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Since his arrival in Thunder Bay in the 1970s to the present day, this exceptional builder of sport dedicated himself to supporting different sports at all levels of competition and participation. First getting involved in football as a coach with the Fort William Collegiate junior team, he went on to take on many leadership roles over the next five decades.


His commitment to youth athletics saw him involved with the Grandview Recreation Hockey Association during the 1980s and 90s, serving as President, convener, official and coach, taking on similar roles during his close to fifteen-years with the Port Arthur Continental Little League program from the 1990s to 2000's. Volunteer Pool Soccer teams, the Thunder Bay Squash Association junior development program and ProKids also benefitted from his volunteerism.


The Race Director of the Heart of Thunder Bay races from 1981-90, and President of the Thunder Bay Striders Running Club, he has helped organize course set up for the Fire Fighters Ten-Mile Road Race for many years.


When Thunder Bay has hosted major sporting events his talents were often called upon to help out, such as serving on the Athletes Village Coordinating Committee for the 1981 Canada Summer Games. Other leadership roles have included Co-Chair of the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympic Games torch relay in Thunder Bay, Chair of the Sport Technical Committee for the 1993 Ontario Games for the Physically Disabled, Venue Manager of Baseball Central for the 2010 World Junior Baseball Championships, Chair of Snowshoeing for the 2011 Special Olympics Ontario Winter Games and the Chair of Marshalls and Spotters for the 2014-18 Staal Foundation Open.


A long time board member of the Thunder Bay Nordic Trails, he has been involved with the Sibley Ski Tour/Sleeping Giant Loppet since the 1980s, serving as the coordinator of that popular cross-country skiing event for many years, a position he holds to this day.


In addition to his volunteer efforts, his career as an educator at Confederation College saw him introduce a multitude of students to a variety of sport and recreational activities. His efforts earned him recognition from the City of Thunder Bay, the Province of Ontario and the Government of Canada. Always stepping up to take on leadership roles when he was needed the most marks him as a builder of sport in the truest sense of the word.


Inducted into the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame, September 30, 2023

Peter Gallagher

Inducted: 
2023
Sport:
Multi
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