The last time the Yorkton Sports Hall of Fame and Museum held an induction was in 2008.
It was the 15th induction, but after the event the organization “struggled finding volunteers and board members to maintain the Sports Hall of Fame,” said Don Pfeifer.
During the same time the Hall of Fame was moved from the former Land Titles Building on Smith Street to the Gallagher Centre, where they have a wall and some cabinets on the second level by the Curling Rink Lounge.
It was hoped the displays would be rotated as the museum part of the Hall has far more artifacts than room at the new location, but the lack of volunteers has kept the display static for years.
It’s time for a revitalization of the Hall of Fame, said Pfeifer who is among a small group attempting to get the ball rolling.
While the group, which includes Barry Sharpe, Gene Krepakevich and Don Szabo, having been doing some groundwork, the biggest step in their effort will come Monday, Feb. 24 at 7:30 p.m. when a meeting will be held in the Ravine Room at the Gallagher Centre.
The meeting will be a way to gauge the interest for individuals to step forward as a new Hall of Fame board, and as volunteers, said Pfeifer.
“Is there enough interest in the city of Yorkton to rejuvenate, revitalize and maintain the Sports Hall of Fame?” he asked, adding the meeting must answer that key question.
“We need real genuine people who want to be part of the Board,” said Krepakevich. “Young people ... interested in what a Sports Hall of Fame should be.”
Then there is a secondary question, whether the Gallagher Centre is the best locale for the hall of fame, or whether they need to find a new home with more room to display the memorabilia currently boxed up and put away.
“There’s lot of stuff to display in storage. ... There’s a lot of history of this community in boxes,” said Krepakevich.
As it stands through the years since its creation the local Sports Hall of Fame has inducted 67 individuals, 16 teams, and special media representing 30 different sports.
