At Thursday’s Order of Sport Awards, Olympic figure skaters Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir were recognized for their remarkable achievements in sport, alongside several other esteemed athletes and builders. The awards ceremony took place at the History Museum of Gatineau, Quebec, marking the inductions for the 2023 Canadian Sports Hall of Fame.
The awe-inspiring group identified at the event consisted of nine athletes and two builders, including the astonishing ice-dancing pair Virtue and Moir. Tessa didn’t hesitate to express their overwhelming gratitude for the honour, stating that being a part of this esteemed fraternity was quite unbelievable.
Esteemed as among the most successful skating duos in history, Virtue and Moir hold the most Olympic decorations in the realm of figure skating, boasting five medals in total, three of which are gold. Scott paid homage to their journey, calling it a beautiful sports story brimming with hard work, acknowledging the invaluable support that surrounded them throughout their journey, including their fellow hall-of-famers.
Breaking the ice and branching out to others sports, the 2023 class also heralded the inauguration of mixed martial artist Georges St-Pierre. The MMA athlete was openly grateful for being included in such a select group of honourees and voiced his delight for the acceptance of MMA as a legitimate sport.
The ceremony recognized pioneers across a wide range of sports. Cheryl Bernard, president of Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame, underscored the honorees’ contribution to the sport and their potential to inspire and foster community spirit.
Each year, more than 300 potential candidates across the country vie for this prestigious award, making it a challenging feat. This elite club of inductees, now numbering 742 over the past 67 years, paints a clear picture of how rigorous the selection process is. These illustrious individuals have been handpicked from over 222 public nominations by an expert panel inclusive of sports broadcasters, writers, academics, and athletes.
The honorees unanimously expressed their deep appreciation for the recognition as well as their optimism for the future generations of sport that their achievements could inspire.
In addition to Virtue and Moir, the Class of 2023 Sports Hall of Fame included: Phyllis Bomberry, a softball athlete; Danielle Peers, a wheelchair basketball athlete; Hiroshi Nakamura, a judo builder; Oren Lyons, a lacrosse builder; and a curling team, The Ferbey Four. The event also paid tribute to winners of the 2023 Tom Longboat Awards, Connor Church and Trina Ross.
