Category Archives: Public News

Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame Develops Renderings of Facility Rebuild

The Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame (NSSHF) is in the process of constructing a brand-new Hall of Fame facility in a familiar old location, and has completed preliminary renderings of the new design.

After closing its previous home adjacent to the Scotiabank Centre in fall 2020, the NSSHF has negotiated a new lease with landlord Armco Capital, and will return to its old location after undertaking significant renovations to build a bigger and better Hall of Fame museum.

The rebuild will increase square footage by up to 50%, and improvements will include:

  • Memorable and comprehensive inductee section
  • Impactful and educational exhibits
  • Dynamic and interactive games
  • Modern theatre/programming space
  • Onsite and visible storage to preserve and showcase Nova Scotia’s treasured sport artifacts
  • Meeting space
  • Improved visitor amenities
  • A welcoming and accessible space for all

Take a virtual walk-through of the re-imagined space by watching this video

And see more renderings by Harvey Architecture in the NSSHF’s Capital Campaign booklet

San Francisco 49ers Unveil “The Long Game”

An Exhibit About Social Justice, Equity in the Context of Professional Sports

The 49ers Museum presented by Foxconn Industrial Internet opened its newest exhibit last month just ahead of the team’s annual Inspire Change game, which follows the NFL’s initiative to ensure a more equal and just future. “The Long Game” takes visitors on a journey spotlighting five historical moments in the Bay Area where sports intersected with national movements for change. This is the first exhibit of its kind in the NFL.

The exhibit openly explores critical social issues such as sexism, housing, and racial discrimination. These stories include Willie Mays and the housing discrimination in San Francisco; Tommie Smith and John Carlos’ silent gesture on the Olympic podium; ‘Sexism and Equal Opportunity’ as told through Brandi Chastain and female coaches who have broken gender barriers and finally; Colin Kaepernick’s iconic protest that pushed the conversation about anti-Black racism on a global scale.

With this exhibit, the 49ers Museum hopes to spur discussion and action to combat discrimination and inequality around the Bay and across the globe. The team plans to integrate this exhibit with the 49ers Foundation’s 49ers EDU STEAM education program to teach local youth about these important cultural histories.

“The Long Game” gallery achieves the powerful storytelling through a combination of unique artifacts, graphics, and video footage capturing the iconic moments. CambridgeSeven, who designed the 49ers Museum’s original exhibit galleries and EDU Center, worked closely with the museum curators, educators, athletes, coaches, and advocates to craft the new exhibit.

Since the exhibit opening in December, the Museum has received rave reviews from students and visitors alike.

ISHA Colour logo

Dear Fellow ISHA Members,

I hope this communication finds you doing well and preparing for a relaxing and enjoyable time with your family and friends for the upcoming holidays.

Thank you for your dedication to preserve and promote sports heritage through your institution, company, or personal commitment. Among your member benefits is a commitment to provide annual support to members through the Founders’ Fund. Each year we ask the board members to lead by example and donate to the fund. Please consider joining us again this year in supporting this great cause for our industry.

The purpose of the Founders’ Fund is to offer financial funding to members to attend the conference, as well as to support special projects of our member institutions. The Founders’ Fund exists solely to support you and your facility and your fellow ISHA members. Each year, through an application process, the committee reviews submissions and makes recommendations to the Board on conference grants for members to attend the conference and on special projects grants for member institutions to complete a project that their facility has on their list of goals.

We are inviting you, as someone who shares our passion, to join the board and fellow members with a tax-deductible donation during this annual gift campaign. Your support will honor the true spirit of sports, while helping others in our industry.

The past two years were challenging for ISHA and the Founder’s Fund as they were for all of us. Our annual fund-raising efforts were curbed due to not being able to hold the annual conference. We have some ground to make up. Won’t you consider helping the Founder’s Fund in continuing to assist our members in promoting sports heritage and preserving our history? Thank you in advance for your consideration and commitment.

For ease in donating, please visit the ISHA website at this link:

https://sportsheritage.org/isha-grants/founders-fund/

I am making my personal donation today. My institution is also supporting the fund through an annual pledge. Won’t you join me?

