Inevitably, this time would come.
In 1962, the Sudbury Kinsmen launched the very first Sports Celebrity Dinner, allowing for a very natural transition from a two-year old gala tradition in which a Sudbury Sportsperson of the Year had been honoured.
For those who are curious, Errol Gibson and Alex McPherson emerged as the first two recipients of the highest of local sports accolades, one being bestowed next week upon the 2025 Lo-Ellen Park Knights track and field team.
A Kinsmen himself for some time, Chris Sheridan immersed himself into the event some time in the mid-seventies and has remained active every year since then. It is only recently, due to on-going health issues, that the giant of a man with a heart even larger would find himself forced to the sidelines.
When the Dinner struggled in the early nineties, it was Sheridan, with long-time friend Joe Drago at his side, that would lead the charge to revive the summer tradition, working closely with a committee that for a good, long time included the likes of Jack Porter, Lionel Courtemanche, Norm Mayer, Jim Conrad, Jean Grignon, Mike Allard and others.
For as much as the Class of 2026 will be greeted by a good number of new faces in organizational roles, it is encouraging to know that the essence of what led to the creation of the Greater Sudbury Sports Hall of Fame has not been lost.
First and foremost, as noted in recent versions of the welcoming address that Chris Sheridan would script in the event program: “our community is fortunate to be deeply enriched with a vast spectrum of talent. We, as a community and an organization, are committed to seeing their exploits live on.”
Future generations need to be every bit as aware of the exceptional athletic pedigree of two-time women’s world curling champion Tracy Fleury as current folks should be of the very first Olympians to enjoy a known-connection to Sudbury: 1932 speed skating siblings Alex and Florence Hurd (Class of 2024).
The pride that our city felt at the double Olympic gold medal performance of Alex Baumann (Class of 1983) has been duplicated by the likes of ten-time national triple jump champion and current Canadian record holder Caroline Ehrhardt (Class of 2026) – and surely will be again in the decades to come.
The same seamless transition that Olympic weightlifter Aldo Roy (Class of 2005) would make, remaining heavily invested in his sport after his days of competing were done is emulated in the journey that gymnast turned coach turned technical official Denis Vachon (Class of 2026) has enjoyed, serving as deputy manager – artistic gymnastics and trampoline at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics and apparently being courted for a similar role in Los Angeles in 2028.
But one need not have ventured on to the international stage in order to garner the credentials worthy of a Sudbury Sports Hall of Famer – though in his role as director of the Sudbury Regional Stick Tournaments, Peter Michelutti Sr (Class of 2026) can lay claim to wishing gold medal winning teams in northern Ontario all the best as they make their way to International Silver Stick playdowns in Sarnia, Port Huron and the like.
In a great many ways, it is those whose lives bear a much stronger resemblance to Michelutti, or basketball coach Denis Gauthier (Class of 2026), or even fastball pitcher Brad Rienguette (Class of 2026) that remain at the heart of the hallowed temple that will soon find a permanent home in Sudbury.
Following in the footsteps of the Lancers' basketball legacy of Jim Hann, Mary Collinson and Mitch Lalonde (Classes of 1997 and 2009), Gauthier rounded out his impressive resume on the bench not only with involvement in an array of NOSSA and OFSAA championships contested in town, but also with a lead assistant coaching gig with the Sudbury Five and the ensuing championship as the right-hand man to Logan Stutz.
Even as he deals with the amputation of his right leg (below the knee), Gauthier captures the spirit of all that is Sudbury sports, assisting with para sport initiatives and looking to promote his hometown, proudly, in any way that he can.
Folks who had never even heard of Garson or Wahnapitae grew to know the name as the breeding grounds of Brad Rienguette, a pitching sensation who travelled the globe blessed with an arm that could launch a fastball at a space in excess of 100 MPH – and that never seemed to tire.
So much of what the Hall of Fame fetes is that willingess to give back to a community that has given inductees and award winners so much. It wasn’t all that after making his way from the Northwest Territories to Sudbury, picking up his love of running in these parts right where he left off in the far north that 2026 Bill Roman Award recipient Jesse Winters took his involvement to another level, helping to organize the Ramsey Tour annually and helping to sustain cross-country programs at Cambrian College and Laurentian University in the process.
But if there is one group that most symbolizes the kindred spirit family of sport in Sudbury, it might well be the St Charles College football program, the institution being inducted into the Norm Mayer Dynasty Award classification on Wednesday. Just days after confirmation of the honour was released, calls began to flood in, from right across the province, with alumni travelling several hours to join in this special night.
A special night that would not even be possible without the work of Chris Sheridan, Joe Drago and countless others – and a night which the current group of very devoted volunteers will do their utmost to sustain with the care of those who came before us.
Anyone interested in purchasing tickets is asked to contact Randy Pascal either by email (info@sudburysports.com) or by phone/text at (705) 698-1627 prior to Monday June 8th. There will be NO TICKETS sold at thew door.
