Kathy Smiley

Kathy is being honoured for her success in Seniors Women's Curling.

Kathy has participated in competitve women's curling for many years. In 2004, her team won its first BC Seniors Women's Curling Championship and reached the final game at the Canadian Championships. In 2005, she won her second Provincial Championship and once again lost the Canadian Championships in the final game.

In 2006, she reached the Provincial Championships, but lost in the Semi-final round. However, in 2007, she again won the BC Championships, but lost the final game at the National Championships for the third time, 5-4 to Alberta.

As a Skip of BC's Champion teams, Kathy has won numerous awards. In 2004, she was presented the Sportsmanship Award at the National Championships. This award is given to the player who best combines playing ability and sportsmanship. In the 2005 BC Championships, she was presented with the Lottie Hill Award for Sportsmanship, voted on by her peers.

Ken Georgetti

Ken Georgetti is one of B.C.'s most prominent labour leaders.

He is currently President of the Canadian Labour Congress.

Prior to his election to that position in 1999, he had been President of the B.C. Federation of Labour since 1986. During his tenure, membership grew from 218,000 to 320,000 members.

He demonstrated a rare ability to bring labour and management together in joint projects without comprimising trade union principles.

Ken started his involvement in the union movement as a pipefitter with Cominco Ltd. in Trail.

In 1981, he was elected President of Local 480 of the United Steelworkers of America. As President, he worked to insure the long-term viability of the community economy by gaining support for Cominco's modernization project.

Under his leadership, Local 480 expanded its role as a civic organization supporting community social service development for the citizens if Trail.

Kerrin Lee Gartner

Kerrin Lee is a Red Mountain native from Rossland, B.C., where she started skiing at the age of three years old.

In 1979, she entered her first national competition, the Canadian National Juvenile Championships (CHJC) in Fernie, BC. There she competed in all three events: Downhill, Giant Slalom and Slalom.

In 1980, Kerrin stood 4th overall in the CNJC.

In 1983, she attended the National Development training camp and in 1984, Kerrin finished 7th in Monte St. Anne, Quebec at the Canadian Championships.

In 1985, she further improved her standing at Canadian Championships where she finished 2nd in the GS, 3rd in the Super G (Giant Slalom) and 5th in the Downhill.

She showed good results in the NOR-Am Competition and in the Canadian Championships when she returned as a member of the National B team in 1986-87. She posted an impressive 14th and 8th place finish at Val D''Isere in 1986-87.

Kerrin's 1988 results are as follows:
March 1988 World Cup Downhill, Rossland, B.C., 7th place finish
March 1988 World Cup Downhill, Aspen, CO, 6th
February 1988 Olympics Giant Slalom, Nakiska, Alta., 16th
February 1988 Olympics Slalom/Combined, Nakiska, Alta., 23rd
February 1988 Olympics Slalom/Combined, Nakiska, Alta., 15th
January 1988 Europa Cup Giant Slalom, Grachen, Sui., 2nd
January 1988 World Cup Downhill, Badgastein Austria, 11th
December 1987 World Cup Downhill, Val d'Isere, France, 8th
April 1987 Canadian Nationals Giant Slalom, Mont Garceau, Que., 3rd

Kerrin Lee is ranked in the FIS (International Ski Federation):
11th in World Wide Downhill
28th in Super (G) Giant Slalom
76th in Giant Slalom

Kevin McNulty

Kevin McNulty was born in Penticton, BC, lived in Warfield, Rossland, and Trail, studied piano as a child and joined the Rossland Light Opera where, at 16 years old, he played 'Ol Joe in "Showboat" in black face.  He attended Washington State University in the late 70's and in 1982 Kevin graduated from the prestigious acting program at Studio 58, Langara College in Vancouver.  In the early eighties, Kevin spent two years at the Stratford Festival.  Returning to Vancouver, Kevin found himself in the right place at the right time as film and television production blossomed and casting directors looked to theatre actors to fill small roles in American TV sereis and MOW's.  His acting credits range from the Beach Combers to the X-Files on television, The Accused to Fantastic 4 on film, with many lawyer roles in movies-of-the-week in between.  He currently plays Mel Ivarson on CBC's Arctic Air.

Kevin has a long and varied career on stage, as well, and has received 2 Best Supporting Actor Jessie Richardson Awards.

Most recently, he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and the 2012 Sam Payne Lifetime Achievement Award.

Kevin shares a house in Vancouver with actor/playwright Susinn McFarlen and their children Lucy and Dylan.

