The class of 2019 was inducted into the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday, November 2, 2019. (SPORT MANITOBA)
Seven athletes and one team were inducted into the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday night.
During a 40th-anniversary induction dinner and ceremony, a crowd of more than 500 people gathered at the Victoria Inn in Winnipeg for the special event.
“It is an anniversary that deserves great recognition because of what the Hall of Fame and its honoured members have been able to do for Manitoba’s sport community for so many years, and that is to preserve and celebrate our local sport heritage and inspire our youth to pursue their dreams,” said Jeff Hnatiuk, Sport Manitoba president and CEO. “Congratulations to all the inductees on your outstanding achievements!”
Individual inductees, back row left to right: Hector Vergara, Don Hornby, and Susanne Dandenault. Front row left to right: Michelle Stilwell, Charles Showkat Baksh, Maureen Orchard, and Jon Montgomery. (SPORT MANITOBA)
The individual inductees were:
- Charles Baksh (Athlete) – Cricket
- Susanne Dandenault (Athlete) – Athletics/Weightlifting
- Don Hornby (Builder) – Rowing
- Jon Montgomery (Athlete) – Skeleton
- Maureen Orchard (Builder) – Basketball/Wheelchair Basketball
- Michelle Stilwell (Athlete) – Wheelchair Sport
- Hector Vergara (Builder) – Soccer
The team inductees were:
- 1987/1988/1989 Brandon University Bobcats (Team) – Basketball
Brandon University Bobcats (1987/1988/1989). Back row from left to right: Wayne Pelly, Marvin Russel, Frank Bojarski, Doug Carmichael, David Dominique, and John Carson.
Front row from left to right: Courtney Bailey, Earl Roberts, Jerry Hemmings, Murray McLeod, and Steven Dzubinski. (SPORT MANITOBA)
Long-time Winnipeg Sun and Brandon Sun reporter, Kirk Penton, was also inducted at the event for the 2019 Manitoba Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association Media Roll of Honour. Penton is now a CFL columnist for The Athletic based in Kelowna, B.C.
The recent opening of the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame’s feature exhibit also coincided with the 40th-anniversary induction. The gallery showcases artifacts and memorabilia from honoured members, dating back to the first induction year in 1980. The exhibit will run until May 2020.
