Charlie MacLean

Charlie played an important role in Canadian minor sports.

It was Charlie who, in 1953, originated the idea for Minor Hockey Week in Canada.

He drafted a proposal which was accepted unanimously in 1953 at the local level (Trail Minor Hockey Association), in 1954, at the provincial level (British Columbia Amateur Hockey Association) and in 1956, at the national level (Canadian Amateur Hockey Association).

Minor Hockey Week in Canada turned out to be a huge success. The idea was to celebrate the people who make our national game available to our children and reinforce the idea that minor hockey is a community asset to be cherished.

Born in Nelson, B.C. on February 1, 1911, Charles MacLean recieved his education in Nelson. Charlie spent most of his 57 years around Trail and Nelson, pursuing hockey, the sport he loved best.

Charlie served for 29 years with the Trail Hocket Association. He was also a president, treasurer and secretary-treasurer of the Trail Boys' Booster Club. Charlie was also president of the West Kootenay Minor Hockey Association, the West Kootenay Junior Hockey League and a director and Referee-in-Chief with the Western International Hockey League.

Charlie also served as president of the Trail Junior Lacrosse Association and was a director with the Trail Athletic Association.

Chuck Wools

Seniors Swimming

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Cindy Devine

CYCLING

Cindy has been a resident of Rossland since 1990. Cindy rose to prominence in mountain biking in the late 1980s. In the first ever UCI World Mountain Bike Championships in Purgatory, Colorado in 1990, Cindy won the Gold Medal. She won the Bronze Medal in the 1991 and 1992 World Championships and the British National downhill Bike Finals in 1991.

Cindy is a five-time Canadian National Downhill Champion - 1991 to 1994 and the US National Downhill Mountain Bike Champion in 1990, 1992 and 1993. In 2000, she was honoured by the United Cycling Institute by induction into the Rainbow Club of Canada's cycling legends and that same year was inducted into the World Mountain Bike Hall of Las Vegas, Nevada.

Colleen Moffat

Born Colleen McCarthy in Trail in 1947, Colleen now resides in Delta.

Colleen excelled in the sport of women's softball as a pitcher.  She has pitched for BC's representative in four Canadian Women's Softball Championships and pitched for Team Canada in the 1972 World Championship.

She was a member of the 1973 Canadian Women's All-Star team and has played for seven BC Provincial championship teams, four National teams, and played in the first Canada Summer Games in 1969, where BC won a Bronze Medal, and followed up with a Gold Medal in the 1972 games.  In 1976, she played for the BC Doc's Blues of Vancouver, pitching a one-hitter in the final game to help her team win the Canadian Women's Softball Championship.  Colleen then continued her mastery on the mound competing in senior women's softball teams, winning provincial and national championships.

Since retiring from active play, Colleen has devoted her skills to coaching at both the senior and minor levels of women's softball.  For over twenty-five years, Colleen has dedicated her time, energy and talent as a player, coach and administrator to the development of women's softball in BC and in her hometown of Delta.  In 1999, she was inducted into the Delta Sports Hall of Fame for her contribution to coaching women's softball in her community.

D.S. "Buzz" McGibney

Mr. McGibney was prominent in the Trail area in both curling and golf.

He moved to Trail in 1938 and was employed with Cominco Ltd. for 45 years before moving to White Rock, B.C. in 1986.

Buzz participated in five B.C. curling championship teams, the Canadian Seniors Championship team and a B.C. Masters Championship team.

In 1978, he was inducted into the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame.

Dale Freschi

Dale loves to fish. So much so, he is one of Canada's premier fly fishermen. He has participated in 7 national and international fly fishing compeitions, including 6 World Championsihps as a member of Canada's National Fly Fishing Team.

He first represented Canada in New Zealand in 1991, followed by Norway in 1994. At that competition, Dale finished 17th out of 150 anglers and the Canadian Team finished 12th overall and with the team finishing 8th.

In addition to competing for Canada worldwide, Dale has made a significant contribution to the sport of fly fishing by conducting seminars, appearing on sport fishing T.V. programs and writing numerous articles on fishing in sport magazines.

Dallas Drake

Dallas Drake, a native of Rossland, B.C., was born February 4, 1969. He started his hockey career at the age of four under the Minor Hockey League Association. Dallas moved his way up through Pee-Wee and Bantam divisions.

He played for the Rossland Junior Warriors for three years from 1984-87. In his first year playing for the Warriors, (KIJHL) he was named Rookie of the Year. In the Kootenay International Hockey League, he was the top scorer for the Rossland Junior Warriors in 1986-87 and the KIJHL's Most Valuable Player. Dallas was also Most Valuable Player for the KIJHL in 1985, 1986 and 1987.

Dallas was also a member of Team BC for the Canada Winter Games held in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.

