The Midland Sports Hall of Fame is ready to induct its class of 2024.
“The induction happens every second year,” hall of fame chair Todd Lalonde tells MidlandToday. “This will be the 15th year and we have been functioning 30 years since 1994.”
The inductees list for the Sept. 28 event at the North Simcoe Sports and Recreation Centre includes athletes Ken Edgar, Joey Foster and Somer Deschambault-Page.
They’ll be joined by Don Foster, Frank Woodley and Jamie Robillard in the builders category.
As for teams being inducted this time around, the 1957 Midland Lions Little NHL Team and the 1989 Midland Braves lacrosse team have gotten the call.
There will also be a special recognition inductee this year with Dr. Richard Thomas receiving the honours.
The inductees will join the prestigious group of athletes, builders and teams that represent close to 40 different sports/athletic activities.
Lalonde said they're expecting between 125 and 150 people at the late September ceremony, which will feature a piper leading the inductees into the room.
This year's guest speaker is 1996 inductee Angela Schmidt, who represented Canada at multiple winter Olympic Games in cross-country skiing. There will also be silent and live auctions.
The thought of the town of Midland housing its own hall of fame had been on the minds of several community members for a long time.
In 1994, it was a visit to the Olympia Sports shop operated by Danny Wood from Bernard “Buzz” Deschamps that really got the ball rolling.
Afterwards, Deschamps and Wood approached area manager Jim McLaren, arena attendant Bob Merkely, the arena attendant, Bryan Peter, Midland’s parks and recreation director, and Bryan MacKell, Midland’s planning director to further advance this idea and dream.,
Through research, connections and engaging additional town of Midland officials, council not only approved the concept but became partners to ensure this rich community had a space to showcase the talented athletes that are and will be deserving at the North Simcoe Sports & Recreation Centre.
The Midland Sports Hall of Fame hosted its first induction ceremony in 1996 with 420 attendees of the black-tie event gathered to see this important moment in Midland’s history.
For more information about the upcoming event or to order tickets, contact the hall via email at [email protected].
