The George
Brown Department of Athletics and Recreation celebrated 50 years of Athletics
on Saturday night at the 50th Anniversary Alumni Gala, a signature event of
Homecoming Weekend.
"For a
big college like ours, this is a milestone event that highlights the many
contributions we have made," said manager of athletics Melanie
Gerin-Lajoie. "At the same time, we are excited to be turning over a new
leaf, and a weekend like this gives our current athletes something to really hold
on to. Tying them into the culture that we are building here, it's a special
time for us."
Prior to
1967, George Brown College had formerly been known as the Provincial Institute
of Trades. After the transition, the newly formed Huskies adapted many of the
recreational, instructional and varsity programs that had been previously
offered. Over the past 50 years, the program has built itself a storied history
that was celebrated this past weekend at the Athletics Homecoming Weekend.
"The
energy and fun that came out of our alumni games was great, and engaging former
athletes is another focus for us," said Gerin-Lajoie. "The beautiful
weather didn't hurt, and we had a few great games."
Highlighting
Saturday night's Alumni Gala, eleven of the greatest all-time Huskies were
inducted into the George Brown Hall of Fame, each recognized for their
contributions to the program’s storied history. NCAA commentator Dana McKiel
emceed a special induction ceremony at the Toronto Chelsea.
“I remember
asking Alex (Barbier) if a GTA school had ever won an alpine skiing
championship,” said Mitch McDermid, the Huskies Male Athlete of the Year in
1995 and a 2017 inductee. “I had been with the national team, and he said no.
We took it home for the first time, and I’ll never forget the way I was treated
as a Husky. Whether it was Albert (DaSilva), Alex, Deanna (Oliver), they really
cared about you as a person, not just an athlete.”
The Class of
2017 is truly one for the ages, a group that exemplifies what the department is
all about.
“There are
not too many days from then that remain clear in memory, but my first time
playing table tennis at Casa Loma, hanging out with the staff at Casa Loma is
certainly one,” said former women’s basketball standout Ria Bahadursingh.”
Reuniting
with old friends at Alumni Weekend is always special, and this year’s event
held extra significance with all the greats in the house. As the Huskies look
forward to their next 50 years of sport, it was a great night of looking back
on all that has been.
"It was
great to hear the reaction of former athletes when they were told that they
were being inducted, the level of excitement was certainly there," noted
Gerin-Lajoie. "While we focus on moving forward, it is important to
recognize all the work that has been done in the past. We wouldn't be here
without those contributions."
See below for
a full listing of inductees from Saturday night.
2017 Hall of Fame Inductees
Ria Bahadursingh - Athlete, Women’s
Basketball
Ria
Bahadursingh was a member of the Huskies women’s basketball team from
1982-1984. Ria was an OCAA all-star in each of her seasons of competition,
while also leading her team in scoring in both those years.
During the
1982-83 season she was not only the top point getter for the Huskies, averaging
20.8 points per game, but that individual accomplishment of 279 points also led
her to an OCAA league scoring title, as well as leader in field goals as well
as free throws made.
Lucky Boothe - Coach, Men’s Soccer
Lucky Boothe
began with an assistant coaching role with the George Brown women’s soccer team
in 1996 and in 1997, the women’s indoor soccer team won gold. He took over the
men’s team in 1999 and dominated the OCAA from
2005-2009.
Not only did
Lucky win the title of East Region Soccer Coach of the Year for three
consecutive years, the outdoor and indoor teams took home many medals including
1 gold, 2 silver, 3 bronze in that four year period.
Fast forward
to 2015, Lucky would later add to his medal count by winning a provincial
bronze in men's indoor soccer in his last season before retiring as a Huskies
head coach.
Vincent Chan - Athlete, Badminton
In 1987-88,
Vincent Chan was paired with James Cheung; a pairing which proved to be a force
in the province as they beat Lambton College in the provincial championship
final to win gold after losing their only round robin game to that same
Lancers’ pair earlier in the tournament.
Vincent’s
second OCAA gold medal in 1988-89 came with a new men’s doubles partner in
Kimchan Ramrattan after finishing 4th in pool play at provincials, and in turn
representing the Huskies once again on the national stage.
