Most communities have some sort of program or Hall of Fame to honour deserving members of the sporting field, but the North Cowichan/Duncan Sports Wall of Fame is clearly one of the best.
The latest inductions Saturday at the Cowichan Golf & Country Club brought that into focus. This has become much more than handing out some trophies and then everyone has a beer and goes home.
There’s a fraternity that’s developed here and that incorporates the entire area of North Cowichan, including Chemainus and Crofton, as well as Duncan.
Last year was a big one for Chemainus with longtime umpire Roy Price and the Stuart Channel Little League baseball team of 1987 both being inducted. There was no Chemainus or Crofton representation this time, but there surely will be again in the future.
In 2013, the entire induction class was either from Chemainus or Crofton or had roots within the two communities.
It’s become apparent with each induction ceremony how much this means to the people being honoured. It’s been extremely emotional with a few posthumous inductions, but also a great celebration for bringing people together.
The two teams inducted this year took advantage of the opportunity for a reunion that probably never would have happened without this honour being bestowed upon them.
The 1959 Duncan Little Leaguers still looked rather spry, with all the players currently around 76 years old. You can just imagine the story-telling that was going on with these guys getting together.
And even for the 1983 Cowichan Thunderettes girls basketball team, it’s been 40 years since the players hoisted Cowichan Secondary School’s last B.C. championship trophy in basketball. They’re all into their late 50s now and long overdue for a rendezvous as well that the Sports Wall of Fame event provided.
Others in attendance connected with people they hadn’t seen in eons.
That’s truly the beauty of this event. It celebrates some of our most cherished historical sports moments but also the people who made it happen and their relationships with each other.