Kevin Wert

Kevin is one more of our fast downhill ski racers from Rossland. Kevin began his competitive skiing with the Red Mountain Racers and joined the Canadian National Ski Team as a Downhill Specialist in 1995. Prior to joining the National Team, he was the World Downhill Junior Champion in 1994.

Kevin has raced in the Nor-Am Cup, the European Cup, World Cup and National Competitions. Kevin has won two Canadian Championships in the Downhill and one in the Super G, and has won the European Cup Gold Medal on two occasions. He has placed in the Top Ten of North American and European ski races 23 times.

Kevin was a member of the Canadian Ski Team at the 1998 Winter Olympic Games in Nagano, Japan.

Kimberly Joines

Kimberly Joines loved snowboarding at an early age however sustained a spinal cord injury resulting in her becoming a paraplegic.  She took up the sport of paralympic ski racing where she has excelled to become a world class athlete.  She has been a member of Team Canada for twelve years, wining forty-four World Cup medals, eight World Championship medals and two Paralympic Bronze Medals.  She won a Bronze medal at the Sochi Olympics.

Kimberly moved to Rossland in 2007 and has achieved most of success as a ski racer while a resident of that community.

L.J. "Flip" Filippelli

In July 1956, Flip Filippelli was elected to the National Presidency of the Canadian Junior Chamber of Commerce.

Flip was born in Trail in 1923 and attended local schools.

He obtained his B.Sc. in chemistry from the University of Alberta and then joined Cominco in Trail.

Flip held the presidency of the BC and Yukon Division in 1954 and has been National Vice-president for Alberta, BC and Yukon in 1955.

Flip was inducted into the Canadian Aquatic Hall of Fame in 2000 and had previously been inducted into the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame. He has officiated at World Championships, Pan Am Games, Commonwealth Games and Olympic Games.

Lauren Bay

Lauren followed her brother in local ball, only in softball. In 1996, Lauren was a member of the Trail Steelers Bantam A Team that won a Bronze Medal at the Western Canadian Championships where she was named top pitcher of the tournament. In 1997, she was a member of the White Rock Renegades Midget A Team that won a Gold Medal at the Canadian Midget National Tournament and was named Tournament MVP. She returned to White Rock in 1998 where they again won the Gold Medal at the Canadian Midget National Tournament and she was again named Tournament MVP.
In 1999, Lauren was a member of the Canadian Junior National Team which participated in the World Championships in Taiwan.

From 2000 until 2003, she was a member of the NCAA Division 1 Oklahoma State University on a scholarship. Here, she was a four-time All Conference Selection, a three-time All Mid-West Region Selection, and an outstanding academic. Lauren left OSU holding records for season innings pitched, season strikeouts, career starts, career saves, career complete games, career innings pitched, career appearances and career strikeouts.

In 2001, she was a member of the Canadian Senior National Team which particiapted in the World Championship in Saskatoon.

In 2003, Lauren was named NCAA Woman of the Year for the State of Oklahoma for her contributions to athletics, academica and community involvement. In 2004, she was named to the Canadian Olympic Softball Team which participated in the Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece.

Lauren continues to be a premier pitcher for Canada's Women's National Softball Team. She is currently involved in the training program Motion DNA for the Canadian Pan Am qualifiers in November and the World Championships in China in 2006. This year, she played in the National Prt Fast Pitch League with the Chicago Bandits.

Lauren resides in Phoenix, Arizona.

Leeanne McLim

Leeanne is the second person to be recognized on the Home of Champions Monument for her success in the sport of Muay Thai Kickboxing.

Leeanne is an International Class Champion in Muay Thai Kickboxing and in Kickboxing. She has held 5 Title Belts, 2 National Championship Belts and 3 International Champion Belts and is well known in her sport throughout the World.

Some of Leanne's Titles include:
* The Pacific Northwest Muay Thai Featherweight Champion;
* Canadian Super Bantamweight Muay Thai Champion;
* United Full Contact Federation Canadian Super Bantamweight
Kickboxing Champion;
* World Kickboxing Network Intercontinental Super Bantamweight
Muay Thai Champion;
* World Kickboxing Association North American Featherweight Muay
Thai Champion.

Leeanne was ranked 4th in the World in Muay Thai Kickboxing in 2003. She also boasts an unblemished record of 12 and 0, with 10 TKOs. Leeanne is also an accomplished actor and dancer.

