Campbell’s Hockey Hall of Fame banners to hang in Tillsonburg

Colin Campbell, centre, was joined by Dave Boylan, chief operator for the Tillsonburg Community Centre, left, and Mayor Deb Gilvesy in looking at the banner that hung in the Hockey Hall of Fame announcing his induction. (Jeff Helsdon photo)

Jeff Helsdon, Editor

The wall of Tillsonburg Memorial Arena has some new artwork.

The banner that hung in the Hockey Hall of Fame’s front window announcing Tillsonburg resident Colin Campbell as one of the inductees in 2024 now hangs in Memorial Arena.

“Once he was inducted, we brought it up at the next meeting of the sports and recreation committee,” said Julie Dawley, Manager of Recreation Programs and Services for the town. “I think it was Andrea (Greenway) who suggested it.”

Dawley made arrangements to purchase the banner after it was removed from the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. Although Campbell’s induction was two years ago this fall, Dawley said the banner wasn’t unveiled until the Tillsonburg Sports Hall of Fame dinner this spring, as the event is held every other year. The banner was on the stage at the event.

Campbell explained the banners typically end up in the arena of the team an inductee played for. However, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as a builder for his work as Senior Vice-President and Director of Hockey Operations.

“Normally, the NHL teams you played for have a night (to mark the banner unveiling), but I worked for all the teams,” he said.

In a career that spanned more than 50 years, and is still going, Campbell played in the NHL, won the Stanley Cup as an assistant coach, worked as Senior Executive Vice-President of Hockey Operations, and saw his son Gregory win both the Memorial and Stanley Cups. His first exposure to hockey was in the arena where the Hockey Hall of Fame banner now hangs.

Mayor Deb Gilvesy gave credit to Dawley for bringing the banner to town after the idea was raised at the sports and rec committee.

“Of course, everyone was wholeheartedly behind it,” she added.

Two smaller banners came with the larger one. Dawley said one of those will hang in the Colin Campbell Arena.