NEW WATERFORD SPORTS HALL
New Waterford and District Sport Heritage Hall of Fame to induct seven individuals, teams this month
New class to be inducted on July 16.
The class of 2018 will see seven individuals and teams inducted into the New Waterford and District Sport Heritage Hall of Fame.
Phonse Brenna, Gregor McPherson, John Gillis, Carmel Pasher, Doris MacDonald, the late Mike Kennedy, Gary Burke and the New Waterford Strands basketball teams will each join the hall at the annual awards ceremony on July 16 at the Knights of Columbus in New Waterford.
Brenna, born and raised on Atlantic Street in New Waterford, starred in multiple sports including soccer, hockey, baseball and fastball. He captained many teams to provincial championships and was known as a clutch player who delivered at key times. Brenna was also part of the 1972 Nova Scotia Canada Games soccer team. He will be inducted as an athlete.
McPherson, as an athlete, participated in baseball, basketball and football and excelled in soccer at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish. As a builder, he coached hockey, baseball and soccer. He’s a former teacher at Breton Education Centre and is retired
and living part-time in Florida and Lingan with his wife, Selica. He goes into the hall of fame as an athlete and builder.
Gillis was an outstanding athlete who excelled in baseball, basketball, hockey, soccer, and track and field. He contributed to the success of New Waterford baseball and basketball teams that won several Nova Scotia and Maritime championships. At St. Francis Xavier University, he was an important part of two Maritime intercollegiate championship teams. As a builder, he constructed a powerhouse athletic program at Mount Carmel High School during the late 1960s, among other notable accomplishments.
Pasher will be inducted into the hall of fame for darts. She began competing at provincial and national levels in 1986. Pasher was ranked No. 1 in Canada in 1990 and was selected to play for her country in many international tournaments. In 1990, she traveled to Singapore, winning the ladies double titles, a first for a Canadian woman.
Kennedy was a star basketball, soccer and fastball player during his playing career. He was an integral part of the New Waterford Stags, winners of the Nova Scotia Challenge Cup Soccer Championship in 1973. He also played for the Hi-Fi Hawks fastball team and the Mount Carmel Strands, winning provincial titles with both teams. He was a physical education teacher at St. Agnes Elementary School and was the co-founder of the New Waterford Minor Basketball Association and lead organizer of the Common School basketball program. He was also a key volunteer with the annual Knights of Columbus track and field events in the town.
MacDonald will be inducted into the hall of fame as a builder for dance. She opened her first school of dance in October 1946 and soon expanded her classes to the entire area of industrial Cape Breton.
Burke will go into the hall of fame for the special achievement award for his lifetime of dedication to sport in New Waterford. He was a longtime physical education teacher at Central High School and Breton Education Centre. He officiated basketball in the community for more than 50 years. He was also a founding member of the New Waterford Coal Bowl Classic.
The New Waterford Strands basketball teams from 1958 to 1972 are considered to be one of Cape Breton’s greatest sport dynasties. During that time, the club won nine Nova Scotia titles along with seven Maritime championships. Six Strands teams will be inducted during the ceremony.
Tickets for the induction ceremony are $40 and available by calling Gaye Desveaux at 902-578-7432.