Les Leyland

MASTERS CHAMPION - TRACK & FIELD

Les has been active in distance track and field competitions provincially and internationally since the age of 72. Now 83, Les is the Canadian record holder in the 10,000 metres outdoors, and the 800, 1,500 and 5,000 metres indoors, for persons between the age of 80 and 84 years old. He is also the holder of the US record in the 12 kilometre race for those between 80 and 84 years of age, and the 5,000 metre outdoor for those between 80 and 84 years of age. In 1998, Les competed in the World Association of Veteran Athletes in DURBAN, South Africa, finishing fifth, in the 5,000 and 10,000 metres.

In 1999, Les competed in the World Association of Veteran Athletes in Gateshead, England, where he finished 9th in the 1,500 metres.
Les has competed in numerous Masters events in long distance running, including the National Masters Championships in the United States; the Ontario Masters Indoor Championships; the Canadian Masters Championships in Toronto, Saskatoon and Quebec; the BC Seniors Games; and various fun runs, including the Vancouver Sun Run, Spokane Bloomsday Run, and local run events.

Les competed in the North American Masters Championships in Kamloops, BC, which also doubled as the Canadian Championships. Leswon the North American and Canadian Gold medals in the 5000 metre race and followed that up by winning the Canadian Gold medal in the 10 km run.

Les passed away at the age of 94 in April of 2012.

Lieutenant Hampton Gray

VICTORIA CROSS - POSTHUMOUS AWARD
Lieutenant Robert Hampton Gray was born in Trail, BC on November 2, 1917.
In July of 1940, Robert left the University of British Columbia to join the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve and sailed to the United Kingdom in September. In 1942, he qualified for his wings, was commissioned, and sent on fighter operational training. From July 1942, he served on various squadrons in Africa on fleet support duties. In 1944, he was appointed Senior Pilot of the 1841 Squadron aboard the aircraft carrier, HMS Formidable. During August of that year, Formidable and her squadrons took part in two attacks on the German battleship, Tirpitz. Gray was mentioned in despatches for his part in the action. In September, Formidable was assigned to the British Pacific Fleet where strikes were carried out against Japanese naval and air forces, shipping, shipyards, and coastal objectives. The Squadron of Formidable’s Air Group took part in these operations until hostilities ceased.

On July 28, 1945, Robert led a low-level strike against the naval base at Maisuru, north of Kyoto, and his own bombs sank a destroyer. This attack resulted in Gray receiving an immediate Award of the Distinguished Service Cross.
On August 9, 1945, Hampton Gray and his flight of Corsair fighter-bombers lifted off the deck of the Formidable on a 200-mile mission to attack Japanese warships at anchor on Onagawa Bay.

Gray led the attack and was hit almost at once, but he held his course to release his bombs at the last possible second, to sink the ocean escort Amakusa before crashing to his death in the water.

Lieutenant Hampton Gray was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest military award that can be received in the United Kingdom, the last Canadian to be so honoured.

Other medals won by Lieutenant Hampton Gray include the Distinguished Service Cross, 1939-45 Star, the Atlantic Star, Africa Star, Pacific Star, Defence Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Clasp, War Medal 1939-1945, and Mentioned- In-Despatches.

Lindsey Roberts

Lindsey Roberts, born in Rossland in 1972, has been involved in Alpine Ski Racing for many years. She has competed provincially, nationally and internationally.

Lindsey started her racing career as a Nancy Greene League Skier and gradually worked her way up to Bantams, the Cardholders and was on the British Columbia Ski Team.

During the 1989 summer months, Lindsey attended two ski camps; one of national status and the other of provincial status. She was placed on the Junior National Ski Team and represented Canada in the World Junior Championships held in Alaska in 1990. Lindsey was ranked 25th (out of all Canadian skiers) in the Canadian Open, in the Downhill, Super Giant Slalom, Giant Slalom and the Slalom.

In 1991, she suffered several pelvic and spinal injuries during the Canadian Championships and was sidelined for 18 months. Lindsey thought her dream of representing Canada in national and international competitions was over.

Sheer hard work and determination earned her a place back on the Canadian National Alpine Ski Team, and in 1993, she was a member of the Canadian World Championship Team in Japan.

That same year, she became the U.S. National Downhill Champion (as well as placing 3rd in the Super G) and was presented with the B.C. Premier's Award for Alpine Skiing.

In 1994, she won the Europa Cup Downhill.

In 1995, she became the Canadian National Downhill Champion - a highlight of her career.

An injury-plagued 1995-96 season forced Lindsey to compete on her own and away from the National Team.

Once again, her dedication to alpine skiing won her the North American Downhill and Super G Championships and the overall North American Continental Champion title for 1997. These titles earned her a place on the World Cup Circuit, as well as membership back on the Canadian National Alpine Ski Team.

