Norfolk County Sports Hall of Recognition – Page 2 – News, events, and information related to the Norfolk County Sports Hall of Recognition.

Class of 2022 Sports Hall Inductees Announced

The Norfolk County Sports Hall of Recognition is proud to announce its Class of 2022.

Shane Bergman and Shirley Shaw are the latest individuals to be announced to the Sports Hall. They will join the group of over 90 athletes, coaches, builders, and sports ambassadors already inducted into the Hall.

Shane Bergman

Shane Bergman spent seven seasons with the Canadian Football League’s Calgary Stampeders before retiring in January, 2021. Bergman, an offensive lineman, played in 93 regular season games and 10 post-season matchups, including Grey Gup victories in 2014 and 2018. In 2019, Bergman was named to the West Division and CFL all-star rosters.

Referred to as a “technician” with effortless skill, Bergman was said to be one of those athletes who “makes the players around him better.” 3 Down Nation listed him as one of the Top 100 Active CFL players in 2020.

Prior to suiting up for the Stampeders, Bergman played for the Western Ontario Mustangs. As a high school player, he helped the Waterford District High School Wolves earn the league title in 2009.

Shirley Shaw

Shirley Shaw served as head coach for the Simcoe Seals swim team for Special Olympics athletes for over 20 years, seeing the numbers rise from nine swimmers to over 40 during that time. Shaw has also served as the local chair of the Simcoe Special Olympics Community Council.

Besides swimming, Shaw also introduced a number of other sports to local Special Olympics athletes, including basketball, floor hockey, snowshoeing, and golf.

In the reference letters supporting her application, Shaw was praised for her “dedication, kindness, and compassion.” She was also described as a “wonderful coach and mentor,” with “an amazing way with the athletes.” One reference noted that “Shirley has provided an opportunity for individuals with disabilities to feel valued, accepted, and accomplished in their sport and in life.”

In acknowledgement of her efforts, Shaw was named Special Olympics Ontario Female Coach of the Year in 2016. She received the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers from the Governor General of Canada in 2017, and was named a Paul Harris Fellow by the Rotary Foundation in 2019.

Bergman and Shaw, along with any new inductees selected from nominations received in 2023, will be formally inducted into the Norfolk County Sports Hall of Recognition at an event in 2024.

The Norfolk County Sports Hall of Recognition is physically located in the Simcoe Recreation Centre, pool viewing area level. Displays of sports team photos and inductee plaques can be viewed during regular operating hours. Additional information about events, past inductees and how to nominate individuals can be found on the Sports Hall’s web site.

Fundraising Golf Tournament Scheduled for June 9, 2023

Registration is now open for the Norfolk County Sports Hall of Recognition’s fundraising golf tournament.

The event is slated for Friday, June 9, 2023 at Springview Farm Golf Course, with tee times beginning at 9 a.m.

Golfers can register as a team of four, with three divisions (Ladies’, Men’s, and Mixed) to choose from. Mixed teams must have 2 men and 2 women. Entry fee is $100 per golfer, and includes 18 holes of golf, a cart, and lunch.

The tournament will be played in a scramble format, with prizes awarded in each division.

The golf tournament is one of the main fundraising avenues for the Sports Hall, which hosts Induction Dinners every two years, as well as supporting other events like October’s Parade of Champions.

To register, contact Sandy Smith, Secretary, sandrasmith_9@hotmail.com.

The Sports Hall’s displays are available for viewing at the pool viewing area in the Simcoe Recreation Centre.

Wanted: Sports Hall Board Members and Volunteers

If you’re interested in promoting awareness of Norfolk County athletes’ achievements and have the time and inclination to volunteer to support this objective, then the Norfolk County Sports Hall of Recognition would be love to hear from you.

The Sports Hall’s mandate is to recognize and honour individuals and teams who have made significant contributions to Norfolk County’s sports history. Their primary focus is the Induction Dinners, usually held every two years to celebrate those individuals who have been inducted to the Hall of Recognition. The group also works with Norfolk County to host the annual Parade of Champions event during the Norfolk County Fair and Horse Show. This event recognizes individuals and teams who have earned provincial and national championships or awards during the past year.

Each year, the Sports Hall also reviews nominations from the community to determine that year’s allotment of Sports Hall inductees. Periodically, the Sports Hall conducts fundraising events such as golf tournaments.

With the Annual General Meeting coming up March of 2023, the Sports Hall is seeking volunteers interested in joining the Board, or helping with events such as golf tournaments and induction dinners. Interested parties are welcome to pose any questions they might have, or express their interest in involvement, by contacting us at norfolkcountysportshall@gmail.com.

Did You Know

Since its inception, the Norfolk County Sports Hall of Recognition has inducted over 90 individuals to the Hall.
Displays, including plaques honouring past individual inductees, are located in the pool viewing area of the Simcoe Recreation Centre.
The Sports Hall’s 25^th anniversary book, written by George Pond, is now available for purchase at three local venues: the Customer Service Desk at the Simcoe Recreation Centre, Firefly & Fox Books in Simcoe, and Nifty Gifty in Waterford. Sales price has been reduced from the original $25 cost, to $20.

New Price, New Sales Locations for Sports Hall Book

Norfolk County Sports Hall of Recognition: The First Twenty-Five Years is now available for $20 a copy, and can be purchased at the Simcoe Recreation Centre Customer Service Desk, at Firefly & Fox books in Simcoe, or at Nifty Gifty in Waterford.

The book, written by local historian and Sports Hall inductee George Pond, is a full-color softcover printed on quality paper. In addition to offering a history of the Sports Hall itself, the book includes photos and profiles of all individuals inducted to the Norfolk County Sports Hall of Recognition between 1996 and 2018, as well as photos of the 11 teams inducted into the Hall.

