Revamped and expanded Sports Hall of Fame opens Saturday

November 2, 2016 · 0 Comments

By Brock Weir

Before, it was just a relatively quiet corner in Town Hall. Now, however, it an expansive showpiece taking pride of place at the Stronach Aurora Recreation Complex.

The revamped and expanded Sports Hall of Fame formally opens this Saturday, November 5, with a day of family friendly activities.

If you were unable to attend Wednesday night’s gala dinner honouring the inducted Class of 2016, you can have a chance to get up close and personal with sports heroes inducted this year, including Karen Stemmle, and those honoured in years past.

The changes to the SARC are noticeable immediately upon arrival with pillars wrapped in various themes, the first being the municipal Activate Aurora campaign. As you go deeper in the SARC, you become immersed in Aurora’s athletic past, present and future with interactive exhibits and historic artefacts on hand to complete the experience.

“We want people to be inspired,” says Nancy Black, Executive Director of the Hall of Fame. “We have gone through this in our strategic planning on why we honour people who have done great things and it is to inspire future generations. Our slogan is, ‘Their legacy, our future.’ We don’t just celebrate the greatness of our inductees and honoured members, we’re actually celebrating Aurora’s entire sports heritage. We celebrate and share that and, when it is up, it is designed to inspire the future.”

The fun runs this Saturday at the SARC (Wellington Street East just west of Leslie Street) from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with a formal ribbon cutting at 12 noon.