Caledon Sport Hall of Fame

Keith Beavers is a decorated Canadian swimmer and two-time Olympian who grew up in Caledon and began his competitive career with the Dorado Stars Swim Club. He represented Canada at the 2004 Athens and 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, placing 7th in the 200m backstroke final in 2008. Beavers also earned medals at the Commonwealth Games, Pan Pacific Championships, and FINA World Cup events, consistently ranking among the world’s top swimmers.

In addition to his athletic success, Beavers pursued academic excellence, earning a master’s degree in exercise physiology, and has gone on to coach at the University of Waterloo and with Swimming Canada, helping to shape the next generation of athletes. Known for his dedication, integrity, and leadership, he remains a proud ambassador for Caledon and Canadian sport.

Helena Kavelaar spent most of her life in Caledon, where her passion for fastball began. Inspired by her older brothers, Helena joined the sport at age 11, becoming a windmill pitcher and joining the Bolton Fastball Rep team. By 13, she was the starting pitcher for the Chinguacousy Bantam Rep team, and at 17, she led them to victory at the Midget National Championships, pitching 28 consecutive innings in the finals.

In 1981, she represented Canada at the World Youth Games, finishing fourth after a close match with Japan. Helena earned a full athletic scholarship to Bowling Green University but later played fastball in New Zealand during the 1980s. She capped her playing career with the Toronto Eagles, earning multiple MVP and Top Pitcher awards between 1986–1993.

Helena also became a certified fastball umpire (1992-1996), officiating across Southern Ontario, including Caledon East. She paved the way for women in fastball and received numerous provincial and national honours, including multiple Ontario Championship Certificates, No-Hitter Awards, and recognition from the Province of Ontario for her outstanding contributions to amateur sport.

Ashley Lawrence is a professional soccer player for Chelsea FC and the Canadian national team, known as one of the top attacking full-backs in the world. A standout since her youth, she represented Canada in multiple U-17 and U-20 World Cups and made her senior debut at the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, scoring her first international goal.

Lawrence played college soccer at West Virginia University, where she served as co-captain and earned numerous accolades. After graduation, she joined Paris Saint-Germain, playing six seasons before signing with Chelsea FC in July 2023.

A key figure in Canada’s Olympic success, Lawrence helped secure a bronze medal at Rio 2016 and played every match in the gold-medal run at Tokyo 2020. She also represented Canada at the 2019 and 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cups and the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Tess Routliffe is a world-class Canadian Paralympic swimmer recognized for her excellence, resilience, and leadership in sport. Competing at the highest level since 2015, she has earned medals at the Paralympic Games, World Championships, Pan Am Games, and Commonwealth Games. After a serious spinal fracture forced her to miss Tokyo 2020, she made a remarkable comeback, returning to elite form with world-record performances in 2022 and medal-winning results at Paris 2024.

Off the field, Tess holds a degree in Communications and Human Relations from Concordia University and is a passionate advocate for para-sport awareness, frequently engaging in motivational speaking and mentorship. As part of a distinguished athletic family, she and her sister Erin (a professional tennis player for New Zealand) made history as one of the first Olympic-Paralympic sibling duos at the 2024 Games in Paris.

Tess is widely respected for her perseverance, leadership within Team Canada, and her broader cultural impact in raising visibility for athletes with disabilities.

Jade Scognamillo is an accomplished marathon swimmer and former Caledon resident, known for her record-breaking swims and community contributions. In 2008, at just 14, she became the youngest and fastest person to complete a solo crossing of Lake Erie. The following year, she became the youngest person to cross Lake Ontario, completing the swim in just under 20 hours.

A recent immigrant from England at the time, Jade was granted Canadian citizenship in a special ceremony on Canada Day 2009 so she could attempt the Lake Ontario swim as a Canadian. Her achievements raised over $54,000 for SickKids Hospital and $10,000 for Headwaters Health Care Centre.

Jade has been recognized by the Solo Swims Hall of Fame, the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, and served as a 2010 Olympic torchbearer. In 2012, she received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for her swimming, fundraising, and community service.

In 2013, she launched Jade Swim4Life, a swim instruction business run from her Caledon home, where she taught lifesaving and swimming skills to many local residents, continuing her legacy of giving back through sport.

