On Friday, Oct. 25th, the Leaside Sports Hall of Fame once again celebrated the achievements of athletes and those who have volunteered tirelessly to build the local sports community.
Hosted by celebrated local author Terry Fallis, the ceremony saw the induction of two new members into the Hall and the recognition of both an athlete and a team of the year.
Hall of Fame Inductees
Peter (Pete) Conacher
Athlete – Hockey
Growing up in Leaside, Pete Conacher played hockey in both pickup games around the neighbourhood and, more widely, from 1943, with the Toronto Hockey League. A member of the Leaside Pee-Wee team, Conacher went on to play with the North Toronto Kinsmen Terriers until he became the property of the Chicago Blackhawks at the age of 16.
After playing for the Blackhawks’ Ontario Hockey Association affiliate, the Galt Blackhawks, Conacher continued for 13 years of professional hockey with the New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Hershey Bears, St. Louis Flyers, and Buffalo Bisons. In 1959, he played with the Belleville McFarlands, which represented Canada at the Ice Hockey World Championships, winning gold in Prague.
After playing professionally, Conacher participated in charity games across Canada for 13 years with the NHL Oldtimers Hockey Club.
He is a past president of the Ontario chapter of Special Olympics Canada and has served as a board member for the Charlie Conacher Throat Cancer Research Fund at the Toronto General Hospital. He currently sits on the board of directors of the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame.
Phillip Francis
Builder – Lawn Bowling
Phillip Francis has been a driving force behind the development and promotion of lawn bowling locally and nationally for well over 25 years.
With the Leaside Lawn Bowling Club, Francis has held several positions, among them greens director, director of special events, LLBC district representative, club vice president and president on multiple occasions. Under his leadership, various initiatives were launched, including charitable and community events. He also provided leadership in the renovation of the club, resulting in a fully accessible facility.
At the provincial level, Francis has held multiple elected positions with the Ontario Lawn Bowling Association. As director of grants, vice president and president of the association, he successfully acquired over $900,000 in grant money, oversaw operational planning, reviewing and reporting to ensure adherence to governmental regulations, and developed the OLBA’s long-term athlete development plan.
At the national level, Francis has been a director of Bowls Canada since 2022 and a member of fundraising and governance committees. He was a founding member of the Leaside Sports Hall of Fame.
Team of the Year Award
The Leaside High School Girls Varsity Hockey Team
For the first time in the school’s history, the Leaside High School’s girls’ varsity hockey team won the TDSSAA city championship.
Under the leadership of coach Cecily Osborne, girls of all grades battled fierce opponents to win the city’s ultimate trophy.
Cassie Lee
Athlete of the Year Award
A gymnast since the age of 3, 18-year-old Cassie Lee was one of only five gymnasts chosen to represent Canada at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics.
A member of the Canadian National Team since 2019, Lee competed on the floor, the balance beam, the uneven bars and the vault.
Lee and the Canadian artistic gymnastics team qualified for team finals for the first time in 12 years and ended up placing fifth, tying the highest Canada team placement at an Olympic final.
This tireless athlete is now in her first year at the University of Iowa where she is continuing her academic and gymnastics journey.
Congratulations to all of this year’s Leaside Sports Hall of Fame achievers!
