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2005 Induction Ceremony
More photos to be posted. A TOUCH OF MAGIC Sometimes, but not often, the universe really does unfold as it should and the evening of the inaugural Ontario Squash Hall of Fame dinner and induction ceremony was just such a time. Like any jealously guarded cordon bleu recipe, we had to find the finest ingredients to make this occasion a success and find them we did - the "who", the "what" and the "where" and what a delightful dish was served. In January 2005, the Board of Directors of Squash Ontario met and listened to a proposal from Mark Sachvie and before we knew it, his dream of creating an Ontario Squash Hall of Fame became our dream and from that moment on, the wheels were set in motion. Our recipe now had the "what" and it fell to Lolly Gillen to work her magic and add the "where". Her choice of the venerable and prestigious Badminton & Racquet Club could not have been a better one. It has a long and distinguished history in the squash community and added immensely to the flavour of the evening. The "who" of our recipe was perhaps the most challenging. The Board of Directors researched the selection criteria used by many Halls of Fame, including hockey, football, basketball, and golf and crafted the Ontario Squash Hall of Fame criteria. It was published on the website - through flyers to our member clubs and through our many email broadcast lists. We think the information reached well over 100,000 people in the Ontario squash community. The most difficult task was in making the final selections and the Board thoroughly reviewed the over 30 nominations it received. Squash Ontario had already decided that only five individuals would be inducted in the first year. The five people selected were instrumental in building squash in Ontario; in creating Squash Ontario; and in bringing honour to squash in Ontario. Jack Fairs has had an extraordinary and remarkable coaching career. The squash community knows Jack best for the record-setting play of the UWO squash team. Since 1970 his teams have won 32 team titles and 22 singles titles in Ontario University Athletics. Their record of 22 consecutive team and 32 titles overall make them the most successful team in UWO history. During his tenure, University of Western Ontario has ranked in the upper echelon of US intercollegiate squash. It won team titles in 1977 and 1980 and singles titles in 1976 and 1989. Team members have earned All-American honours and have been named to numerous All-Tournament teams. Susan Swift's contributions to squash in Ontario and in Canada have been many and varied and were made over an extensive period of time. She was instrumental in bringing the three fractious factions of squash in Ontario (men''s hardball, men''s soft ball and women) together to form Squash Ontario in 1976. She had been involved as a volunteer since 1971 and was President of the Ontario Ladies Squash Racquets Association during these formative years. The OLSRA was the only group to have its act together in those days, and under Sue''s leadership, had already laid the groundwork for a number of significant initiatives which enhanced not only women''s squash but squash in general. Ian Stewart was Squash Ontario's founding chair and his leadership abilities were quickly put to the test when he worked to bring the three very disparate squash associations together to become one association, one voice for squash in Ontario. His credentials were impeccable, having been president of the Badminton & Racquet Club and Squash Canada. From 1981 through 1985, Ian was president of the International Squash Rackets Federation, now known as the World Squash Federation - the first and only Canadian to ever hold this position. In every association in which Ian has ever been involved - he led the only way he knows how - by doing. For a decade and a half (late ‘70s to early ‘80s), Sharif Khan dominated all with a squash racquet. He remained the reigning wizard of squash in North American for almost two decades. He won every major North American tournament during that period and holds the twelve-time winning record for the North American Open Championship. When Canada was a fledgling on the world stage of squash, Sharif was our beacon. And the fifth "who" of our recipe was the inimitable Jim Mason."Fun, fitness, and friendship'. These words were the message that Jim Mason brought to the squash community his entire life as he spread the joy of the game of squash to Ontario, Canada and the world during his lifetime. Although Jim was the recipient of all of Ontario's major awards, it speaks to the character of Jim Mason that he was not defined by a singular recognition. His essence was for human caring, one person at a time. Jim Mason made a difference during his lifetime and will continue to make a difference through the people he touched and there were hundreds, and hundreds. Although Jim was not there with us in person, he certainly was in spirit and through his wonderful family - Robert, Vicki, Martin and Janet.
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