Sports Hall’s class of 2020 a dynamic group
Sheldon Kennedy is a Canadian hero.
His contribution to sports — and society as a whole — is being saluted once again, as the anti-abuse advocate headlines a dynamic 2020 class of inductees into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame.
The 11-member who’s-who group features six athletes and five builders, including Kennedy, whose place in the national Hall is well-deserved given his efforts to make the world a better place.
“It’s one of those days where there’s a lot of reflection going on,” said Calgary’s Kennedy, who stepped forward in 1997 after years of privately struggling with emotional and psychological distress to publicly accuse his former junior hockey coach, Graham James, of sexual assault, before stepping up to lead a movement for improving child safety in sports, schools and youth organizations across Canada.
“We’ve been on a journey for 24 years here, trying to make a difference in the areas that we’ve been advocating for — around abuse, bullying, harassment, discrimination and neglect — and to be able to see those issues that I represent be honoured in Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame is a big thing,” continued the native of Elkhorn, Man.
“Just very honoured and proud.”
As are the other 10 members of this year’s class, including six athletes — basketball legend Steve Nash, golf star Lorie Kane, show-jumping master Eric Lamaze (along with his fabled horse, Hickstead), track-and-field talent Diane Jones Konihowski, wheelchair curler Sonja Gaudet and Special Olympian powerlifter John (Jackie) Barrett — and four fellow builders — civil rights pioneer Willie O’ree (ice hockey), (The Quadfather) Duncan Campbell (wheelchair rugby), Commonwealth Games leader Judy Kent and Mohawk lacrosse player and coach Ross Powless.
O’ree, like Kennedy, has been an iconic leader in the human rights movement. The Fredericton-born O’ree became the NHL’S first black player back in 1958 and has since fought and stood for fairness, equality and understanding.
The 11 inductees — selected from more than 260 public nominations for their ability to lead and inspire both on and off the field of play, for their sports accomplishments and in recognition of their continuing role in building Canada through sport and the value they return to their communities — receive the Order of Sport Award, Canada’s highest sporting honour.
But with no certainty regarding crowd size restrictions, travel bans and general safety measures due to the coronavirus pandemic, the induction celebration will be postponed until 2021.
“In these uncertain times, we are thrilled to be able to share a good news story and to have this remarkable group of people to induct next year,” said Hall chief executive/president Cheryl Bernard, whose committee to induct the class of 2020 was comprised of sports broadcasters, writers, academics and athletes.
“We’ve never been more proud of our sports history, our sports champions and their community spirit, and we are formally recognizing these athletes and builders for living and sharing sports values — Canada’s shared values — of respect, equality, fairness and openness.”