When Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame releases its 2018 inductees list on Thursday, University of Lethbridge Department of Kinesiology & Physical Education professor Dr. Carly Adams will have played a key part in the process.
Adams was chosen recently to serve a five-year term on the Hall of Fames’ Member Selection Committee, an appointment she was enthused about receiving.
“It came as a lovely surprise. Professor Bruce Kidd has been Chair of the committee for a number of years and has been very cognizant of making sure the selection committee is representative of people with very different perspectives,” says Adams, a sports historian who has done significant work in the area of women in sport.
The selection committee now features four media members, four past athletes, four community members and four academics/sport historians. Adams says there has been an important shift in philosophy throughout the country and the Hall, led by Kidd, has been very responsive. The representation of historians on the committee is important as they are able to offer context to the contributions of Canada’s sport heroes.
“There has been an effort to ensure that the athletes and builders celebrated in the Hall represent the entire spectrum of the best of sport played across the country, with representation from all groups and all levels,” says Adams.
Some of the well-known members of the current selection committee include the CBC’s Scott Russell and TSN’s Gord Miller, as well as Olympic athletes such as Kerrin-Lee Gartner, Chantal Petitclerc and Mark Tewksbury.
“It’s an amazing committee,” says Adams. “We meet in Toronto every February to go over the hundreds of files that are submitted each year and for me, it was the chance to meet some incredible sport people, whom I hold in very high esteem, for the first time. It’s a very dynamic group of individuals who bring a lot of expertise to the table.”
Based out of Calgary since 2011, Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame undertakes a number of outreach initiatives, including rotating exhibitions and workshops. Currently, it is featuring the Girls in Sport campaign. Following tomorrow’s inductee announcement, the 2018 #InspireCanada Gala will take place on June 14, 2018, at which all funds raised will support the production of videos designed to inspire girls across the country to pursue sport.
“In terms of my own research agenda, the Girls in Sport campaign is a nice fit,” says Adams.
As for any hints as to who will be announced as the latest inductees, Adams is diplomatic but sworn to secrecy.
“I’m very excited about the group we are inducting. I was hopeful that a couple of people would be on there and they are, so I’m very much looking forward to unveiling the list.”