing. So I was clear-headed and not brainwashed. 

“I was saying it was wrong on a number of levels. One, it’s no surprise to world leaders that Russia has invaded Afghanistan, come on, give me a break here. We’re still sending wheat to Russia; we’re still trading with them. President Carter could have made a much stronger statement to Russia by denying them to come to his Games in February, but he waited until the end of their Games to announce a summer boycott. That’s wrong. On all levels, it’s wrong.” 

The boycott ended up being widespread, but at different levels of involvement. China, Japan and West Germany were also among the countries that didn’t send any athletes. Some western nations sent smaller squads and some individual athletes opted not to compete. Some nations — France, Spain, and Italy notably — attended but competed under the Olympic flag and did not attend the opening ceremonies.

“My greatest disappointment is really that the Canadian Olympic Association at that time went with the government’s decision,” Jones Konihowski said. “I can see the government following Carter. That’s OK. But the Canadian Olympic Association I felt let down the athletes and coaches by following suit and declaring that they were going to stay home as well. Meanwhile Iron Lady (Margaret) Thatcher said no and the British Olympic Association said ‘we’re going.’ So they went. If you can say no to Iron Lady Thatcher, why can’t we say no to Pierre Trudeau?”  

Back home, Jones Konihowski’s comments were not well received. To put it mildly.

“My mom was phoning me ‘Oh my God, everyone is calling you a Communist. Can you shut up.’ All of that kind of stuff,” she said. “The two girls in our apartment in Edmonton were getting horrible phone calls. So we basically told them to not answer the phone. 

“Even Karen in New Zealand was getting bomb threats, her parents were going nuts. 

“It was a really, really crazy time. Canadians mostly love to complain, but they never act on it. It was a really contentious time.” 

Jones Konihowski also quickly got a call from her sponsor in Toronto. 

“They said ‘Unless you retract what you’re saying, I can’t support you any longer,’” she recalled. “I said ‘You know Jamie, that’s fine. Put your money with another athlete, but I really believe strongly in this. This is wrong. This has nothing to do with Russia invading Afghanistan. Do you think Russia is going to pull out?’” 

They returned to Canada in May and the mood of her detractors hadn’t calmed any.

“John didn’t let me read any of the hate mail. And there was a lot of it,” Jones Konihowski recalled. “The Edmonton Eskimos, their lines were ringing off the hook, ‘how can you hire the husband of a Communist?’ John got it on the football field as well. He was called a ‘Commie’, which is interesting. (Edmonton head coach) Hugh Campbell stood up for me. The Edmonton Eskimos organization supported me, which was good, and John, which was awesome.

“I got a few positive letters, but in the media, I was lambasted by many of my friends. It was a really difficult time. I still felt so strongly that it was so wrong. It made no sense that we would be punished for something that is so political.” 

Four-time Canadian Olympian Abby Hoffman — Canada’s flag-bearer in Montreal — was a member of the executive council of the International Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF), track and field’s governing body, and reached out to Jones Konihowski. 

“She phoned me and said: ‘I have an invitation for you from the Russian organizing committee to come to the Games,’” Jones Konihowski said. “I didn’t ask her, but I assume that the invitation would have been extended to other athletes and not just me. I said ‘oh Abby, I have to think about this. You wouldn’t believe the death threats we’re getting.’ 

“I turned it down. I really thought that I wouldn’t get out of this country alive. I kind of feared for my family a little bit. My mom and dad didn’t deserve that. John and the Edmonton Eskimos certainly didn’t deserve that.” 

Jones Konihowski instead competed in the Liberty Bell Classic, a track and field event in Philadelphia for athletes who boycotted the Games. She won the pentathlon with ease, but it was cold comfort with the real Games kicking off in Moscow days later.

Soviet athletes swept the medals in the pentathlon with Nadiya Tkachenko — fresh off an 18-month ban after testing positive for steroids — setting a world record in the process.

Two weeks later at the first post-Olympic competition in Germany, Jones Konihowski beat all three Moscow medalists.

1980 Summer Olympics pentathlon champion Nadezhda Tkachenko competing in the shot put portion of the pentathlon at Moscow’s Lenin Stadium. RIA Novosti archive, image #399455 / Yuriy Somov / CC-BY-SA 3.0

“Tkachenko was a druggy and you knew that they weren’t going to test positive at their Games. There was no way,” Jones Konihowski said. “Without (American Jane Frederick) and I there, there was no competition really in the pentathlon and the three Russians won it. I don’t even know what they scored, but it was brutal. Then two weeks later in Germany, I blew them out of the water. They were off their drugs, clearly, and they were just sucking eggs two weeks after the Olympic Games. I’m sorry, that doesn’t sit well with me.” 