Cassie Chang - Athlete, Badminton
During her
1989-90 campaign, Cassie and mixed doubles partner & OCAA Hall of Famer
James Cheung lost only 1 game on route to a provincial gold medal. They then
proceeded to defeat Canadore College in straight games to capture a national
bronze.
In the
following season, Cassie’s dominance continued with women’s doubles partner Hsing
Ly-Yu. The duo locked up another doubles gold medal, part of a George Brown
team that finished first in the province and also earning an Overall Team
gold.
Leslie Dal Cin - Athlete, Women’s
Basketball
In just one
year with the Huskies in 1979-80 after winning a provincial championship with
Seneca College, Leslie Dal Cin led her team to a 17-1 record, was second in the
league in scoring, a first-team all-star and a championship all-star, as she
and her teammates captured the OCAA championship beating St Clair
College 62-50.
Formerly the
OCAA’s third all-time leading scorer with 792 career points, in 2000 Dal Cin
was named a member of the OCAA Women’s Basketball All-Millennium team and
subsequently inducted into the OCAA Hall of Fame in 2003.
Vince Drake - Builder, Athletic Director
The late
Vince Drake was one of the pioneers of the OCAA and served as inaugural
Athletic Director at George Brown College in 1967. His involvement brought him
into the role of convenor for the sport of Judo and for both men’s and women’s
volleyball.
Vince coached
GBC’s men’s basketball teams to three consecutive OCAA gold medals from
1974-1976, as well as the inaugural Men’s National Basketball Championship for
Community Colleges in 1975; the only national championship gold medal in any
sport that George Brown has to its credit.
In 1986,
Drake’s contributions to the OCAA were recognized as he was presented with a
Shield Award; and in 2003, inducted to the OCAA Hall of Fame as a Builder.
Albert DaSilva - Coach, Men’s &
Women’s Basketball
Albert
DaSilva became involved with the athletics department at George Brown in 1973
while being a student at GBC. He was a member of the mens basketball and mens
volleyball teams before transitioning to coaching and coordinating for the
athletics department.
While
coaching a variety of teams during his time with the college, his most
successful years were undoubtedly as head coach of both the men’s and women’s
basketball teams where he won two silver medals and one bronze medal while
being selected twice by the OCAA as coach of the year.
Mitch McDermid - Athlete, Alpine
Skiing
A member of
the George Brown Alpine Ski team for two seasons, Mitch McDermid captured a
provincial bronze medal in 1994, followed by a brilliant individual performance
in the 1995 season where he took home a silver medal in the giant
slalom, and double golds in the slalom and combined.
Beating the
field by a full 2.5 secs in the giant slalom race, he secured his spot both on
the podium as well as the OCAA All-Star team.
Brenda Power - Athlete, Alpine Skiing
Coming off of
a 6th place finish in both the slalom and giant slalom in 1989, Brenda
Power came back with a vengeance in 1990 claiming individual bronze and two
gold medals in the giant slalom, slalom and combined respectively, as well as
an overall team gold.
Val Pozzan - Builder, Sport
Coordinator
Val Pozzan
began his association with George Brown College as a stand-out student athlete
in 1973 and as such was inducted into the OCAA Hall of Fame in 2003 for his
outstanding performance.
In 1976 Val
returned to George Brown to take on the role of Sports Coordinator with the
Athletics Department. Over his 30-year span working with the Huskies Val was
instrumental in the development, launch and coaching of several varsity,
extramural and campus recreation programs including Golf (winners of 3 gold, 1
silver and 2 bronze provincial medals), Baseball and Hockey teams. He also
served as a coach of the Men’s Basketball team which won an OCAA silver medal
in 1978-79.
Dayvon Reid - Athlete, Badminton
Dayvon Reid is
a seven-time OCAA medalist in badminton (4 singles/doubles, 3 men’s/overall
team). Representing George Brown for four seasons, he was a back-to-back OCAA
silver medalist in men’s singles in 2008-09 and 2009-10, gold medalist
in men’s doubles in 2010-11 and 2011-12.
He was also
successful on the national scene, earning a CCAA silver medal. Dayvon was named
both OCAA men’s player of the year and George Brown athlete of the year, and
was inducted into the OCAA Hall of Fame in 2015.