A second class of inductees has been enshrined by the Lunenburg County Sport Heritage Society (LCSHS) on the Wall of Fame at the Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre (LCLC) in Bridgewater.
The second annual induction ceremony, held on Sunday, Nov. 4, brings honour and recognition to three builders, two athletes and one team who all have strong ties to Lunenburg County and have excelled in their achievements, commitment and dedication to sport.
“Our inductees have dedicated their lives to being the best they could be and have set a great example for those following behind them. They have shown that sport is not just what happens during competition, but the lifestyle and benefits that sport can provide in enhancing the lives of those that participate and those that are touched by their efforts,” said LCSHS co-chairs Carroll Randall and Marilyn Neily, in their address. “Sport is a very integral part of our lives and we know it has been a very important part of the lives of our 2018 Sport Wall of Fame inductees. Whether our inductees are accomplished athletes, dedicated coaches, tireless administrators or builders, each are being recognized for their distinct and valued contribution to sport through their connection to Lunenburg County.”
Inducted to the Wall of Fame in the team category for curling was Chester’s Team Fay (Mary Fay, Kristin Clarke, Karlee Burgess and Janique LeBlanc). After winning the Nova Scotia Junior Women’s U21 Curling Championship in 2015, Team Fay went on to win the Canadian Junior Women’s Curling and World Junior Women’s Curling championships in 2016. They were named the Sport Nova Scotia 2016 Team of the Year, Female, with Athlete of the Year going to Mary Fay and Coach of the Year to Andrew Atherton.
Scott Saunders, Lunenburg, was also inducted to the Wall of Fame for curling in the athlete category, with a list of accomplishments as a skip that dates from 1975 to 2014, and that runs the gauntlet of junior men’s provincial curling championships to senior men’s curling championships, with a few mixed curling provincial and national championship titles in between.
Also inducted as an athlete for field hockey and basketball was Diane Boulanger, Martin’s River. Boulanger, who was inducted into the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame in 1995, was a team member of the Saint Francis Xavier University Field Hockey and Basketball teams from 1969 to 1973, where she was named Rookie of the Year in 1970, Female Athlete of the Year 1972 and Field Hockey MVP in 1973.
Boulanger was also a member of the Nova Scotia Canada Winter Games Basketball teams in 1971 and 1975, and a member of the Nova Scotia Canada Summer Games Field Hockey team in 1973, going on to win the 1975 Canadian Field Hockey championship with Team Nova Scotia. She also played with the Canadian National Field Hockey Squad in 1976 and 1977.
Inducted to the Wall of Fame in the Builder category was Brian Langley, Bridgwater; Kevin Heisler, Tancook Island and Georg Thomas (Tom) C. Ernst, Mahone Bay.
Ernst, inducted in the Builder Category as an administrator and coach, “has dedicated his life to helping the youth of Mahone Bay area,” reads the citation, serving as program leader for 60 years with the St. James Church Boys League, coaching St. James CBL Jets Hockey teams for 20 years and St. James CBL Jets Baseball Teams for 25 years. Ernest co-created the Mahone Bay & District Minor Baseball Association and has been a Boy Scout Leader for 19 years.
Langley and Heisler are also both Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame inductees (2000 and 2010 respectively) for their contributions to track and field.
Langley served on the Nova Scotia Track and Field Association as a board member, vice president and president from 1974 to 1984, was the Atlantic region representative for the Nova Scotia School Athletic Federation those same years with Athletics Canada and served on various committees from 1975 to 1998. Langley also served as a board member with the Canadian Olympic Association from 1988 to 1994 and was a member of the head delegation for the 1992 Canadian Track and Field Olympics Team.
Heisler has been a “volunteer mentor, coach, meet organizer, board and executive member, and promoter for more than 35 years,” reads his citation. Heisler founded the Aileen Meagher International Track Classic in 1992 and continues to serve as Director. He is an eight-time Canadian National Track and Field Coach, was the Canadian Team Leader for the 1993 World Cross Country Championships in Spain, Head Coach for the 1997 Pan American Junior Championships, Staff Coach at three World Cross Country Championships, Head Coach of the Halifax Wanderers Track and Field Club, Canadian Team Leader for the 2002 World Cross Country Championships in Beijing, Head Coach of the Saint Mary’s University Cross Country Team for 10 years, Provincial Track and Field Coach for the Legion Games, Junior Games and Senior Games, Canada Summer Games, and seven-time Meet Director for the Canadian Cross Country Championships.
Lunenburg County Sport Heritage Society (LCSHS) will be calling for nominations in early spring for the 2019 Wall of Fame Inductees. The LCSHS will be holding their Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Jan. 9, 2019, at Park View Education Centre, starting at 7 p.m. (Room TBA). Members of the general public are welcome to attend.