Bruce Wanless was one of the most dominant lacrosse players of his era. A key player in the Brampton Jr. A Excelsiors dynasty, he helped secure three consecutive Minto Cup titles from 1957-1959. He went on to win the Mann Cup in 1960 with the Port Credit Sailors and appeared in eight straight national championships between 1956-1963, earning a total of ten national titles throughout his career.

His individual accolades include being named Ontario Jr. A MVP in 1959, Ontario Sr. A MVP in 1967, and earning four Top Defensive Player awards in Sr. A. In 1968, he was one of only two players unanimously named a First-Team All-Star in the inaugural season of the National Lacrosse Association.

George Ryerson Gardiner was a leading Canadian thoroughbred owner and breeder in the 1960s and 1970s, honored as Man of the Year by The Jockey Club of Canada in 1985 and recipient of the Mint Julep Cup in 1992 for his lifetime contributions to Ontario’s breeding industry. His Gardiner Farms dominated Canadian racing with over 40 stakes winners, including notable horses like St. Vincent, Ice Water, and Runaway Groom - winner of two Canadian Triple Crown races and the Grade 1 Travers Stakes.

Gardiner Farms led the money-winning list seven times in eight years, earning a Sovereign Award as Outstanding Owner in 1976. Gardiner also won two Sovereign Awards as owner of Broodmare of the Year. A successful financier and former chairman of the Toronto Stock Exchange, Gardiner established a premier breeding and training facility in Caledon East and was an original member of the Northern Dancer syndicate.

He served as vice-president and trustee of the Ontario Jockey Club, founded the Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art with his wife Helen, was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1989, and has a chair named in his honor at York University’s Schulich School of Business dedicated to ethics in management.

Chris and his family have made a lasting impact on Caledon through their visionary leadership in growing golf locally and nationally. Their efforts brought the prestigious Canadian Open Golf tournament to Caledon, showcasing the area on worldwide television and boosting tourism with 54 holes of championship golf.

They established the Canadian Junior Golf Academy in partnership with the Hill Academy and helped create the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame, positioning Caledon as a central hub in the golf world for decades to come. This growth supports local businesses by increasing visitor stays and driving economic benefits to restaurants, shops, and community organizations, including donations to local venues like the Caledon Fairgrounds.

Chris and his family’s long-term investment and commitment have generated significant opportunities for youth golf development and sustained economic growth, making their contribution one of the most influential for Caledon’s community and sporting landscape.

The 2010 U13 Lady Wanderers are one of the greatest youth soccer teams in Bolton Wanderers Soccer Club history. Managed by esteemed coach Pedro Gonzalez, the team included Vanessa Fiore, Jennifer Smith, Amanda Scarafile, Cassandra Amponsah, Sabrina Canini, Sierra Amico, Victoria Bozzo, Valentina Gonzalez, Kennedy Bechard, Maddaline Horner, Logan Hanczyk, Amber Bateman, and Nikole Valkanas.

After strong local success, including four Ontario tournament wins and an Ontario Cup quarter-final, the team made history by winning the 2013 Schwan’s USA Cup, the largest youth soccer tournament in the Western Hemisphere, with over 900 teams from 19 countries. The Lady Wanderers impressed throughout the tournament, highlighted by a televised semi-final victory on penalty kicks.

In the final, they defeated the previously unbeaten Minnesota Thunder Academy with a shutout, capturing the championship and becoming the first Bolton team to win this international title. The trophy remains proudly displayed in Coach Gonzalez’s office as a symbol of their remarkable achievement and lasting legacy in Caledon soccer.

• Lisa is an 11-time Ironman Triathlon Champion and a 16-time ½ Ironman Champion.
• She has won races in Canada, USA, Germany, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Chile, and Philippines.
• Lisa represented Canada for many years on the international stage.
• She was on the Canadian Pan American Games team in 1997.
• Lisa has been a Caledon resident for 25 years and counting.
• Lisa was third at the Hawaii World Championship in 2006 and second at the ½ Ironman World Championships in 2006.
• Since Lisa’s retirement from being a professional athlete, she continues to motivate people of all ages to participate in sport and fitness and to embrace a life of well-being.
• Lisa authored a book “An Unlikely Champion” in 2018 and is also a successful motivational speaker and television commentator. 