Thanks so much and may you experience joy and blessings in the New Year!

Kent Sturman

Chairman, ISHA Founder’s Fund Committee

December 20, 2022
There are nearly 150 institutions located in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia that are Regular Members of ISHA. In addition, various corporations and individuals participate in and contribute to the growth of ISHA as Associate Members.

The ISHY Awards program was established to provide recognition for excellence in publications and exhibits by all member sports museums, hall of fame, or sports heritage organizations, regardless of size or budget, based upon a competition evaluated by ISHA members. Here is a look at this year’s winners:

2022 Award Winners ISHY
Category A. Book, printed hard cover or soft bound (Equal to Or Less 250K)
Mason County Sports Hall of Fame – Class Of 2020/2021 Mason County Sports Hall of Fame

Category A. Book, printed hard cover or soft bound (Over 250K US)
USGA Museum and Library – Swing Time: A Celebration Of Golf And Music

Category B. Non book publication (Over 250K US)
Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame – Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame: Honouring Excellence (Annual Program)

Category C-A. Marketing Materials (Over 250 K US)
USGA Foundation – Walker Cup and Curtis Cup Endowment Marketing Brochures

Category: C-B. Marketing Materials Video /Audio Short (Over 250 K US)
World of Little League Museum – Seven Firsts

C-C. Marketing Material Social Media Account of the Year (Over 250 K US)
Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame – Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame Mobile App

Category: D Educational Programming (Equal to Or Less 250 K US)
Mason County Sports HOF – Ludington Mariners Baseball Team

Category: D. Education Programming (Over 250 K US)
The Sports Museum – Boston vs. Bullies Academy for Internet Champions

Category: E. Hall of Fame Inductions and/or Annual Event Support Materials (Equal to Or Less 250K US)
Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame – Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame 2021 Induction Special

Category: E. Hall of Fame Inductions and/or Annual Event Support Materials (Over 250K US)
Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame – Induction Night 2021 Video Suite (8 videos total)

Category: F-A. New Exhibit Under $50,000 (Over 250K US)
49ers Museum presented by Foxconn Industrial Internet – 49ers Museum Virtual Tour

Category: F-B New Exhibit $50,000-$250,000 (Equal to Or Less 250K US)
Mason County Sports HOF – Beyond the Game

About ISHA
The International Sports Heritage Association is a non-profit membership organization incorporated in 1971.  The mission of ISHA is to educate, promote and support organizations and individuals engaged in the celebration of sports heritage.  ISHA includes nearly 150 regular members from countries such as China, New Zealand, England, Switzerland, Singapore, Japan, Australia, Canada and the United States.  In addition, corporations and individuals participate in and contribute to the growth of ISHA as Associate Members.  For more information about ISHA, visit sportsheritage.test.

Contact:

Shane Mailman
ISHA Executive Administrator
[email protected]

Caitlin Dyer
ISHA Communications Committee
[email protected]

ISHA Colour logo

The International Sports Heritage Association (ISHA) presented Green Bay, WI. native Cliff Christl with its Legacy Award during its annual conference hosted by the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame September 27-29.

Christl received the award at An Evening of Champions, the conference awards banquet held Thursday, September 29 at 6 pm at Rockwood Terrace.

Christl is the fourth recipient of the award, which ISHA created in 2018 to recognize an individual or organization located in the geographical area of the annual conference in order to provide an opportunity for the host to honor a local sports heritage contributor.

Cliff Christl has spent the bulk of his professional life writing about and researching the Packers. He has served as Packers team historian since 2014, having spent 36 years as a sportswriter covering the team for four different Wisconsin newspapers.

