Howie Meeker knows a thing or two about Halls of Fame.
The four-time Stanley Cup winner with the Toronto Maple Leafs, and Hockey Hall of Fame member as a broadcaster, was the guest speaker at the Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame 2015 induction ceremony before a capacity crowd at the Village Green Hotel Saturday night.
Meeker, 92, accompanied by his wife, Leah, was on hand to help enshrine his longtime friend John Topping, the founder of the Funtastic Sports and Music Festival, along with Canadian snowboard cross star Drew Neilson and Canadian Paralympic sit-ski multiple medalist Josh Dueck.
“John, you’re going to enjoy being in the hall of fame. I’m in a few of them,” deadpanned Meeker, much to the audience’s delight.
“It’s a real pleasure. You’re going to associate with people who are in your class which worked as hard as you have. They’re great people. You’re going to have a ball. And you deserve it. I’ve met a lot of great, wonderful people in my lifetime. My friend here is one of them.”
Topping, 63, founded the highly successful Funtastic Slo-Pitch Tournament 31 years ago.
The tournament has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for local sporting facilities while injecting $4 million into the North Okanagan economy each summer.
Topping is now doing the same for Venture Training and previously was chairman for the Cancer – Walk for the Cure and a director for Vernon Special Olympics.
“I didn’t think of the hall of fame at any time I was doing Funtastic,” said Topping. “What I wanted to do is build up the community in the place I live and love. To be inducted in the hall of fame is just cool. Thank you for the memories, and God bless.”
Current Funtastic Sports Society board president Brett Kirkpatrick paid tribute to all of the inductees, and to hall of fame founder Nick Alexis (Topping said Funtastic was born at Alexis’ legendary downtown business, Nick’s Kandy Kitchen).
Funtastic is a major sponsor of the hall of fame induction ceremony.
“It’s fitting, especially tonight, to keep in mind the long history of leaders that have worked with Funtastic,” said Kirkpatrick.“Nick contributed $25,000 of his own money to start the hall of fame. He was active in Funtastic, a promoter of Funtastic and there’s a field named at DND in his honour. Same goes for John, the longtime president, founder and champion of Funtastic.”
Dueck, 34, is an alpine skier who won a silver medal at the 2010 Vancouver Paralympics in the men’s slalom sit-ski event, then added gold and silver in Sochi in 2014, becoming Canada’s flag bearer at the Paralympics closing ceremony.
In 2012, he became the first person to perform a backflip on snow in a sit-ski.
Dueck is currently travelling with his family and could not attend the ceremony. He was represented by his parents, Peter and Vickie. Peter read a statement from their son.
“My goal was never to be a champion or to be celebrated for my efforts though both have been nice compliments in my career,” said Dueck.
“The vision I held was to always have as much fun as possible, push myself to find my personal best and to live my dreams of exploring the mountains…
“I am sad to be missing today’s celebrations with you all – I love a good party and with reason to celebrate. I would like to raise a glass to every one of you for your contributions to sports, community, friends, family and fun.”
The most poignant part of the evening came at the end.
The hall of fame committee formally recognized 1983 inductee Lew Neilson, an auto racing and hang gliding champion who was killed in a gliding accident in 1977, and Neilson’s son, Drew, who won nine races on the FIS Snowboard Cross World Cup tour, the 2007 World Cup title, had 19 podium results, was 11th at the Vancouver Olympics and won gold at the X Games.
Lew Neilson’s accomplishments were on display at the original hall of fame home in Cenotaph Park. His widow, Judy Hoy, accepted a special recognition trophy.
“Lew used to say to me when competing in sports, and knowing full-well the dangers involved, ‘who will remember me when I’m gone,’” said Judy. “Tonight, his sister, Nola, and three buddies he raced with are here to participate in this honour for Lew and Drew. I want to thank the sports hall of fame, this is wonderful.”
Drew Neilson, 41, accompanied by his family, and many friends, held back tears as he accepted his induction.
“Seeing my dad and all the stuff he did, growing up in Vernon, going downtown to the hall of fame, seeing my dad there, there wasn’t a day that went by that I told myself I was going to get there,” said Drew. “The theme tonight is fun with Funtastic, Josh having fun, but with me it was win or die and I think that was the way my father was.
“I would like to thank the committee for this honour.”
The Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame is located inside Kal Tire Place.