• Beverly (McKnight) Holden is one half of Canada’s duet synchronized swimming team that won the bronze medal in the 1955 Pan American Games in Mexico City. Beverly’s partner in the sport was Diane Ferguson.
• The duet won the Ontario Duet and Canadian Duet Championships in 1954.
• Beverly was married to John Holden who was the former Regional Councillor for Ward 1.
• Beverly lived in Caledon from 1971 to 2005.
• Beverley was inducted into the Caledon Walk of Fame in 2015. 

• Zoe MacKinnon had a distinguished career as a field hockey player.
• Zoe competed at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles and the 1983 World Cup in Malaysia.
• Zoe won gold at the 1977 Canada Summer Games while she was still a student at Mayfield Secondary School.
• In her first year of competition at university, she was part of the Provincial and National Championship teams.
• She led the team in their 1981 National Title win.
• Her goaltending was impeccable – in the 1982 regular season she allowed only four goals in 10 games, and only four goals in the six championship games. The team won silver that year.
• She was named a University of Toronto Athletic Hall of Fame Inductee in 2011.
• Zoe is also in the Western Australia Sport Hall of Champions.
• Zoe served with the Peel Regional Police as an auxiliary officer on their marine search and rescue team.
• Zoe passed away in 2014. 

• Keith McCreary was a professional hockey player who played in the National Hockey League for the Montreal Canadians, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Atlanta Flames.
• Keith spent seven years in the minor league system of the Montreal Canadians.
• He became an NHL regular with the Pittsburgh Penguins following the 1967 NHL Expansion.
• In 1972, he was claimed by the Atlanta Flames in the expansion draft and was designated the franchise’s first captain.
• McCreary retired following the 1974-75 season after 532 NHL games. He recorded a total of 131 goals and 116 assists during his NHL career.
• He was elected as Regional Councillor for Caledon in 1978 and served for 10 years.
• McCreary joined the NHL Alumni Association and was the Association’s chairman.
• Keith passed away after a long battle with cancer at the age of 63 in 2003.
• His Atlanta Flames jersey is on display at the Hockey Hall of Fame. 

• Douglas (Doug) Wood is a retired male pole vaulter from Canada who represented his country in the 1992 Summer Olympics.
• He also won a silver medal at the 1991 Pan Am American Games.
• Doug was one of the most decorated student-athletes at York.
• He was the most successful pole vaulter in OUAA and CIAU history – winning gold medals at the Provincial and National Championships in four straight years (1991-94), earned OUAA All-Star award and CIAU All-Canadian Honours in each of those seasons.
• He was named the outstanding athlete of the CIAU Championship in 1991 and 1992.
• He set the CIAU meet record in pole vault in 1992 (5.65m) and the OUAA meet record in 1994 (5.45m) – Doug held the Canadian record from 1989 until 2014.

• Angus Doughty coached sports at Mayfield Secondary School for 30 years.
• The ski program at Mayfield Secondary School was one of Canada’s most successful training programs.
• In addition to Nordic skiing, Angus also coached rugby, swimming, cross country, and flag football.
• Over the years he coached 38 team golds, and individual Provincial Championship gold medals.
• In addition to coaching in Caledon, he spent eight years on the OFSAA Sport Advisory Committee for Nordic skiing.
• Three of his individual Mayfield skiers went on to represent Canada internationally at World Cup events, World Championships, and the Winter Olympics.
• Angus has had a tremendous impact on sport in Caledon.  

• Barrie Shepley is an instrumental member of the sports community in Caledon and has had a tremendous impact on the lives of many athletes, teams and coaches in Caledon over the years.
• Barrie was Canada’s National Triathlon Team coach in 1991 and for several years following.
• Barrie founded the C3 Canadian Cross Training Club in 2000 which is located in Caledon Village and partnered with James Dick Construction to establish a training facility for local athletes at their Caledon quarry.
• He’s the founder of the Kids of Steel Triathlon Program, an event that has been running in Caledon for over 20 years which encourages kids and adults of all ages to participate in a triathlon event every spring.
• Barrie coached local Caledon athlete Andrew Yorke who competed at the 2016 Olympics in Rio.
• Barrie also brought the Egg Nog Jog, which was founded by the Georgetown Running Club, to Caledon in 2018 which has become an annual event in the community.
• Barrie is an announcer for ITU & Olympic Triathlons and is the Director and former Chair for the Coaching Association of Ontario.