A native of Green Bay, he worked for 14 months at the Manitowoc Herald-Times before spending close to 16 years at the Green Bay Press-Gazette and 20 years at The Milwaukee Journal and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Christl served on the Pro Football Hall of Fame selection committee from 2002 to 2014 and has been a member of the Packers Hall of Fame selection committee since 2007. He has authored or co-authored seven other books, mostly about the Packers and pro football. He also spearheaded the effort to create the Packers Heritage Trail with its 25 historical sites and impressive downtown plaza, which recounts the story of the Packers’ rich history from Lambeau to Lombardi. He recently published The Greatest Story in Sports, a four-volume definitive history of the Green Bay Packers.

“The Packers are proud to see Cliff honored with the Legacy Award from the International Sports Heritage Association,” said Aaron Popkey, director of public affairs for the Packers. “Cliff’s work as a historian has been incredibly valuable to the organization. His hard work and dedication to capturing our history thoroughly and accurately are unmatched. We’re pleased to celebrate his contributions to sports heritage as a whole.”

About ISHA

The International Sports Heritage Association is a non-profit membership organization incorporated in 1971.  The mission of ISHA is to educate, promote and support organizations and individuals engaged in the celebration of sports heritage.  ISHA includes nearly 150 regular members from countries such as China, New Zealand, England, Switzerland, Singapore, Japan, Australia, Canada and the United States.  In addition, corporations and individuals participate in and contribute to the growth of ISHA as Associate Members.  For more information about ISHA, visit sportsheritage.test.

Contact:

Katie Hermsen

Public Affairs Manager

[email protected]

Shane Mailman

ISHA Executive Administrator

[email protected]

Caitlin Dyer

ISHA Communications Committee

[email protected]

Exterior Flags at Beyond the Hall exhibition.

Beyond The Hall

An immersive, interactive digital experience representing six (6) of Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame’s galleries – are on exhibit at the top of the Calgary Tower! In partnership with the Calgary Tower, and Scotiabank, Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame has brought the value, culture and history of sport, to the very top of this Calgary landmark.

Created in partnership with students and leading educators at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technologies (SAIT), this interactive, multimedia exhibit offers Calgary Tower visitors the opportunity to engage with the Olympic/Paralympic Games Gallery, Glide Gallery, Mary Simpson Ride Gallery, The Evolution of Ice Hockey Gallery, Women in Sport Gallery, and Motion Gallery.

National Indigenous People’s Day panel.

National Indigenous People’s Day

On Tuesday, June 21 Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame & Calgary Public Library joined together to celebrate the rich contributions of Indigenous Sport Heroes.

Hundreds of students and attendees were captivated by the wisdom of Hall of Famer, Chief Wilton Littlechild as he shared about balance being the key to success in all areas of life, in his educational keynote, presented by ATB Financial and CN.

Visitors to Central Library enjoyed the opportunity to peruse the Indigenous Sport Heroes Education Experience, interact with memorabilia and original sport artefacts from Indigenous Hall of Famers, try out modern-day lacrosse with Elev8 Classroom Lacrosse, learn about and participate in traditional Indigenous Games, engage in an interactive Traditional Dene Games demonstration, learn about and sample Indigenous foods, and participate in Indigenous language activities.

The day’s festivities closed with a powerful panel discussion surrounding the role of sport on the path to reconciliation, presented by Black Diamond Group, which featured Hall of Famer, Sharon Anne Firth, Tom Longboat Award Winner, James Lavallée, Fitness Trainer/Wellness Advocate, Kendra Jessie Rosychuk , President of Indigenous Sport Council Alberta, Shannon Dunfield, Senior Indigenous Relations Officer, Black Diamond Group, Scott McLeod, and VP & COO, Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame, Janice Smith.

Want to learn more about remarkable Indigenous sport heroes? Be sure to check out the Indigenous Sport Heroes Education Experience (digital book); a national education initiative designed for K-12 students that inspires conversation about the rich sporting history of 14 Indigenous Hall of Famers inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame.

66th Annual Order or Sport Save the Date

Each October, the Order of Sport Awards takes place to honour the culmination of the induction process, to celebrate induction into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame. From nomination, to selection and announcement, to induction – each member of the annual Class of Athletes and sport Builders anticipates the moment the Order of Sport scarf is placed around their neck, Order of Sport pin over their heart and the Order of Sport award placed in their hands.

