It’s hard to have a successful sports program at any level without a couple of strong pillars at the very beginning.
In a city like Prince George, you won’t go too far without hearing the names Joe Rea and Edna Stitt.
Both are set to be inducted in the Builder category during the 13th Induction Ceremony hosted by the Prince George Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday from the Ramada Plaza.
For Rea, he was viewed as leader, player and mentor, active in curling for most of his life.
After a 20-year run as a player, Rea first got involved with wheelchair curling and two years later he was Canada’s team leader at the world championships.
He was handed the coaching reigns in 2006, the same year the sport made its Paralympic Games debut.
At the Torino Games, Rea made history leading Canada to its first-ever wheelchair curling gold medal at the Paralympics.
Canada won three world championship gold medals in 2009, 2011 and 2013.
The nation also defended its Paralympic crown twice, winning gold at the Vancouver 2010 and Sochi 2014 Games.
Rea retired as head coach of the Canadian national team with three Paralympic gold medals.
Stitt, however, made her mark as the ultimate volunteer spending most of her life volunteering at local, provincial, national and international events.
If you have attended a Prince George Spruce Kings game at any point in the last 25 years, Stitt wouldn’t be far behind filling the role of either goal judge, penalty box worker, timekeeper and scorekeeper.
During the summer, Stitt spent decades volunteering in PG Senior men’s baseball and women’s fastball leagues as a scorekeeper.
Her volunteerism in baseball or fastball even extended to the provincial level.
Regardless of which BC championship Prince George was hosting, Edna would be there often.
As for national events hosted in the northern capital, Stitt has assisted with the 1983 and 2000 Scotties Tournament of Hearts, the 2012 Baseball Canada Senior Championship, the 2007 Royal Bank Cup hosted by the PG Spruce Kings and the 2017 Telus Cup hosted by the Cariboo Cougars U18 AAA hockey program.
Internationally, she was quick to offer her time and volunteer at the 2009, 2011 and 2013 World Baseball Challenge at Citizen Field plus the 2022 World Women’s Curling Championship at CN Centre.
It’s safe to say both Stitt and Rea, can take a bow and a healthy round of applause from the athletes they have coached or watched while becoming staples in the Prince George Sports community.
The Sports Hall of Fame’s star-studded induction class also includes the likes of Kenny Lally (Boxing), the late Amanda Asay (Baseball and Hockey) and Megan Tandy (Biathlon).
All three were previously recognized in 2005 as Rising Stars (formally Youth Athlete).
The induction ceremony begins at 5pm with ceremonies commencing at 5:45 followed by dinner, silent auction and the recognition of 14 Rising Star Athletes in the 23-and-under age category.
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