Sport Hall of Fame induction enshrines athletes, builders, and team

February 5, 2026 · 0 Comments

By Jim Stewart

Town Crier Andrew Welch, in one of his final civic appearances after fifteen years of service, rang in the 3rd Annual Caledon Sport Hall of Fame Induction event and called the assembly to order with his booming voice and sartorial splendor.

After he listed the dignitaries in attendance, Welch introduced Emcee and 2025 Inductee Barrie Shepley.

The engaging host referred to the ceremony and supper as “one of my most enjoyable evenings of the year” and called up Regional Councillor Mario Russo to bring greetings from the Town.

The Acting Mayor noted, “It’s a pleasure to represent Mayor Groves this evening. Tonight, we’re celebrating excellence in sports and we’re honored to recognize the Inductees’ accomplishments.”

Councillor Russo nodded to the Town Crier and thanked Welch for his “fourteen years of service. You’ve brought grandeur and respect to our events.”

Russo also welcomed four of his fellow Councillors in attendance: Lynn Kiernan (Ward 1); Doug Maskell (Ward 3); and Nick de Boer (Ward 4)—as well as Regional Councillor Christina Early (Wards 1, 2, and 3).

In one of the many poignant moments of the ceremony, Shepley recognized that flags were flying at half-mast in Town to honor the passing of Krirsty Duncan, former Minister of Sport, who died on Monday. Shepley acknowledged that “Athletes across the country were served so well by Duncan’s programs, and she had a significant connection to Caledon.”

After supper, Shepley moved effectively through the induction of athletes Keith Beavers, Helena Kavelaar, Ashley Lawrence, Tess Routliffe, Jade Scognamillo, and Bruce Wanless; builders George Gardiner and Chris Humeniuk; and the 2013 U13 Lady Wanderers Youth Soccer Team.

In the first posthumous induction of the evening, Shepley called up George Gardiner’s granddaughter Dr. Kristin Blakey to praise her grandfather’s horse racing legacy, which included a connection to legendary jockey Sandy Hawley.

Gardiner—who passed away in 1997—was lauded for his accomplishments.

“Truly, horse racing was one of my grandfather’s biggest passions. What he built shaped horse racing for decades in Canada. His horses dominated—winning forty stakes races.”

“Naming horses was a collective family hobby,” Dr. Blakey continued. “I also have fond memories of the track and the stables, especially of the horses looking at us in the eyes as we passed by. Most of all, my grandfather was guided by belief that sport does best when it is rooted in community.”

The event’s next inductee was firmly rooted in the community of Caledon. Keith Beavers, a two-time Olympian swimmer, grew up in Caledon and delivered greetings to the assembly via video message.

Beavers described being “included in the Caledon Sport Hall of Fame as truly humbling” and attributed his success in the pool to a few key factors: “It’s been about showing up every day and working. No one gets here alone.”

Beavers’ impact on the Dorado Stars Swim Club has been felt for decades. Its current Head Coach Courtney Desjardins described the enduring effect that Keith Beavers has had on the local Swim Club. Coach Desjardins accepted the induction trophy for her coaching colleague.

“I hope Keith’s induction inspires athletes in the Town of Caledon.”

The supper moved seamlessly from the swimming pool to the fastball diamond where Helena Kavelaar was recognized for her superb accomplishments as an indefatigable windmill pitcher. Kavelaar led Chinguacousy to a national title by pitching twenty-eight consecutive innings at the Canadian championships.

Shepley described Kavelaar as a “trailblazer for the sport of fastball.”

In her acceptance speech, the famous hurler flashed back to her childhood.

“Every week, I looked forward to seeing my brothers play at the ball diamond. When I was nine years old, a girls’ league was finally established. By 11, I was playing for the Boys 15-16 rep team in Bolton.”

She remembered with fondness and pride, “My dad manufactured our first pitching machine.”

Kavelaar acknowledged “Sport can develop many attributes in athletes. When we were looking to name our travel team, my mom suggested Ravens since they’re resilient and really tough. I had wanted to pitch for the Pink Flamingos.”

She expressed relief that this branding mishap in the making never saw the light of day.

The U13 Bolton Lady Wanderers Youth Soccer team was recognized next and the team’s mastery over US competition was itemized during their magical season in 2010.

Head Coach and Team Manager Pedro Gonzalez accepted the enshrinement on behalf of the team. The Cuban-born Gonzalez observed that before he commenced coaching in Caledon, “No one wanted to play soccer in Bolton when we started, but we kept the team together for nine years and won all fifteen tournaments in Canada and the USA that we played in 2010. The girls played with their hearts. After we won a 132-team tournament in Minnesota, our opponents asked us “Where is Caledon?”

Shepley moved the event from the soccer pitch to Canada’s second official sport: lacrosse. He described Bruce Wanless as one of the most dominant box lacrosse players in his era—winning three consecutive Minto Cups with the Brampton Junior A Excelsiors and a Mann Cup with the Port Credit Sailors.

Wanless appeared in ten NLA championships, earning multiple MVP and Top Defensive Player awards, during his stellar amateur and professional career.

During the second posthumous enshrinement of the evening, Bruce Wanless’ grandson Jeff Sehl described his lacrosse-playing grandfather’s connection to the Town: “He would have loved this tonight. He was a very proud Caledon resident. He even flew a Caledon flag at our cottage. This induction is so meaningful for our family.”