Receipt of the Order of Sport is a moment that signifies the immense contributions made to Canada through sport and this celebratory event is where the impact of receiving this honour is shared with the nation. Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame is proud to be hosting the 66th Annual Order of Sport Awards, presented by Everest live in Toronto and around the world! The Class of 2022 will be celebrated at a dinner reception and awards show in downtown Toronto as they are presented the Order of Sport award – Canada’s highest sporting honour, marking their induction into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame. The awards show will be live streamed across the nation for all Canadians to collectively celebrate this remarkable Class of Athletes, sport Builders and Trailblazers.

The 66th Annual Order of Sport Awards will be hosted live Metro Toronto Convention Centre and include the following elements:

  • Sport in Canada dinner reception
  • Live Awards show in the John Basset Theatre
  • Emceeing and hosting by Sportsnet’s Ron MacLean and Tara Slone
  • Awards presentation to the Class of 2022
  • Live Musical performances from a prominent Canadian band

Order of Sport Awards presented by Everest – Order of Sport

Our Story – CSHOF

Since Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame’s museum closed to the public in March 2020, Canada’s only national museum of sport is impacting more Canadians than ever before. The organization knew the over 700 Hall of Famers inducted in its 66-year history were bigger than one physical location, and with the COVID-19 pandemic serving as a catalyst, has doubled down on a vision to bring this nation’s rich sporting history to the community.

Our Story: The evolution of Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame – YouTube

Interior of Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame museum gallery.

The Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame won a pair of prestigious awards in June for their Never Give Up educational program.

For the second year in a row, the SSHF was honoured with the Canadian Association for Sports Heritage’s CASH Award of Excellence. Two weeks later the Museums Association of Saskatchewan (MAS) also honoured Never Give Up with the MAS Award of Merit – Institution (budget over $100,000).

Never Give Up is targeted toward at-risk students in Grades 4-8 and involves SSHF inductees who have overcome obstacles and hardships to achieve their own personal goals in sport and life. The students benefitting from this program represent a range of diverse life experiences and thus, so too do the presenters who currently include a war refugee, an amputee, and three Paralympians.

Never Give Up hit its stride in 2021 when the Covid-19 pandemic required that all education programming be conducted virtually. Over the 24 sessions (six weeks in May/June and six weeks in October/November), the program reached 35 different communities and a total of 2,047 participants.

The SSHF’s new featured exhibit Fanfare debuted in June. Billed as a celebration of football, the exhibit highlights items in the collection from Saskatchewan’s Grey Cup-winning teams and the Grey Cups that have been hosted in Regina as the Canadian football championship game returns to the province in November. Fanfare also features the debut of some of the footage from the 16mm film reels that were digitized in the past year.

The SSHF also launched their Creating Active Champions program for another summer on July 4. The seven-week program teaches physical literacy, promotes physical activity, and shares Saskatchewan sport history to elementary-aged children.

Compilation image of Ashley Meeks announcing her win of a 2022 PAULY Award for Tourism Manager of the Year.

Knoxville, TN — The Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame’s Director of Events and Retail, Ashley Meeks, was announced as the winner of the 2022 PAULY Award for Tourism Manager of the Year at the Stars of the Industry Luncheon on May 5, 2022. The award is given by the Greater Knoxville Hospitality Association to a manger who has demonstrated outstanding contributions in leadership, service and community civic affairs.

Ashley received this esteemed award based of her dedication to serving all of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame guests and clients with professionalism and a great attitude, while providing outstanding leadership to her team. Guests comment regularly on her professionalism and kindness that she shows to them and they are amazed at her vast knowledge and ability to speak to the importance of the Hall of Fame and Knoxville. Her team says she is the calm in the mist of crazy events and is always positive in the sea of endless event demands.

The PAULY Awards represent dedication, devotion and hard work in the hospitality industry and the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame is proud of Ashley for receiving the PAULY Award for Tourism Manager of the Year. She is an integral part of our Hall of Fame family.