Lists of Reunion of Champions teams and Parade of Champions teams and individuals honored between 2003 up to 2018 are included, as are highlights of various events such as the Red Kelly Homecoming and 2009 Olympic Torch Relay.

Sports Hall Trivia Contest Winner Announced

Congratulations to David Baldock, whose name was drawn from among the correct entries to the Norfolk County Sports Hall of Recognition’s trivia contest held November 1 to December 31, 2022.

For his winning entry, David receives a $25 gift certificate for David’s Restaurant.

Thank you to all entrants, and to David’s Restaurant for donating the contest prize.

Thank You to The Barrel!

The Barrel’s Pizza Promotion event resulted in a $300 donation to the Sports Hall. Many thanks to The Barrel, and to all those who supported this event.

Cheque presentation at The Barrel — In November, The Barrel held a pizza promotion, with proceeds going to the Sports Hall. Above, Sports Hall co-chairs Jean Montgomery (left) and Lisa Timpf (centre) accept a cheque for $300 from Nick Kokkoros, Partner and General Manager of The Barrel (right).

Many thanks to The Barrel Restaurant for their Pizza Promotion. The Barrel pledged to donate $2 to the Sports Hall for every medium and large traditional or gourmet pizza ordered for pickup or delivery from November 7 to 13.

The pizza promotion event resulted in a $300 donation to the Sports Hall.

Thank you to The Barrel, and to all patrons who ordered a pizza during this time. Your support of the Norfolk County Sports Hall of Recognition is appreciated!

Sports Hall Trivia Contest

Want to sink your teeth into a tasty prize? Then why not take a shot at the Norfolk County Sports Hall of Recognition’s trivia contest?

The question: “Name three people who have been inducted into the Norfolk County Sports Hall of Recognition, along with the years they were inducted.”

If you can’t answer off the top of your head, don’t despair: The response can readily be found either by looking at the Sports Hall’s web site, or by checking out the Sports Hall’s 25^th anniversary book, Norfolk County Sports Hall of Recognition: The First Twenty-Five Years.

The Rules:

Entries must be received by midnight December 31, 2022.

Limit of one entry per person.

Answers must be legible, although spelling or typographical errors will not disqualify an entry.

Entries must include a method of contact, in case you are the winner (email, phone number, etc.)

Judges’ decision on suitability of entries is final.

In the month of January 2023, one winner will be drawn from among the correct entries. This person will receive a $25 gift certificate for David’s Restaurant in Port Dover.

Winners must be willing to have their name publicized on the Sports Hall web site and social media.

How to submit:
Entries can be submitted as follows:

a) by email, sent to norfolkcountysportshall@gmail.com, or

b) by mail, sent to:
Trivia Contest
Norfolk County Sports Hall of Recognition
182 South Drive
Simcoe, ON
N3Y 1G6

Good luck to all!

Nominations for Class of 2022 Close December 1

Do you know of a Norfolk County athlete who has consistently excelled at the highest levels of sport? A coach or builder who has left a lasting stamp on Norfolk’s sporting landscape? A sports ambassador whose enthusiasm and commitment stands out above all others?

If so, the Norfolk County Sports Hall of Recognition wants to hear from you.

Individuals have until December 1, 2022 to submit nominations for the current round of inductions. Candidates will be assessed against a standard set of criteria to determine up to four inductees to be named as the Sports Hall’s Class of 2022. These inductees will be honoured, along with Class of 2023, at the Sports Hall’s next induction dinner, tentatively planned for 2024.

To view nomination guidelines , visit the “Nomination Process” tab on the top navigation menu.

The nomination form can be downloaded from that location, or from the link below:

nomination form

Completed nomination forms, along with supporting material, can be dropped off at the Simcoe Recreation Centre to the attention of Susie Wray, or mailed to the updated address indicated on the current nomination form.

Since its establishment in 1994, the Norfolk County Sports Hall of Recognition has inducted over 90 individuals from throughout the county, including hockey greats Leonard “Red” Kelly and Ron “Chico” Maki as well as numerous builders and coaches without whose efforts the Norfolk sports landscape would look very different. The Sports Hall displays are located in the pool viewing area of the Simcoe Recreation Centre. The “ Hall” includes a permanent plaque wall as well as rotating displays featuring the most recent inductees.

The Sports Hall has also conducted Reunion of Champions events to recognize past provincial and national championship teams, as well as supporting the Parade of Champions, which this year acknowledged over 100 individuals who, as members of teams or on their own, earned provincial, national, or international honours since the fall of 2019.

Anyone wishing to support the Sports Hall’s efforts is invited to participate in a fundraising event being held in partnership with The Barrel Restaurant in Simcoe. The Barrel Restaurant has pledged to donate $2 to the Sports Hall for every pizza delivered or picked up from their restaurant from November 7 to November 13, 2022.

Eat Pizza, Support the Sports Hall

You can support the Norfolk County Sports Hall of Recognition just by eating pizza!

The Barrel Restaurant in Simcoe will be donating $2 to the Sports Hall for every pizza delivered or picked up from The Barrel November 7 to November 13, 2022. Thanks to the Barrel Restaurant for this generous offer!

Wanted: Championship Teams and Individuals

Each year, Norfolk County and the Norfolk County Sports Hall of Recognition partner to recognize individuals and teams who have won provincial, national, or international sports championships. If you meet this qualification, or know an individual or a team that does, please contact Lisa Girard at lisa.girard@norfolkcounty.ca, so we can include them in the next Parade of Champions event in October, 2022. Due to COVID-19 we were unable to hold Parade of Champions events in 2020 and 2021, so this event will include individuals and teams who earned championships since our last recognition event in October 2019.