Dallas then moved up to the BCJHL (British Columbia Junior Hockey League) and played Junior A Hockey for the Vernon Lakers. There, he was MVP in 1987-88, scoring 39 goals and 87 assists, winning the BC Junior Mowat Cup under the B.C. Amateur Hockey Association.

After one year of playing Junior A Hockey, Dallas obtained a four year American University Scholarship from Northern Michigan University in Marquette, Michigan. His first year brought him the acknowledgment of "Freshman of the Year" for Northern in 1988-89.

In June 1989, Dallas was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League in the 6th round. Dallas has played for Detroit, Winnipeg, St. Louis and Phoenix in the NHL.

Darla Crispin

Darla was born in Trail in 1964.  She studied piano under the tutelage of fellow "Champion" Helen Dahlstrom.  She obtained her Bachelor of Music from the University of Victoria and a Masters of Music and Doctoral Degree in Musicology in London, England.

She began her music career teaching music in London, moving to the Royal College of Music as Head of Graduate Programs in 2002.

Darla has performed many concerts in North America and Europe, has made CD recordings of graded repertoire piano books and has been an invited speaker at many concert performances and a consultant for a number of musical committees.  She is also an author of many commissioned writings and has been widely published.

In 2009, Darla was awarded an Honourary Doctorate for all her contributions in the field of music, presented to her by Charles, Prince of Wales.

Darla currently works as a Research Fellow in Creative Practice at the Royal College of Music and as a Senior Research Fellow at the Orpheus Institute in Ghent, Belgium.  In her free time, she enjoys long distance running linked to charitable work for the development of the United Kingdom bone marrow transplant register.

Dave Secco

Dave was born in Rossland in 1955 and now resides in Victoria.  He attended JL Crowe Secondary School where he was selected as Male Athlete of the Year.  He attended the Unviersity of Victoria from 1976 to 1980 where he distinguished himself as a member of the Univeristy's soccer team in the position of centre midfielder.

As a member of the University team, he played two CIS National Championships.  During his four years with the team, he was named Canada West All-Star three times.  In his final year at UVic, he was named one of only eleven players in Canada selected to the First Team All-Star Canadian Team.

In 1978, Dave was selected to the Canadian National World Student Games team and played in two international tournaments that year.

Since retiring as an active player, Dave has dedicated his time to coaching our youth in the skills of soccer and has been recognized as a pioneer and an innovator in the game.  He has also served as volunteer with many soccer organizations as an administrator and as an executive.

David Anderson

David was born and raised in Rossland and, of course, became an avid skier. He trained with the Red Mountain Racers, then the BC Ski Team, eventually joining Canada's Alpine Ski Team. he competed in numerous national championships, Nor-Am Cup events, European Cup events, and World Cup races.

In 2001, he placed 10th in the combined event at the FIS World Championships in St. Anton and represented Canada in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. In 2004, David was the Nor-Am Overall Downhill and Super G Champion.

David retired from competitive skiing after the 2004/05 season and now resides in Calgary.

Debra Taylor

Rowing

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Deno Benetton

From peer support to counselling, to fundraising for patient needs/research, and raising public awareness about kidney disease and organ donation, Deno dedicated a great deal of time, energy and passion towards improving the lives of people living with kidney disease. The last 25 years of his life were filled with accomplishments in this field, including national recognition from the Kidney Foundation of Canada. Deno, however, was most proud of the relationship he built with his peers and his ability to make a positive impact on their lives.

Deno was diagnosed with a hereditary form of kidney disease in his late teens. By the time he reached his mid-30s, he was in end-stage renal failure and required dialysis treatment 3 times per week in order to sustain life.

A few years after starting dialysis, Deno was in contact with the Kidney Foundation of Canada and learned they were looking for regions to develop local chapters. He recruited 6 other people and the Trail Chapter was born. Deno was named President and this was a position he held for over 10 years.

Deno spent a great deal of time counselling patients and their families. He was a role model for patients and assisted them on their journey toward acceptance. Fortunately, in May of 1989, Deno was blessed with a successful kidney transplant. He then began another mission which was to increase awareness about organ donation. He was responsible for helping many people achieve a better life through kidney transplants.

In 1991, Deno was awarded an honourary lifetime membership in the Kidney Foundation of Canada as acknowledgement of his extraordinary contribution to the field of kidney disease. He continued to focus on identifying patient needs and acting as an advocate on their behalf. He continued to offer patients and their families emotional support, continually updating his skills by completing the Kidney Foundation’s peer support training program, as well as hospice training. He was instrumental in retaining support services for renal patients and advocating for the community units to alleviate disruption for patients living outside the local area. He also assisted the development of a local support group for patients as well as their families. Deno’s love, passion and commitment to enhance the life of people living with kidney disease was unwavering right up until his sudden passing in June of 2001.