Tkachenko had finished one place ahead of Jones Konihowski in Berlin and again in Montreal as they continued to improve. Both times Frederick was behind them and in Montreal finished fifth-sixth-seventh. Jones Konihowski hoped that four years on, she, Tkachenko and Frederick would all move up the standings together to share the medals. 

“So my dream was that our third and final Olympics… you’d go from 9-10-11 to 5-6-7 to 1-2-3. That was sort of my dream that that was how it would come out,” she said. “It would have been a beautiful story.” 

There would be no storybook ending to Jones Konihowski’s great career as she retired in 1983.

“It was maybe six or seven years later that I started wondering what would have happened if I had gone,” Jones Konihowski said.

 Twenty years after her criticism of the Canadian Olympic Association, she returned to the Games as Canada’s Chef de Mission for the 2000 Sydney Summer Olympics.  

Jones Konihowski has been named to the 2020 class for Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame. She was made a Member of the Order of Canada in 1978, was the CEO of KidSport Canada and was a director of the Canadian Olympic Committee.

Diane Jones Konihowski was inducted into the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame in 1980.

SSHF exhibit galleries will be closed indefinitely

The Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame (SSHF) and its exhibit galleries will be closed to the public indefinitely in response to an increase of positive cases of COVID-19 within the province.

While there is currently no COVID-19 public health order requiring the closure of the SSHF galleries, given the increasing cases in Saskatchewan, however, we believe it is the appropriate thing to do.

Our front doors may be closed, but we still have a lot to offer. Educators can engage their classrooms in a “Virtual Field Trip” with our Education Coordinator. Sport history buffs can immerse themselves in all aspects of our website, including a virtual tour of Prairie Pride: A History of Saskatchewan Football, which will be uploaded soon.

We will continue to monitor the provincial situation as well as public health orders and will re-open the SSHF to the public when it is safe and appropriate to do so.

Thank you for your continued understanding and support. We look forward to being able to welcome you back soon.

2019 Summer Programming

2019 Summer Programming
Creating Active Champions

Want something to do with your children this summer? Want to learn more about your favourite Saskatchewan Sports legends? For the cost of $1 per person you and your children will get a tour of the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame, activities on our multisport simulator, adaptive curling rink, and outdoor games in Victoria Park. Plus, each participant will leave the program with an awesome surprise to help them remain active champions!

* Some restrictions apply. See below for full details.

NEW for 2019!

Monday – Friday:
For individuals and groups ages 4-12
Up to 30 participants per time slot
9:30-11 a.m.
1:30-3 p.m.

Programming runs from July 2 to August 16, 2019

Cost is $1 per person.  For ages 4-12, maximum 30 children per time slot
Adult chaperones must be present at all times

All individuals and groups must pre-register

To register please contact:

Vickie Krauss
(306) 780-9232
[email protected]

 

A special thank you to our sponsor:

 

 

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).
  • All group leaders/parents/guardians/chaperones must ensure the child is dressed for the weather and outfitted with sunscreen, bug spray and water bottles. Refillable water bottles are fine as we do have a water fountain available in the building.
  • Drawstring backpack’s are available while quantities last and only on first visit. Everyone will still receive a gift to help them remain active champions.
  • An adult chaperone must be present at all times with groups and individuals. We encourage their participation as well!
  • Programming fee for groups can be paid by cash, cheque or credit card. We do not have debit available at the location. Individual programming fee (i.e. $1) must be paid in cash.
  • The SSHF reserves the right to cancel the program session if a minimum of 5 participants are not enrolled.
  • Pre-registraton must occur a minimum 24 hours in advance while programming space remains available.

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]

 

 

News Update: Staff Changes

Announcing our New Curator

Having received 17 curator applications from across Canada and 2 from Europe, we ended up finding our successful candidate pretty close to home.  Effective April 1st Bryann Seib will take over the position of curator.

Involved with the SSHF since 2017, Bryann continually impressed the interview committee by outperforming the other short-listed candidates through a multi-interview and candidate assignment process.

Bryann’s education includes a BA in Humanities from Briercrest College, alongside courses in support of the Certificate in Community Museums Studies (in progress) through the Museums Association of Saskatchewan.  She will be continuing her education in a Post-Baccalaureate Diploma program in Heritage Resources Management which transfers directly into a Masters of Interdisciplinary Studies while she works at the SSHF.

While familiar with some facets of the SSHF already (such as being team leader for our mobile traveling exhibit tour and several outreach exhibit projects), Bryann still has a lot to learn about the SSHF operations and our 16,000 item collection.  She is definitely up to the challenge!

Welcome to the team, Bryann!

 

Autumn McDowell is Moving On

It is with regret that we announce the pending departure of our Communications Coordinator, Autumn McDowell, on March 22.