• Douglas (Doug) Wood started a pole vault training program in Caledon in July 2012.
• Doug raised sufficient funds to purchase all of the necessary equipment and was training athletes on the tennis courts at Humberview.
• Over the first two years, Doug recruited athletes, secured a local space to train in the winter, and continued to raise funds to invest heavily in equipment.
• In 2014, Doug established Bolton Pole Vault which has grown into the pre-eminent club for pole vaulters in Canada.
• Doug works with athletes from beginners to OFSAA champions to Olympians including Canadian record holder Alysha Newman.
• In addition to supporting club athletes, Doug also volunteers as a community coach for Humberview.
• Thanks to Doug’s tireless efforts, Bolton has become the destination for vaulters from all over Canada and the world. They regularly host meets that attract the likes of Alysha Newman, Pierce LePage, and Damian Warner.
• Bolton Pole Vault also hosts high school meets because they have the equipment and resources that don’t exist elsewhere. 

• The Bolton Juvenile C hockey team was the 1967 Ontario Champions.
• This hockey team was a terrific place for youth in the Bolton community to enjoy the sport of hockey at a high level.
• Being a member of this team promoted leadership, discipline, teamwork, and a great sense of rural community living.
• The Bolton community was huge supporters of the Bolton Juvenile C Team back in the 1960s – they would fill the Bolton arena with community members and fans during almost every game. 
• Members of the Bolton Kinsmen team were Don Casey, Jim Casey, Bill Clements, John Deachman, Jim Farquharson, Eugene Fewster, Perry Ford, Wayne Kirby, Karl Koper, Dale Lemon, John Lostchuck (manager), Chris Markey, Peter Markle (trainer), Bruce Matson, Roy McKay (coach), Harvey Newlove, Ted Praught, and Rob Salvian. 

• Bert McCaffrey was a Canadian ice hockey defenceman from Albion Township who played seven seasons in the NHL for the Toronto St. Pats, Toronto Maple Leafs, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Montreal Canadians.
• Bert won a Stanley Cup in 1930 with the Montreal Canadians. Bert also represented Canada at the 1924 Winter Olympics in Chamonix, France where he scored twenty goals in five games as the Canadian team dominated the tournament and ultimately winning the gold medal.
• Prior to joining the NHL, Bert played eight seasons of senior hockey in the OHA.
• Bert passed away in 1955.

• Bob is a 75-year-old elite triathlete and cancer survivor.
• Bob was a local schoolteacher and coach in Caledon for 37 years.
• He has also been a world class runner for 55 of his 75 years alive.
• He won the Toronto Marathon (fastest man) in 1976 in 2 hours and 28 minutes and had a respectable finish in the 1981 Boston marathon.
• Over his career, Bob has won dozens of elite and master titles in his running career at both the National and International level.
• 17 years ago, Bob started competing in the triathlon category and has since won 4 Ironman World Championships. He won the Hawaii Ironman 70-74 category and is one of the 2 men to ever run under 12 hours as a master.
• Recently, Bob won the 2023 Ironman World Championships in Nice, France and set a new world record. At an age that most people are slowing down, Bob has been travelling the world winning races and bringing honour to his hometown of Caledon, Ontario.

• Laurie Graham is a world class skier, Olympian, and World Cup Winner who was raised and trained in her hometown of Inglewood.
• Laurie trained in Inglewood and often at the hills of Collingwood where she started training at the age of five.
• Laurie was a three-time Olympian, having competed in the 1980 Lake Placid Games, 1984 Sarajevo Games and the 1988 Calgary Games.
• Laurie was Canada’s premier female downhill skier capturing a bronze medal at the 1982 World Championships, has won six World Cup victories, and won three national titles.
• Laurie was the first Canadian to win on home soil at the first World Cup downhill held in Mont Tremblant in Quebec.
• Laurie was made a Member of the Order of Canada in 1998.
• She was inducted in the Canadian Ski Hall of Fame in 1991, Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame in 1993 and Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 2015.

• Robin Platts lived in Bolton for over 30 years and raised his entire family there while competing as a jockey.
• He is one of the only three jockeys to win the King’s plate a record four times.
• Platts began riding thoroughbreds at the age of 16 which became a thirty-five year career that saw him ride over 20,400 races and amass over 3200 victories around the world.
• He represented Canada at numerous riding invitations and has won many prestigious Canadian and American races.
• Robin won the Sovereign Awards as Canada’s Top Jockey in 1979, was awarded the Avelino Gomez Award in 1992 for his contributions to the sport in Canada and was also inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 1997.