In December of 1997, Lindsey decided to retire from the National Team and devote her time to completing her education and coaching.

Louis Secco

Louis was born in Trail in January of 1927.

Louis excelled in hockey and played all his minor hockey in Trail.

He was a member of Provincial Championship Teams in each of the Midget, Juvenile, Junior and Senior hockey divisions.

Louis was called up to play with the New York Rangers in 1945, but decided to stay in Trail to play with the Smoke Eaters.

Perhaps Louis' greatest achievement occured in 1952 when he and Gord Robertson were invited to join the Edmonton Mercuries who were representing Canada in the 1952 Winter Olympics in Oslo, Norway. The Mercuries went on to win the Olympic Gold medal in hockey. earning Louis a place in hockey history in trail.

In 1968, Louis was inducted into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame.

Louis began work at Cominco in April of 1943 and retired as a supervisor of the Warfield Fertilizer Operations in May of 1985, after 42 years of service.

Melissa Soligo

Melissa Soligo was born on February 7th, 1969, in Trail.  She started her curling career at the age of 13 with the J.L. Crowe curling team as a skip. Melissa traveled to local bonspiels around the West Kootenays, and it was in 1984, at the age of 14, when she won the West Kootenay High School Championships.


In 1985, Melissa won both the East and West Kootenay Zone  Championships for the province and came in third in the  Provincial Championships. She also finished up sixth in the Juniors.


In 1986, she repeated her win at the West Kootenay Zones, and finished third at the Juniors.
In 1987, Melissa placed second in both High School and the Junior Zones.  In 1988, she joined the Vancouver Ladies Team which won the provincials, and continued on to the place fourth in the Canadian Championship. Melissa continued to compete competitively and went on to the Professional Circuit in 1988, filling the position of lead.
She won the Labatt's Crown Curling Championships and $6000, plus a trip to San Francisco. She also won the Canadian Airlines International Double Cash Spiel and $14,000.

In 1991 Melissa was a member of the Julie Sutton Rink which won athe Canadian Women's Championship, finished second in the World Curling Championship, and won a bronze medal in the Winter Olympics.

Michael Kobluk

Michael Kobluk was a member of the Chad Mitchell Trio (late 50's through the 60's), a singing group that was formed by students at the Gonzaga University Glee Club.

In the beginning, the group generally performed in college circles, small nightclubs and music halls. They became well-known in the Pacific Northwest. The trio's repertoire consisted of folk songs based socio-political material.

From Left: Michael Kobluk, John Denver, Dave BoweyEventually, the group achieved national recognition when they appeared on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and the Arthur Godfrey Radio Show.

They were chosen by the US State Department to tour as good will ambassadors in South America.

Chad Mitchell eventually left the trio and was replaced by John Denver.  However, the group disbanded just shortly before their new member became a star.

Mike Buckna

Mike Mathew Buckna, born in Trail September 5, 1913, was an exceptional athlete, excelling in track and field, as well as hockey, where he made his major impact. Mike got his start in the junior ranks, then as a rookie senior with the Trail Smoke Eaters, who became the B.C. Champions of 1932-33.

In 1935, Mike went to Prague, Czechoslovakia where he took a job as player/coach with Prague's Lawn Tennis Club. While there, he met Aloisie (Lola) Frolikova. Lola was an exceptional tennis player and a natural talent and won several major European tournaments. Mike and Lola were married in Prague, on March 26, 1938.

In 1939, Mike and Lola returned to Trail where he went to work at Cominco. Of course he was also working in the family business, the Montana Hotel.

Mike was given a tryout with the Chicago Blackhawks, but when offered a contract decided against a life on the road and returned to Trail. In 1946, the family returned to Prague where Mike was given the opportunity to coach the Czechoslovakian National Hockey team and was the coordinator of the entire Czech hockey system. He taught the kind of hockey played in Trail - conditioning and passing. He pioneered hockey clinics, coached senior and junior teams and started minor hockey for several thousand youngsters throughout the country. The result: a world hockey power.

Mike coached the Czech Olympic Team in the 1948 Olympics. The team only lost one game in those Olympics and that was to Canada. Mike's team won a silver medal. He also led the Czech National Team to three European titles and one world championship, in 1947.

Shortly after the Olympics, the Russians occupied Czechoslovakia and Mike and his family had to return to Trail. He regained employment with Cominco and continued to play hockey for the Trail Smoke Eaters.

After his retirement from playing, Mike coached the Rossland Warriors and the Trail Junior Smoke Eaters. Mike was actively involved with hockey, both in Trail and Czechoslovakia, for almost fifty years.