Autumn’s next adventure will begin at Evraz Place where she has accepted the position of Marketing & Communication Strategist.  Autumn joined the SSHF in July 2015 and has been an integral part of our growing provincial awareness including the 50th Anniversary celebrations, being named Tourism Saskatchewan’s 2016 Business of the Year (Under 20 Full Time Employees), and the development of our partnership with Global Television (Regina & Saskatoon). The attention paid to our website and social media platforms during her tenure ensures that Autumn has left a strong communications portfolio for her successor to step into.

The board and staff join together in wishing Autumn all the best in her new career and look forward to her continued engagement with the SSHF through social media.

 

Membership Reminder

A Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame (SSHF) membership is a great way to get connected and stay informed about exhibits and special event programs. Becoming a member helps to support the celebration and preservation of Saskatchewan’s sport heritage.

Choose the membership type that is right for you

  • Individual $35
  • Family $50
  • Provincial Sport Governing Body $60
  • Corporate $100

For a complete list of member benefits, please visit our website.

 

Save the Date

May 9 – Whisky Night hosted at Crave Kitchen & Wine Bar, Regina.  Tickets go on sale April 1st.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY: Part-Time Assistants

The Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame (SSHF) is looking for Part-time Assistants

This opportunity includes the following responsibilities:

Opening & Closing procedures for the Hall of Fame exhibit galleries on weekends for regular operating hours, and on a casual basis for after hour special event bookings including, but not limited to:

  • Assisting with the delivery of SSHF guest services
  • Supervising the multi-sport simulator and adaptive curling interactives
  • Assisting with some curatorial activities based on training
  • Assisting with the development and delivery of SSHF education & special event programming (in house and outreach), including setup and cleanup, as required
  • Light Housekeeping

This position is perfect for individuals looking for casual and/or
regular part-time employment

We are looking for team members who have:

  • Interest in, and knowledge of, Saskatchewan sport
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a team
  • Strong communication skills
  • Strong inter-personal skills
  • Reached 18 years of age or older

The new members of our team will work with us at the Hall of Fame, located at 2205 Victoria Avenue, right here in Regina or at outreach locations throughout the city.

The position comes with salary of $12.00/hr. Not to mention all the great experience you will get working with one of Saskatchewan’s most interesting historic attractions.

If this sounds like you, please submit a resume, along with cover letter to:

Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame
Attn: Executive Director
2205 Victoria Avenue
Regina, SK  S4P 0S4

Resumes with covering letter may also be submitted via email to [email protected]

Applications will be accepted until March 15, 2019

For additional information:

Sheila Kelly, Executive Director
306-780-9232

Holiday Hours

Spend your holiday with the
Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame!

Gallery Hours:

Monday – Friday 10:00am – 4:30pm

Monday, December 24 – Closed

Tuesday, December 25 – Closed

Wednesday, December 26 Closed

Thursday, December 27 – 10:00am – 4:30pm

Friday, December 28 – 10:00am – 4:30pm

Saturday, December 29 Noon – 5:00pm

Monday, December 31 – Closed

Tuesday, January 1 – Closed

Regular Gallery hours resume on Wednesday, January 2, 2019

From all of us at the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame, we would like to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season.

THANK YOU: 2018 Induction

Induction 2018 was a great success thanks to our sponsors, the Class of 2018, our volunteers and the many parade inductees who joined us for the celebrations. Events got underway with numerous family members, friends and media joining us Saturday afternoon at the SSHF for the Inductee Open House. This was an opportunity to grab a few autographs, check out the individual exhibits within Dedication to Sport, and visit with those about to enter the Hall of Fame.

Our formal induction celebrations were hosted at the Conexus Arts Centre in Regina, SK as we recognized the contributions and achievements of the Class of 2018 comprising: Kimberly Bergey Kaip (Judo & Wrestling), Lisa Franks (Athletics & Basketball), Johannes “Johnny” Gottselig (Hockey), Robert “Bob” Haver (Rowing), Richard Melville “Dick” Nash (Rodeo), David Pagan (Baseball), and the 1984 Randy Woytowich Mixed Curling Team. To each of the inductees we extend a heartfelt thank you for the privilege of working with you over the past few months. We certainly look forward to having you as part of the Hall of Fame family.

Special thanks are also extended to our Master of Ceremonies, Carlyle Fiset from Global Regina and Saskatoon, who also had the task of moderating a hotstove panel featuring four members of our new Induction Class. This was an opportunity for everyone in attendance to get to know our new inductees a little better, and it turned out to be a highlight of the evening! Thank you as well to all of our sponsors who helped to ensure that the induction events were a great success.

Access Communications
Pro AV
Fire Cube Video
Signature Print-It
Molson Coors
Hotel Saskatchewan
Barker’s Trophies Awards & Gifts
Bruce Vasselin/Designer Photo
Images on Ice
sharpshooter photography
Barb’s Badges
Conexus Arts Centre
T.G. Marketing

Finally, thank you to everyone who helped to make the 2018 Induction Weekend a success. We look forward to another fantastic year ahead.