Derek Fraser

CANADIAN AMBASSADOR TO UKRAINE

Derek Fraser was born in Trail, BC on March 6, 1937. He grew up in Rossland, where he attended the Rossland Elementary and the Rossland High Schools. His father, Thurlow Fraser, was a Senior Buyer in the Purchasing Department of Cominco, while his mother taught Home Economics in the Rossland High School. Derek Fraser worked for several summers at Cominco and at the Paterson Customs, which paid for his University studies.

Mr. Fraser studied at the University of British Columbia, where he received a B.A. in History and International Studies in 1958; at the Université de Montpellier where he obtained a Certificat d’Études françaises (Certificate of French Studies) in 1959; and at the University of British Columbia where he earned a Law Degree in 1963.

He joined the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in 1963. In the early part of his career, he joined the Department of External Affairs in 1963; was Legal Advisor to the Canadian Delegation, Indo China Control Commission in 1964-65; Second Secretary, Canadian Embassy Bonn from 1966-70; German Desk, External Affairs from 1970-72; Councillor, Canadian Embassy Moscow from 1973-75; Deputy Director, Latin American Affairs, Adviser, Federal-Provincial Relations, Privy Council Office, Director of Western Europe from 1975-80; Minister-Counsellor, Canadian Embassy Belgium from 1980-84; Director Eastern Europe from 1984-88; Ambassador to Hungary from 1988-93; Senior Fellow, Canadian Foreign Service Institute from 1993-94; Acting Director General Culture from 1994-95; and Ambassador of Canada to Greece from 1995-98. Since 1998, he has been Ambassador to Ukraine.

He is married to Dr. Christina Hantel-Fraser. They have 4 children.

Mr. Fraser has just retired from Foreign Affairs and has taken up a position at the University of Victoria.

Diana Haight

Diana Haight was born in Trail in 1964 to Jim and Rosemarie Haight and started skiing just two years later in 1966.

At the age of ten, Diana, better known as "Dee Dee" competed in her first national junior race in Owl's Head, Quebec.

After racing with the British Columbia Ski Team from 1978 to 1979, and winning a gold medal at the Canada Winter Games in 1979, Dee Dee was named to the Canadian National Ski Team in 1980 at the age of sixteen.

With the Canadian National Ski Team, Dee Dee became the first North American skier (male or female) to win the prestigious Europa Cup.

She was named British Columbia Junior Athlete of the Year in 1981 and was inducted into the Canadian High School Hall of Fame the same year.

In 1984, Dee Dee became a member of the 1984 Sarajevo Olympic Team and was named to three World Championship teams in 1982, 1985 and 1987. Dee Dee competed in all four alpine events: Downhill, Super Giant Slalom, Giant Slalom and Slalom.

She was overall Canadian Champion in 1984 and North American Champion in 1986, while her best World Cup placing was a fourth place finish in Furano, Japan.

In 1987, after having spent eight years on the ski team, Dee Dee retired from alpine skiing and began her studies in commerce, graduating with a University Gold Medal for academic achievement in 1996.

Dee Dee now lives with her husband, Thomas Arn in the Okanagan Valley.

Dianne Gerace

In May 1963, Dianne Roberta Gerace was member of the Canadian National Track and Field Team that competed in the Pan-American Games. She was entered in the high jump and won the silver medal in that event.

She has competed in B.C. and Canadian Track and Field Championships where she has done exceptionally well.

She has held the B.C. records in shot-put, broad jump and high jump. She has held Canadian records in the pentathlon, high jump, broad jump and a World Indoor Record in high jump.

At the Canadian Olympic Trials in August 1964 (where she was a gold medalist), she won the Women's Aggregate Trophy for Outstanding Athlete.

She was on the Canadian National Team that went to the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.

Dianne at a 1963 track meet in Trail.

Don Freschi

Don Freschi was born in Trail in 1961 and is President/Executive Producer/Host of the television program “Sport Fishing on the Fly”, which he founded in 1995.  This sport fishing program is shown on television stations throughout North America.

He is one of the founding partners in the business Firebird Technologies and was its CEO.  The firm was a world leader in Indium Antimode semi-conductors and high quality purity metals.  He later became GM of 5N Plus who had purchased Firebird from the original owners.

Don McLeod

Don is another outstanding professional athlete from the Trail area.
Don played major professional hockey from 1970 to 1978. He first played in the Detroit organization in the NHL and was acquired by the Philadelphia Flyers in 1971. In 1972, he was selected by the Houston Aeros in the newly formed World Hockey Association and played in the League for the next 6 years. Other teams he played for included the Vancouver Blazers, the Calgary Cowboys, the Quebec Nordiques and the Edmonton Oilers.