Mike and Lola later bought the Montana Hotel and continued to operate it until their retirement in 1974. Lola passed away November 29, 1976.

Mike made several visits to Czechoslovakia, as a guest of the government, to attend world hockey tournaments. In 1978, as the guest of the Czechoslovakian Hockey Federation, Mike was introduced as the "Father of Czechoslovakian Hockey."

In 1989, Mike received a major honour in his life. He was inducted into the British Columbia Sports Hall of Fame. Mike continued to live in Trail throughout his retirement until his death on January 6, 1996.

Mike Mondin

Mike was born in Trail in 1956 and played hockey in the Trail Minor Hockey Association until his teenage years.  He became a journeyman carpenter following graduation for secondary school and took a position with School District No. 11 as an Industrial Arts teacher in 1981.

He began coaching a variety of secondary school sports upon his arrival at the Crowe.  He had already experienced his taste for coaching at all levels of minor hockey in the Rossland-Trail Minor Hockey Association and the Beaver Valley Minor Hockey Association from 1976 to 1978.  He continued coaching minor hockey from 1985 to 1996.

He then obtained his National Coach Certificate and quickly became a course presenter.  In 1999, he was recognized for his dedication to hockey by the BC Amateur Hockey Association as Coach of the Year.

He was soon appointed Coach of the BC representative in the Canada Winter Games as well as numerous other international hockey tournaments on behalf of Team Canada.  From 2000 to 2006, he was Assistant Coach of the Trail Junior Smoke Eaters.

In 2008, he was appointed as Assistant Coach of Canada's National Sledge Hockey Team.  The team won a Gold Medal at the 2008 World Sledge Hockey Challenege and a silver in the 2009 event.  The team won a bronze medal at the 2009 IPC Sledge Hockey World Championships.  In 2010, Mike helped coach Canada's sledge hockey team at the Olympic Games in Vancouver.  Mike has recently been promoted to Head Coach of the team.

Muriel Griffiths

Muriel Griffiths is a long-time builder of arts and culture in Greater Trail and British Columbia. She became involved in presenting performing arts in Trail in 1951, starting with the Celebrity Concert Series. Under her leadership, Trail developed one of the longest running and best-attended Community Performance Series in the province.

She was a director for the Southeast Region of BC on the BC Touring Council from 1984 to 1992. During this period, the BC Touring Council greatly expanded cultural opportunities in small towns in the Kootenays and in the rest of BC.

Muriel served on the Trail and District Community Arts Council from 1982 to 1996 in various capacities, including president. Perhaps her greatest accomplishment was the creation and upgrading of performing and visual arts spaces in the Greater Trail Community Centre. She raised the funds for and oversaw all other aspects of the project, which saw the birth of the VISAC Gallery, the renovation of the Charles Bailey Theatre, and the creation of a small recital space that today bears her name.

In 1992 Muriel received the Les Carbeau Award from the Governor-General "in recognition of outstanding contributions to Regional Culture." She has also been awarded the Canada 125th Commemorative Medal in recognition of her support of the Arts in BC.

Muriel passed away in 2010.

Nancy Greene Raine

Nancy Greene was voted Canada's Outstanding Female Athlete for two years in a row.

Nancy Greene-Raine was born in Ottawa May 11, 1943. She was raised in Rossland, B.C.

She was a Canadian National Ski Team member from 1960 to 1968.

Nancy competed in the 1962 and 1966 FIS World Skiing Championships.

In 1966-67, 67-68 she won the official World Championships on the international tour circuit.

At the 1968 Winter Olympics Games in Glenoble, she won a gold and a silver medal for Canada in slalom events.

In 1969, she was inducted into the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame and named B.C. Female Athlete of the Century.

Nello Angerilli

Nello was born in Trail in 1952, graduating from the JL Crowe in 1970.  Following graduation, he received a BSc from Simon Fraser Univeristy in 1974 and Masters Degree in Biological Science in 1978.

He describes himself as a "behavioural ecologist," studying how the evolution of animal behaviour, particularly those behaviours mediated by smell, provides selective advantage or can be manipulated in order to minimize or eliminate the use of toxic chemicals in agriculture.  Recently, he has turned his attention to the strengthening of education systems at the governmental and institutional levels.

Nello has extensive experience working on behalf of Canadian universities in Southeast Asia and Africa, where his research interests focus on behavioural ecology.  At SFU, he created SFU International, a unit charged with developing and managing the university's international interests.

For the past five years, Nello has been the Associate Vice-President, Students and International, during which time he led a major reorganization of the mission critical portion of the university.