 

*Event photographs coming soon!

Get Your Raffle Tickets Today!

Don’t miss your chance to win these fantastic prizes!

1ST PRIZE: Jewelry designed by Olson Goldsmiths
– approximate value $1,000
Sponsored by Olson Goldsmiths
* Pictured below

2nd Prize: Private Wine & Cheese Reception for 20
at the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame
– featuring wine from Over The Hill Orchards and Winery
– approximate value $600

3rd Prize: Regina Pats Game Day Package
(6 tickets & food package)
*some restrictions may apply – approximate value $300
Sponsored by Western Pizza South Albert & Glencairn restaurants

4TH Prize: Saskatchewan Roughriders Game Day Package
(4 sideline passes & 4 game tickets for Saturday, October 27, 2018)
– approximate value $200
Sponsored by the Saskatchewan Roughriders

Draw date: September 29, 2018

Tickets are $5 each.

Please visit the SSHF, 2205 Victoria Avenue, to purchase your tickets.
Any remaining tickets will be available for sale at the Induction Dinner.
*CASH preferred* Only 600 printed so get yours now!!

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

 

Employment Opportunity – Summer Position Available

Job Title:  Interpreter

Job Duties:  Assist with the development and implementation of curriculum-based education programs including “Never Give Up” which are hosted in-house and through outreach opportunities.   Assist with the development and implementation of summer programming including “Creating Active Champions” and “Exploration Days” in conjunction with partner organizations.  Conduct research to support current and future exhibits within the hall of fame.  Participate in special event activities which will include our mobile traveling exhibit.

Period of Employment: June 4 – August 17, 2018 (with the possibility of extension)

  • 30 hour work week

Location of the Job: Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame (2205 Victoria Avenue, Regina) and outreach by appointment

Salary: $15.00/hour

Qualifications:

  • Current Field of Study:
    • Education
    • Arts – Museology
    • Social Science – Anthropology, Archaeology, Heritage Interpretation, History or Social Sciences-General
  • Must possess a valid driver’s license
  • Applicants must be returning to school as a full-time student in September 2018

To Apply: Please submit a resume with three references to the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame (address below) or via email to [email protected]. Deadline for applications in Friday, May 11, 2018.

 

NEW Edition of For The Record: February/March 2018

For The Record

MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT RANKIN JAWORSKI

Spring is always an exciting time for the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame (SSHF) as we prepare to announce a new class of inductees for the current year. I am proud to say that the Board has ratified the Inductee Selection Committee’s recommendation for our Class of 2018 and we will soon be announcing the names to the public. I have been fortunate to be part of a number of nomination cycles for the SSHF and am continually reminded of the astounding quality and breadth of elite athletes, coaches, builders and teams that fill Saskatchewan’s history. While I can’t spoil the announcement of this year’s class I’m proud to say it will once again add to the multitude of inspiring stories and achievements enshrined within the hall.

This year’s class announcement also serves as a reminder that there are still a vast array of stories that deserve to be added to the SSHF. From the incredible accomplishments of Hayley Wickenheiser and her 23 years as a member of Canada’s National Women’s hockey team, to the acclaimed career of Wendel Clark or the ongoing history being made by the incredible recovery and head spinning tricks of Mark McMorris. Regardless of the sport, Saskatchewan still has an abundance of incredible stories waiting to join the ranks of those already within the SSHF.

While there are a great deal of names the board and staff can think of who deserve to be recognized within the Hall, we rely on our supporters within the general public to formally nominate those deserving individuals and teams. The process begins by completing the nomination form found on our website. Once submitted, this document will serve as the basis for consideration into the esteemed group that makes up the 512 inductees of the SSHF. As we prepare to announce the Class of 2018 this April now is a great time to begin considering if there is a deserving person you wish to nominate for future classes of inductees ahead of this year’s October 31st deadline. If you have any questions regarding the nomination, selection or induction process please don’t hesitate to contact the staff at [email protected], they are more than happy to answer any questions.

Website: www.sasksportshalloffame.com
Facebook: SaskSportsHF
Instagram: @SaskSportsHF
Twitter: @SaskSportsHF
Review us on TripAdvisor

All the best,

Rankin Jaworski

To find out more on our latest happenings at the SSHF, download the full version of the newest For The Record, right here:

For the Record February/March 2018

Easter Holiday Hours

Easter Holiday Hours:

Friday, March 30 – Closed
Saturday, March 31 – Open 12:00pm – 5:00pm
Sunday, April 1 – Closed
Monday, April 2 – Closed

*We will return to regular business hours on Tuesday, April 3.