Honouring Our Athletes
NORTH BAY’S SPORTS HISTORY
Kate Pace training at Lake Louise, 1992
Courtesy of Postmedia
Three of North Bay’s most accomplished athletes have not only motivated other athletes within our city, but had versatile recreational spaces named in celebration of their achievements.
Canoeist Barb Olmstead won silver when representing the North Bay Canoe Club at the 1982 Canadian Canoeing Championships, and won a bronze medal at the 1984 Olympic Games. The family-friendly Olmstead Beach on Trout Lake was named after her.
Freestyle skier Steve Omischl placed on the podium at 40 World Cup events and competed at his third Olympic Games in 2010, powering through his sport in spite of injuries. The Steve Omischl Sports Complex was named after him in 2011, shortly after his final Olympic competition.
Alpine skier Kate Pace won six World Cup medals and three Canadian downhill championships. The Kate Pace Way, our extensive paved multi-use pathway that connects all corners of the city, was named in honour of her achievements.
Barb Olmsted canoeing at Canoe Club Regatta on Trout Lake, 1974
Courtesy of Postmedia
“They Were Our Heroes”
“An integral part … of any vibrant community is what happens on the playing fields and tracks, and in the arenas and gymnasia. In short, its sporting history tells a lot about that city or town. North Bay is no exception.”
Founded in 1977, the North Bay Sports Hall of Fame (NBSHF) has recognized outstanding athletes, coaches and officials, inducting new individuals each spring. These annual banquets are now used to present most of North Bay’s major sports awards.
Since 2010, NBSHF has scanned and documented thousands of photos, some dating back to the early 1900’s. These show historic teams and athletes in action.
Other initiatives include a grant to research the city’s early hockey history and bursaries at Canadore and Nipissing. The Sports Hall of Fame maintains a web site of all Hall inductees which can be found at www.northbaysportshalloffame.ca.
Quotation and facts from “They Were Our Heroes” by Peter Handley and Brent Pigott
Steve Omischl performing a Jump while training in British Columbia, 2010
Courtesy of Postmedia
Did You Know…
The naming of our sports facilities is always controversial. Who should be honoured, and who should decide? It continues today with the construction of an arena at the Steve Omischl Sports Complex.
Steve Omischl was the first man to ever perform a quadruple twisting back flip with two twists on the last flip during a skiing competition.
Olympic athletes are automatically inducted into the North Bay Sports Hall of Fame.
World Champion Alpine Skier Kate Pace Olympics - Lillehammer 1994, Nagano 1998
Remember When…
It was the 1996 Olympics and our daughter, Diane O’Grady was competing in rowing. The competition was to be held, not in Atlanta, but the small city of Gainsville, Georgia on Lake Lanier.
On July 19, the opening Day of the competition, I was up at 8:00 am in our rental house (12 members of the family were sharing) when I noticed a car stopped outside on the street. Some very tall people were wandering around. I ran out to ask if I could help but no English.
Soon the coach arrived (with some English) and explained that their car had broken down and the first rowing heats were soon to start. My son-in-law offered to drive them in our van.
Jump forward to the finals… the race is 2 km long and at 1 km Germany was out in front (they were expected to win, and they did). But Canada and Ukraine were nose to nose, first one boat surging ahead and then the other.
It was a photo finish…the closest in rowing history. It took 15 minutes to decide. Ukraine won silver by 2/100 of a second. Canada took the bronze. And the rowers we drove to the course on day one? The Ukrainians!
Diane did not tell her Head Coach for a year.
Sandy O’Grady