• Bill Whitbread was a long-time editor and reporter with the Caledon Enterprise.
• As the backbone of the Bolton area when it came to sports, Bill never forgot a name or face; he knew every young athlete in the Bolton area. 
• Bill was always at every championship game to take a photo of the winning team and always at Caledon tournaments to report on the day. 
• Bill was legendary in everything he did and carried so much enthusiasm for his work. He went above and beyond everyday in his career at a sports reporter.
• He was very much a community advocate and would always support the Town’s athletes to assist in doing what he can to help take their career to the next level.
• Even up until his later years in life, Bill would still show up for every championship game for the Sunday night hockey league. Caledon Minor Hockey and Caledon Minor Baseball both hold annual tournaments in Bill’s honour.
• Bill passed away in 2014.

• Conn Smythe is best known as the principal owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs from 1927 to 1961, and as the builder of Maple Leafs Gardens.
• Conn served as Managing Director and President of Maple Leaf Gardens Limited and oversaw one of hockey’s dynasties when Toronto won five Stanley cups between 1945 and 1951.
• In 1951, Conn bought land for a farm in Caledon which he used for his business of breeding horses for racing.
• Conn’s stable won the King’s Plate twice, the first time in 1958 with Caledon Beau and the second in 1967 with Jammed Lovely. Conn hosted the World Plowing Championships in 1963 at his farm in Caledon.
• In 1958, Conn was inducted in the Hockey Hall of Fame and in 1977, was inducted in the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame.
• Conn passed away in 1980.

• Gord is a remarkable coach who has dedicated much of his adult life to positively impacting the lives of young people.
• With deep understanding of youth development, he has been a mentor and friend to students, athletes, and families throughout Ontario, particularly in Caledon.
• His role as a long-term mentor for post-secondary athletes and retired sportspeople showcases his lasting impact.
• Gord’s holistic approach, focusing on mental health and academic support alongside athletic development, sets him apart.
• His ability to connect with his teams on an equal level while maintaining their respect highlights his leadership.
• Two athletes that Gord specifically mentored, who were born and raised in Bolton, both made it to the National Level of Women’s Basketball.
• Gord was the Team Ontario coach from 2012 to 2019.
• He was also recognized as the Ontario Basketball Elite Coach of the year in 2012.

• The Mayfield Secondary School Girls Nordic Ski Team won OFSAA (Ontario high school championships) gold in Nordic Skiing for four consecutive years throughout their high school careers.
• The skiers on the team in 2004 were Brittany Webster, Julie Porter, Gillian Montgomery, Brittany Reid, and Robyn Kemp.
• There were multiple individual medal performances by these athletes over their careers at Mayfield.
• Brittany Webster went on to represent Canada at two Winter Olympic Games (2010 and 2014).
• These athletes motivated many other students to join the Nordic Ski team at Mayfield and led the way to Mayfield being the number one Nordic Skiing School in Ontario throughout the early 2000s.

• Jerry Callaghan moved to Bolton in 1972, where almost immediately began volunteering and participating in sporting activities in the Bolton Community 
• Jerry distinguished himself as a leader and administrator for adult and youth sports associations in Bolton, volunteering limitless hours to ensure the associations ran smoothly for all participants.
• In 1975, Jerry assisted in the creation of the Bolton Men’s Slow-Pitch League. He helped with the administration and organization of the league for over 30 years. The league is still in operation today.
• In 1977, Jerry became involved with the Bolton Minor Hockey Association. For over 20 years he held numerous executive positions with the organization. Jerry spent countless hours scheduling, planning, organizing and recruiting coaches, volunteers and sponsors.
• Jerry was also involved in Junior Hockey with the Caledon Canadiens from 1992 to 1998.
• In 1986, Jerry helped create the Sunday Night Men’s Hockey League. From 1986 to 2008 Jerry volunteered his time to ensure this program was a rewarding experience for all who took part. The league continues to operate today. 
• Jerry’s leadership and organizational talents were noticed by his peers, who bestowed the nickname “the Commissioner” on Jerry.
• Jerry passed away on October 12, 2008.