Female legends Shackleton, Moir celebrated at third annual St. Marys Sports Wall of Fame induction ceremony
By Spencer Seymour
Two trailblazing women were celebrated Nov. 7 during the St. Marys Sports Wall of Fame induction ceremony at the Pyramid Recreation Centre.
Loiey Moir and Amie Shackleton were present for the ceremony as their plaques were unveiled, while the third inductee, Mike Teahen, was unable to attend. Teahen will be celebrated during next year’s ceremony.
Shackleton, a prolific curler, has competed at the highest levels of the sport, including Trophy Provincials, Silver Tankards, Ontario Mixed Curling Championships, Intermediate Women’s Provincials, and the Scotties Tournament of Hearts, and she has racked up numerous accolades and championships.
Kristin DeBrabendere nominated Shackleton and helped introduce her during the ceremony, noting Shackleton was as fair and honest as she was skilled.
“Curling and life share a common feature; there is no referee,” said DeBrabendere. “There is no one hovering over your game ready to call out a foul or make sure everyone is following the proper rules and etiquette. Instead, the game depends on the integrity of the players. When you make a mistake, you own it. Amie has always set a high bar for herself and her teammates to take accountability. If she makes a mistake, she will be the first to own it and expects everyone else to do the same.”
DeBrabendere added Shackleton also made sure she celebrated the positive moments for herself and her fellow curlers.
“Owning your mistakes is important, but so is celebrating your successes. When you see someone doing something good, let them know. Amie is always the first to give credit where credit is due. When someone makes a good shot, she’s going to tell you, even if you are her opponent and even if that great shot you just made really screwed up her end. Anyone who has played with her knows there is no higher praise than when you hear, ‘Pistol,’ or, ‘That’s a peach.’ ”
Shackleton then spoke during the ceremony, noting the sport she loved most has given her far more than just trophies and banners.
“Today, I’d rather focus less on the championships and the accomplishments, and I want to share what curling has given me over the past 40 years. The opportunities, the experiences, the life lessons, and most importantly, the people, because when I look back, those are the things that mean the most to me,” Shackleton began.
“Curling wasn’t part of my family growing up. In fact, I’m not even sure I knew what curling was before I signed up for it as a school elective. Kelly Switzer asked me to try curling with her because her dad was a curler, so I signed up. After that school elective, it turned into a 40-year love of the game.”
Shackleton recounted how the local curling association played a big role in her falling in love with curling.
“One of the things that made the St. Marys Curling Club so special was how welcoming it was,” said Shackleton. “At 14, I joined the women’s league, curling against my school friends’ mothers and grandmothers, and building friendships with people decades older than me. I remember admiring curlers like Barb Seaton and hoping I could curl like them someday, and years later, I had the privilege of becoming Barb’s teammate.”
Loiey Moir was instrumental in the expansion and development of ladies’ fastball in town and competed as a member of the St. Marys Pullets, who won the Ontario provincial championship in 1962 and 1963, before adding a Canadian National Championship in 1971 and representing Canada at the World Ladies Fastball Tournament in 1972.
Brian Dundas, along with Terry McEwan and John Urquhart, described Moir as having a mind for the game as great as her on-field abilities.
“We were fortunate enough to have Loiey join us with the Creamery Junior ball team in 1988 when we went to the Canadiens. We needed a certified coach, and unfortunately nobody on our coaching staff had the necessary certificates,” Dundas said.
“What we got was so much more than a certified coach. Her catching ability and knowledge of the game was second to none. Once the opposing team had gone through the batting order, Loiey could tell us how many pitches each batter faced, whether they had hit the ball hard and exactly where it had gone. Her understanding of the game was incredible, and it’s easy to see why she had reached the levels she did in her playing career.”
Moir spoke about her enshrinement on the wall of fame, crediting the people closest to her with helping her reach the levels she did.
“As I look back over my fastball-playing years, I realize one does not get an opportunity to play a sport they love at such a competitive level without the support of many people along the way. The coaches who gave hours of their time for the benefit of each and every player. My husband, who cared for our three children, Peter, Mike and Jenny, so I could travel to my many games, and my mother, who looked after Jenny as a wee baby so I was able to go to Italy.
“I hope you knew how much I appreciated it,” Moir continued. “Also, to the many women who were my fastball teammates, I remember all your names and cherish the ones who have become lifelong friends.”
After Moir’s humble acceptance speech, she was surprised by her daughter, Jenny May, and grandson Will May joining her at the front of the room to speak about Moir’s induction.
“It’s a pretty special day when you get to stand up and celebrate your mother,” said Jenny May. “But it’s even more special when you get to celebrate her for something that has been such an integral part of who she is in her life. As we know, mom, your love of fastball and of sport in general didn’t end in high school. It has been a lifelong passion, one that has taken you places you never imagined, brought joy and inspiration to your community and your family, and created a legacy that we are here to celebrate today.”
Jenny May was emphatic about how proud she was of her mother’s influence on how women’s fastball was perceived.
“Mom, you were part of a generation of women who helped break new ground in a sport that wasn’t necessarily making room for women. You didn’t wait for opportunities to come along. You helped create them, and it all started right here in St. Marys. Being a part of the women’s fastball contingent that travelled to Italy to be assessed as a potential Olympic sport; that notion is just incredible to me. Just think about that for a moment. You’re part of an effort to demonstrate that women’s fastball belonged on an international stage, and that women deserve the opportunity to compete at the highest level of sport.”
Jenny May further detailed what her mom’s place on the Sports Wall of Fame means to those closest to her.
“While this recognition is about your contributions to women’s fastball, it is about something much bigger. It’s about a woman who helped open doors for other women. A woman who challenged expectations, earned respect and helped move a sport forward. A woman who demonstrated that you didn’t need to wait for permission to participate, compete, coach, or lead to make a difference. And it’s about a mother and a grandmother whose influence has reached far beyond the ball field and into the lives of her family and community.
“Mom, at 86 years of age, you have quite a legacy, and today you get to see that legacy recognized in a very special and deserving way,” added Jenny May. “On behalf of your three children, your grandchildren and everyone that’s here, congratulations. We are terribly proud of you.”
Will May also had a chance to talk about his grandmother, noting how impactful she was when he was playing baseball as a kid.
“Grandma went above and beyond at every step and in every way to make this connection extra special,” Will May said. “She was not just my grandma; she was my practice partner and travel companion. I remember many days getting home from school, putting my bag down inside and heading out into the street to throw the ball around.
“I think for a young man, being able to throw the ball with your grandma is definitely an experience that I value very deeply and is not shared by many. Even though I probably threw the ball too hard at her sometimes and she was certainly worried about the cars parked in the street, I hope she took the same enjoyment that I did from those experiences.”
Both Moir and Shackleton emphasized how meaningful it was for them to be part of a class celebrating two female sports icons in St. Marys history.
“I was extremely excited to be a female representing the sport of curling in St. Marys,” said Shackleton. “I felt a pure sense of joy for our town and for the sport, especially women in sport. I think it’s long overdue, and I think it’s incredible that Loiey and I could be inducted at the same time. I’m honoured to be inducted with her at the same time.”
“It’s very important,” Loiey added. “It’s very important for young women to realize that things have changed. It’s better than it was when I was playing. It’s important for them to know the world is out there and they can accomplish and do what they want and love, and it’ll work for them.”
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