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November 21, 2023
(North Cowichan, BC) – On November 18, three new people and two groups had their names added to the North Cowichan/Duncan Sports Wall of Fame. Since 2008, the wall of fame has been honouring the wealthy historical past of sports activities, coaches, athletes, groups, directors, and builders from our group.
“As North Cowichan celebrates its 150th anniversary, we’re excited to honour our sporting community,” says North Cowichan Mayor Rob Douglas. “Keeping with our 150th theme of Celebrating our Future, we’re proud of our sporting legacy and the young athletes who are up and coming.”
“We continue to be impressed with the quality and quantity of nominations we receive,” explains councillor and committee chair Tek Manhas. “Holding the event every two years, ensures we’re able to recognize our sport leaders.”
The 5 new inductees added to the Sports Wall of Fame are:
- Helen Gosnell – softball
- Ernie Mansueti – builder
- Jason Sandquist – triathlon
- 1959 Duncan Little League All Stars – baseball staff
- 1983 Cowichan Thunderettes – basketball staff
Front row (left to proper): Garry Bruce (representing 1959 Duncan Little League All Stars), Helen Gosnell, Kim Poland (representing 1983 Cowichan Thunderettes Basketball)
Back row (left to proper): Jason Sandquist, Ernie Mansueti
(Photo by Don Bodger)
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Media contact:
Neil Pukesh
Director, Parks and Recreation, Municipality of North Cowichan
250-746-3193
neil.pukesh@northcowichan.ca
2023 Inductees
Helen Gosnell – Softball
Helen was born and raised within the Cowichan Valley. She’s all the time been happy with being Indigenous, together with her dad being a Cowichan Tribes member.
A pure athlete, she dreamed of enjoying softball professionally. When she was 17, she was recruited as a brief cease by the Edmonton Mortons.
In 1951, she was a member of the Edmonton Mortons, which gained the primary ever official Canadian Senior Women’s Softball Championship in Toronto. This accomplishment earned the staff an induction into Softball Alberta’s Hall of Fame.
The following 12 months Helen returned to the island, enjoying with the Duncan girls softball. Over her years as a participant, she gained many tournaments and trophies for finest pitcher and catcher. Following a foul knee damage, she turned her focus to teaching.
Helen devoted years of her instructing profession to serving to college students study baseball and area hockey. She organized sporting occasions and inspired the youthful technology to pursue their desires in athletics. Due to her excellence in instructing, her groups gained a number of native tournaments and plenty of college students gained useful life abilities from their involvement in sports activities.
Ernie Mansueti – Builder
Ernie is a well known face within the Cowichan sports activities group. In his function of General Manager, Community Services for North Cowichan, he was answerable for the design and building of the Cowichan Aquatic Centre, Crofton’s seawalk, three skateparks in addition to the Sherman Road and Evans parks. Ernie additionally formalized leisure path alternatives inside the municipal forest reserve and built-in path programs between communities and neighbourhoods.
When it involves internet hosting sporting occasions, he sat on the bid committees and served as municipal liaison for the National Aboriginal Hockey Championships, Rogers Hometown Hockey, Rowing Canada, BC Seniors Games, North American Indigenous Games, and BC Summer Games.
Ernie has additionally served on the board of the Recreation Foundation of BC and the Recreation Facilities Association (RFABC). He was acknowledged by the RFABC in 1996 and 2003 with the Dave Dauphinee Award for his excellent work.
Ernie leaves a legacy because the founding father of the North Cowichan-Duncan Sports Wall of Fame, KidSport Cowichan, and member of the organizing committee of the ALS Old-Timers Hockey Tournament.
Adding to this spectacular resume, Ernie has additionally coached baseball, hockey, and soccer for over 40 years.
Jason Sandquist – Triathlon
In the over three a long time Jason has been competing on the high degree of novice triathlon he’s gained quite a few awards, victories, and podium locations. His first triathlon was in 1989. In 1991, he accomplished his first Ironman race (a triathlon with 3.8km of swimming, 180km of biking, and 42.2km of working). He positioned fourth in his age class, qualifying for the Ironman World Championships.
He has since raced 28 Ironman races, together with 10 Ironman World Championships. This has resulted in six wins for his age group and 13 podium locations.
Some of his many accomplishments embody Top Amateur Competitor at Ironman Canada in 1994, 1996, and 2000. He ranked first on the planet for Ironman 70.3 races in 2013 and 2014. In 2014, Jason obtained the Excellence Award for Long Distance Triathlon from Triathlon Canada.
Jason is presently the BC Provincial Champion within the half Ironman distance for his age group (50+ males). He continues to build up age group wins and podiums, dedicates effort and time to his coaching, and conjures up athletes and folks in North Cowichan and past.
1959 Duncan Little League All Stars – Baseball
In 1959, the Duncan Little League All Stars turned the primary boys’ staff from the Cowichan Valley to win a main championship. They gained seven straight video games enroute to the Vancouver Island and Western Canada titles. This included wins over East Vancouver and Trail and being topped BC provincial champions.
The staff then superior to Northwest Regional Championships in Portland, Oregon competing towards groups from Washington and Oregon.
They didn’t lose a recreation till they have been defeated by a staff from Vancouver, Washington, ending their charmed run in direction of the Little League World Series.
Despite the loss, the staff’s return to Vancouver Island was fairly a spectacle with two mayors escorting them in a far lengthy convoy from the Nanaimo ferry to an entire area of followers at Pioneer Park.
Team members embody:
Garry Bruce, David Cooke, Rick Haslam, Conway Dillabaugh, Larry Paradis, Bill Moore, Mike Martin, Peter Bartleman, Keith Edwards, Gerald Taylor, Ted Evans, Jack Philpot, Raymond Stotts, Gregory Ledding, coach Roy Hughes and supervisor Jarvis Jickling.
1982-83 Cowichan Thunderettes – Basketball
This ladies’ basketball staff made a reputation for Vancouver Island by profitable the provincial highschool ladies basketball championship towards Abbotsford. The devoted and distinctive athletes misplaced solely two video games all season.
The championship recreation at Simon Fraser University introduced out the very best within the staff. They showcased their drive for good competitors, coming again to take the lead after halftime. The ladies’ sportsmanship by no means wavered and their dedication led to a victory on the finish.
The gamers have been a formidable mixture, led by Kim Poland. Their camaraderie matched their unimaginable skills. Carol Bot, Cathy Roome, Val Larson, Irina Sladecek and Kim Poland additionally obtained many All-Star and MVP awards on the varied tournaments all through the 1982-83 season.
Vancouver Island confronted fierce competitors from the inhabitants base of the mainland groups, however the 1983 Cowichan Thunderettes have been capable of conquer and deliver dwelling the win.
Team members embody:
Kim Poland, Carol Bot, Irina Sladecek, Val Larson, Cathy Roome, Melanie Slade, Sandy Hughes, Shawn Hudson, Inet Sladecek, Kris Jahelka, Cindy Dodds, managers Susan Lee and Carolyn Warren, coach John Hart and assistant coach Bud Fulton.
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