June 16, 2015 (Calgary, AB) – To celebrate Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame’s 60th anniversary and recognize 2015 as the “Year of Sport” declared by His Excellency, the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame will, for the first time ever, induct two groups; The Class of 2015 and the Canadian Sport Legends Class. Induction into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame is the highest sporting honour in Canada. Each year, an outstanding group of the country’s most influential and inspiring Athletes and sport Builders are inducted.

The Canadian Sport Legends Class is a group of sport heroes, whose contributions came largely before 1955, spanning nearly 150 years of Canadian sport. This diverse group of Athletes and Builders includes war heroes who gave their lives for our country, Indigenous and black athletes who broke down racial barriers, women who overcame gender inequality, and remarkable pioneers of Canadian sport. The Canadian Sport Legends Class will be inducted on June 17, 2015 at Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame located at WinSport’s Canada Olympic Park. The Class of 2015 will be inducted in Toronto on October 21, 2015.

Descendants and families of the Legends Class inductees from across North America and as far away as Thailand will be in attendance along with three of the living Legends Class inductees; Barbara Howard, Rhoda Wertele (Eaves) and Rhona Wertele (Gillis) who are all in their early 90s. Each of these three women will take part in the jacket presentation ceremony as they are officially inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame.

The Class of 2015 Inductees attending include; Paul Coffey, Michael Edgson, Sharon Firth, Craig Forrest, Calgary’s own Danielle Goyette, Lori-Ann Muenzer, Jocelyne Bourassa and Marina van der Merwe. This is the only opportunity for the Calgary media to meet The Class of 2015.

The new Legends Gallery will be unveiled in honour of the Canadian Sport Legends Class. This gallery will showcase extremely rare artefacts, photos and videos from almost 150 years of Canadian sport. The Legends Gallery will be open to the public on June 18, 2015.

Twenty-eight Honoured Members of Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame including Kerrin Lee-Gartner, Frank Mahovlich, Lui Passaglia and Serge Savard along with the 2015 inductees will take part in the celebrations and will be recognized in a special White Hat Ceremony led by Tourism Calgary’s CEO, Cindy Ady.

Class of 2015 Inductees:

• Paul Coffey, Ice Hockey
• Michael Edgson, Para-Swimming
• Sharon Firth, Cross-Country Skiing
• Craig Forrest, Soccer
• Danielle Goyette, Ice Hockey
• Lori-Ann Muenzer, Cycling
• Jocelyne Bourassa, Builder
• Marina van der Merwe, Builder

Canadian Sport Legends Class Inductees:

• Barbara Howard
• Rhoda Wurtele Eaves
• Rhona Wurtele Gillis

Honoured Members of Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame:

• Doug Anakin
• Dr. Don Arnold
• Don Awrey
• Bev Boys
• Michelle Cameron Coulter
• Cassie Campbell
• Gary Cowan
• Bill Crothers
• Walter d’Hondt
• George Hungerford
• Don Jackson
• Russ Jackson
• Dr. Bruce Kidd
• Kerrin Lee-Gartner
• Lorne Loomer
• Archie MacKinnon
• Frank Mahovlich
• Dr. Susan Nattrass
• John Primrose
• Jui Passaglia
• Ken Read
• Serg Savard
• Kyle Shewfelt
• Gerry Sorensen
• Pat Stapleton
• Marlene Stewart Streit
• Ron Taylor
• Linda Thom
• Helen Vanderburg

Please visit www.sportshall.ca to learn more.