The Halton Hills Sports Museum & Resource Centre: Honouring Our Past, Preserving Our Future
The Halton Hills Sports Museum and Resource Centre (d/b/a The Halton Hills Sports Hall of Fame) was born from a shared dream — to celebrate the spirit, dedication, and achievements of the athletes, builders, and volunteers who have shaped the sporting legacy of Halton Hills.
The story began in 2000 when the Georgetown Hockey Heritage Council was approached by Joy Thompson of the Town of Halton Hills Parks and Recreation Department with a proposal to establish a hockey museum in the Alcott Arena Hall at the Mold-Masters SportsPlex. What started as a hockey heritage initiative quickly grew into a broader vision: an inclusive museum honouring all sports in Halton Hills.
Representatives from six local sports organizations—Halton Hills Minor Hockey, Georgetown Minor Lacrosse, Georgetown Soccer Club, Georgetown Skating Club, the Ladies Powder Puff League, and North Halton Girls Hockey—joined forces with community leaders including Finn Poulstrup, Hal Pels, Grace Rylett, Glenda Nixdorf, Jacqueline Sargent, and Bob Hooper. Together, they formed the not-for-profit corporation, the Halton Hills Sports Museum & Resource Centre.
Their collective effort led to a complete reconstruction of Alcott Hall. More than $450,000 was raised through donations, grants, and in-kind contributions to rebuild floors, walls, lighting, HVAC systems, and washrooms. The beautifully renewed hall opened its doors in 2007 under a symbolic $1-per-year operating lease with the Town of Halton Hills.
That same year, the museum launched its signature annual event—the Halton Hills Sports Hall of Fame Induction Gala. Conceived and initially chaired by Steve Foreman, the gala has become a cherished community celebration. To date, more than 88 inductees across 35 sports have been recognized—from hockey to track and field, from Paralympic gymnastics to drag racing. Their stories have been preserved so they will never fade from memory.
The gala also became a vital source of funding for the museum’s operations and programs. With the support of a Trillium grant, the museum formalized its governance structure and hired its first curator, Bruce Andrews. A further $100,000 in corporate and individual donations enhanced lighting and display cabinets, while the Georgetown Hockey Heritage Council contributed $50,000 for naming rights to the now-renamed Gordon Alcott Heritage Hall.
By 2009, more than $750,000 had been raised to create a modern, multi-use facility celebrating the pride, passion, and history of Halton Hills sport.
In 2012, the museum unveiled its landmark exhibit, The History of Sports in Halton Hills, and went on to host special events including the Olympic Torch Relay, the Stanley Cup Tour, the Paul Henderson Traveling Display, and Halton Hills’ 150 Week of Hockey Celebration and opening during Junior A hockey and Junior B lacrosse games, tournaments, and arena events, the museum welcomed more than 6,000 people, further strengthening the museum’s role as a cornerstone of community pride.
In 2011, with Trillium support, the museum published its book, Bats, Balls, and Sticks, written by local historian Mark Rowe. Around the same time, volunteer Gloria Sinclair created the museum’s first online presence at HHSM.ca, expanding access beyond its walls.
More recently, the museum unveiled the Memorial Arena Wall, a poignant display constructed using original bricks from the historic Georgetown Memorial Arena (1922–2012). Donated by Jerry Ingles, the wall stands as both a tribute and a lasting link between past and present.
As years passed, the museum faced growing challenges—declining visitor traffic, rising costs, and a shrinking volunteer base—even as community praise for exhibit quality remained strong.
When operations resumed in 2022, the museum found itself primarily focused on sustaining the Sports Hall of Fame Gala. It became increasingly difficult to justify occupying more than 2,000 square feet for physical displays given limited traffic, increased costs, and volunteer strain.
After careful consideration, the Board concluded that transitioning to a more accessible, interactive digital display model would best preserve Halton Hills’ sporting heritage for generations to come. This new model, centered around interactive digital displays in the Sports Hall of Fame, will be showcased prominently in the main lobby of the Mold-Masters SportsPlex.
Following productive discussions, the Halton Hills Sports Museum entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Town of Halton Hills to move this vision forward. In exchange, the museum would digitize its exhibits, documents, memorabilia, and Sports Hall of Fame inductees so they can be accessed through the new interactive displays. The physical museum will be decommissioned over time as this project is to be completed by 2027.
Armed with this bold vision, the museum attracted new energy. Over the past year, ten new executive members have joined the organization, bringing diverse skills and fresh passion.
Under the leadership of Chair Steve Highfield, Vice-Chair Herb Garbutt, Treasurer Pat Brisco, Secretary Leanne McNair, and Gala Chair Jeanette Stewart, the team includes:
• Murray Colquhoun – IT Chair
• Brenda Geim – Social Media & Governance
• Ruth Reed – Fundraising & Governance
• Jennifer Rendles – Fundraising & Grant Coordinator
• Mark Rowe, Glenda Nixdorf, Michael Mitchell, Finn Poulstrup, and Ron Stiel – Directors
Collaboration with Elizabeth Gordon and Heather Kaufman, Community Development Coordinators with the Town of Halton Hills, is further strengthening this renewed direction.
Together, they are steering the Halton Hills Sports Museum into a new era—one that blends tradition and technology to ensure the stories, images, and achievements of local athletes remain vibrant and accessible.
As the museum transitions to an interactive, accessible model, it aims to:
• Expand educational programming
• Strengthen community partnerships
• Increase youth engagement
• Grow its digital archives
• Continue the renowned Halton Hills Sports Hall of Fame Gala
The next chapter of our story will be written—not only by our leaders, but by our volunteers, donors, partners, and citizens who believe in the power of sport to shape character, strengthen community, and inspire future generations.
Our Mission
The Halton Hills Sports Museum is committed to preserving the history of sports in our community, honouring excellence, and fostering connections between the generations of individuals who participate in, develop, and contribute to athletics in Halton Hills. Our goal is to uphold the legacy of local athletes and contributors, inspire future generations, and celebrate the distinct sports heritage of Halton Hills.
Serving the communities of Halton Hills (Acton, Georgetown, Glen Williams, Norval, Hornby, Stewarttown, and the surrounding rural areas).