Markham Sport Hall of Fame Statement

Markham Sport Hall of Fame Statement

For immediate release

April 11, 2018

Markham Sport Hall of Fame: Statement by Mayor Frank Scarpitti

It is important to share the stories of Markham’s exceptional athletes and their outstanding achievements. They have brought recognition to our City and are role models to all Canadians. Now, their legacy will live on and inspire future generations.

Markham has launched the nomination process for the Markham Sport Hall of Fame (MSHOF). A first in our City, it will be housed at the Markham Pan Am Centre. The MSHOF gives us the chance to reflect on and celebrate our long and diverse history in sports.

The MSHOF is a legacy project of the 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Games, and as a City, we wanted to ensure that Markham’s contribution to the world of sports is recognized well after the games are over.

The MSHOF will be a destination accessible to all who wish to learn about and celebrate the outstanding achievements and contributions of local athletes, and the organizations and people who support them.

Markham is an international sports destination and home to many great athletes, including but not limited to Steven Stamkos, Andre De Grasse, Michelle Li, Milos Raonic, Sara Wells and many more.

Sport is a uniting force and brings communities together. Future inductees exemplify the best in all of us and reinforce what it means to work hard and never give up. Sportsmanship and comradery are values instilled in every boy and girl who join a team and play their favourite sport; and they look to our sports heroes for inspiration. The Markham Sport Hall of Fame will serve as a great reminder and will attract people from all over the GTA, Canada and the world.

I encourage Markham residents to nominate your hero, they can be amateur or professional athletes, coaches, managers, trainers and local sports teams. We will unveil the first inductees at the inaugural gala this fall.

We are one of the few municipalities in the GTA to have one; it belongs to the community and to every young athlete who dreams of greatness.

I would like to personally thank Meg Stokes, Cathy McKnight and the entire MSHOF Committee for their outstanding volunteerism and dedication. Thank you to the Markham Thunder Athletes, Badminton Canada’s Michelle Tong, Team Canada’s Paul Poirier and the Markham Aquatic Club for helping launch the nomination process.

In order to meet nomination criteria, candidates must: be born or grow up in Markham, live or work in Markham at the time of their achievement, or be a member of a team competing for Markham.