2024 Caledon Sport Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
The three categories for induction are: Athlete, Builder and Team. Nominees for all categories, to qualify for induction must:
Be born in Caledon or;
Maintained residency in Caledon for a minimum 5 consecutive years; or
Was raised or spent their formative years (through training, competing or working) in Caledon.
Nomination Period for 2023 has now closed.
Induction Ceremony
The induction celebration for 2024 took place on January 31, 2024 at the banquet hall at the Caledon East Community Complex (CECC).
If you have any issues or questions, please contact events@caledon.ca.
Inductees
2024
Athletes
Bert McCaffrey - Ice Hockey
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 Knuckey - Triathlete
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 - Skiing
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 - Jockey
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.
Builders
Bill Whitbread - Editor & Reporter
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 - Horse Racing
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 Everett - Basketball
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.
Teams
2004 Mayfield Secondary School Girls Nordic Ski Team
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.
2018
Jerry Callaghan - Builder
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.
About
The Caledon Sports Hall of Fame (CSHOF) was established in 2018. The hall was created as a place to recognize, memorialize and celebrate the accomplishments of Caledon athletes, builders and teams, living or passed on, who have excelled at the community, provincial, national and international level(s).
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