In 1974, Don had a standout campaign leading the League with a goals against average of 2.56 and backstopping the Houston Aeros to the Avco World Championship. Also in 1974, Don was the backup goaltender with Team WHA in their series with the Soviet National Team. Don?s career highlights include the 1974 Avco World Championship, the Ben Haskin Trophy for the best goaltender in 1974, the Terry Sawchuk Trophy for the fewest goals against in the Central Hockey League in 1971. Don was also named to the WHA?s first All Star Team in 1974 and had a 3.33 lifetime goals against average which is in the top 10 in the WHA and recorded 11 shutouts, which is 4th in the WHA history.

Don is recognized as being the first goaltender in pro hockey to use the curved stick, a common practice among today?s goaltenders.
In the 1973/74 season, Don led the WHA in wins with 33 and a goals against average of 2.56. In that year, he led the League in playoff games played 14, minutes played 842, wins 12, and goals against average 2.49. In 1974/75, he led the WHA in games played 72, minutes played 4,184 and wins 33. In 1976/77, he led the WHA in games played 67.

Don played 18 NHL regular season games, 332 WHA regular season games, and 31 WHA playoff games.

Don R. Bertoia

Don Bertoia was born on February 16, 1940 in Rossland. Don has excelled in skiing and track and field during his high school years and since graduation.

In 1957, he participated in the Canadian Junior Skiing Championships, winning the bronze medal in cross-country.

In 1960, he won the gold medal in the 800-metres at the Canadian Indoor Track Championships in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The following year, he represented Canada on the European Track and Field Tour.

In 1962, Don represented Canada in the Commonwealth Games in Perth, Australia; and in 1963, he represented Canada at the Pan American Games in Sao Paolo, Brazil, winning the gold medal in the 800-metres, setting a Games record, and a bronze medal in the 1500-metres.

In 1963, he attended the NCAA Track and Field Championships in Oregon, winning the bronze medal in the 800-metres and obtaining “All American status”.

In 1964, Don represented Canada at the Tokyo Olympics in the 800-metres.

Don is married to Sandra and has 4 children, Michael, Daniel, Andrea and Mark. He retired from Agriculture Canada in June 2000.

Charlie also served as president of the Trail Junior Lacrosse Association and was a director with the Trail Athletic Association.

Donald Stevens

At a young age, Donald Stevens, became a Red Mountain Racer and it became apparent that he had talent and potential for ski racing.

After moving up through the ranks of the Red Mountain Racers, Donald graduated to the B.C. Ski Team, where he represented the Red Mountain Racers and B.C. Ski Team nationally, achieving excellent results at events such as the Canadian Championships and the Nor-Am Series (North America).

In 1985, Donald was named to Canada's National Alpine Ski Team and began to excel in downhill events. During that first year on the Canadian Alpine Ski Team, he placed 14th in the World Cup Downhill event at Furano, Japan.

In 1986, Donald placed 15th in the World Cup Downhill in Whistler, BC.

He also claimed the Canadian Championship Downhill at home in Rossland that year, as well as a 4th place finish in the Giant Slalom.

In 1987, he placed 8th in a World Cup Downhill at Furano, Japan and at Panorama that year, he placed 2nd and 3rd in two consecutive Nor-Am Downhill events. 

In 1988-89, Donald's best three placings were 2nd, 9th and 10th in the World Cup Downhill Competition, giving him a world ranking in downhill of 18th.

He also competed at the 1988 Olympics in Calgary, Alberta, representing Canada on its four man Olympic Ski Team, competing in both Downhill and Slalom.

Dr. Harold Menkes

Dr. Harold Menkes was not born in Trail, but lived his formative years here and attended the JL Crowe High Shool in the mid-1950s.  Following graduation, Harold attended the University of British Columbia earning his medical degree in 1963.  He then moved to do his residency training at the University of Pennsylvania, followed by the Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal, and finally moving to the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, where he was also a professor in Pulmonary Medicine.  There, he and his wife, Marilyn, began to do original research in occupational and environmental lung disease.

At Johns Hopkins University, he is acknolwedged as an outstanding educator and made many highly significant contributions to research, having published 100 peer reviewed papers in highly respected medical journals.  He affected dozens of young physicians and basic researchers in lung disease.  He devoted his research career to reducing lung disease, such as emphysema, chronic bronchitis and asthma.

Dr. Menkes and his wife were killed in a car accident in 1987.  Following their deaths, Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health established the Harold and Marilyn Menkes Memorial Lectureship in lung disease that enbales the Univeristy to invte a leading pulmonary scientist to the School for a two-day visit, which begins with a formal lecture to students, fellows and junior faculty.

Dr. Menkes and his wife had three children, Edana, Justin, and Alex.