Donald Stevens

At a young age, Donald Stevens, became a Red Mountain Racer and it became apparent that he had talent and potential for ski racing.

After moving up through the ranks of the Red Mountain Racers, Donald graduated to the B.C. Ski Team, where he represented the Red Mountain Racers and B.C. Ski Team nationally, achieving excellent results at events such as the Canadian Championships and the Nor-Am Series (North America).

In 1985, Donald was named to Canada's National Alpine Ski Team and began to excel in downhill events. During that first year on the Canadian Alpine Ski Team, he placed 14th in the World Cup Downhill event at Furano, Japan.

In 1986, Donald placed 15th in the World Cup Downhill in Whistler, BC.

He also claimed the Canadian Championship Downhill at home in Rossland that year, as well as a 4th place finish in the Giant Slalom.

In 1987, he placed 8th in a World Cup Downhill at Furano, Japan and at Panorama that year, he placed 2nd and 3rd in two consecutive Nor-Am Downhill events. 

In 1988-89, Donald's best three placings were 2nd, 9th and 10th in the World Cup Downhill Competition, giving him a world ranking in downhill of 18th.

He also competed at the 1988 Olympics in Calgary, Alberta, representing Canada on its four man Olympic Ski Team, competing in both Downhill and Slalom.

Dr. Colleen Kramer

Many will know Dr. Colleen Kramer for her veterinary care in the area. Owner of the Beaver Valley Animal Clinic, Dr. Kramer has earned her place on the Home of Champions monument for excellence in Equestrian Sports.

Hailing from Colville, WA, Dr. Kramer has been part of the Greater Trail community since 2002, providing mobile veterinary services for large animals. In 2012, her business expanded to include much more, as the Beaver Valley Animal Clinic was born.

Since 2012, Dr. Kramer has competed in both Canada and the US with the Arabian horse breed in Equestrian Sports. That year, she ranked in the US top ten for Training Level Dressage. Her championship achievements occurred between 2018 and 2024, when she earned the title of the US or Canadian National Champion ten times, and Reserve National Champion eight times. In 2022 and 2023, she ranked 8^th in North America.

In 2021, the Arabian Horse Association bestowed upon her the Master Horseman Champion Award, representing lifetime achievement among amateur competitors in the Arabian breed. And some recognition for her competition companion is necessary, as well: In 2024, her horse WT Studebaker, earned the title of Equine Canada’s Horse of the Year in breed sports.

Her love of the equine is also demonstrated through philanthropic work. She is a devoted supporter of the SPCA, Bear Valley Rescue in Alberta, and Love this Horse Equine Rescue in California.

Dr. Kramer is our first Home of Champions inductee for Equestrian Sports, inducted in 2025.

Dr. Harold Menkes

Dr. Harold Menkes was not born in Trail, but lived his formative years here and attended the JL Crowe High Shool in the mid-1950s.  Following graduation, Harold attended the University of British Columbia earning his medical degree in 1963.  He then moved to do his residency training at the University of Pennsylvania, followed by the Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal, and finally moving to the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, where he was also a professor in Pulmonary Medicine.  There, he and his wife, Marilyn, began to do original research in occupational and environmental lung disease.

At Johns Hopkins University, he is acknolwedged as an outstanding educator and made many highly significant contributions to research, having published 100 peer reviewed papers in highly respected medical journals.  He affected dozens of young physicians and basic researchers in lung disease.  He devoted his research career to reducing lung disease, such as emphysema, chronic bronchitis and asthma.

Dr. Menkes and his wife were killed in a car accident in 1987.  Following their deaths, Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health established the Harold and Marilyn Menkes Memorial Lectureship in lung disease that enbales the Univeristy to invte a leading pulmonary scientist to the School for a two-day visit, which begins with a formal lecture to students, fellows and junior faculty.

Dr. Menkes and his wife had three children, Edana, Justin, and Alex.

Dr. Hugh Campbell

Dr. Hugh Campbell was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba in September 1922, graduating from St. John's High School. He attended Queen's University, obtaining his M.D. in 1952. Dr. Campbell held residencies in Toronto Western Hospital in 1958, St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto also in 1958, Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children in 1959, and Vancouver General Hospital in 1959-60. He joined the Trail Regional Hospital staff in 1960.

His achievements include memberships in the West Kootenay Medical Society, North West Urological Society, and British Urological Society.

Dr. Campbell was vice-president of the Trail Senior Smoke Eaters, Warfield Swim Club, West Trail Little League, and the Kiwanis Club. He was also involved with Minor Hockey, the Handicapped Society, BC Swimming Association, and the Karate Club.

Dr. Campbell was the Jimmy Morris Sportsman of the Year in 1988 and also Trail Citizen of the Year in 1991.

Dr. Campbell was a strong supporter of minor sports in our community and was always present at hockey or ball tournaments as a volunteer physician. His dedication to our youth and sports was recognized by all of those he most willingly agreed to assist. His presence is deeply missed, whether at the Hospital, the Arena or the ball park.

Dr. John A. Cairns

Dr. John A. Cairns was appointed Dean to the University of BC Faculty of Medicine in 1996.

He obtained his M.D. from the University of British Columbia (1968) and was awarded the Hamber Gold Medal for highest standing in the fourth year of Medicine and the Hamber Scholarship for highest standing throughout the four years of the medical course. He continued his training in medicine and cardiology in the teaching hospitals of McGill University (Montreal, Canada) and primarily the Royal Victoria Hospital. He obtained his Fellowship from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in Cardiology (1973) and in Medicine (1974) and pursued research training at the Royal Victoria Hospital with the support of a Medical Research Council scholarship.

Dr. Cairns joined the Department of Medicine at McMaster University as an Assistant Professor in 1975 and was promoted to Professor in 1985.

His research interests have included studies of modification and non-invasive measurement of myocardial infarction size in humans and dogs, studies of acute ischemic syndromes with a particular focus on antithrombotic therapy, coronary care utilization, and post-myocardial infarction arrhythmias.

He has published over 120 peer reviewed papers and 15 book chapters. He has had peer review funding throughout his academic career from the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, the Medical Research Council and the Ministry of Health of Ontario. Extensive funding was also received from industrial sources.

During his time at McMaster University, Cairns was an active clinical cardiologist working particularly in invasive cardiology and acute coronary care. He was also active in many education programs and has lectured extensively nationally and internationally.

Cairns is a member of numerous professional and scientific organizations and has held a variety of executive roles. He has chaired consensus conferences in cardiac care in both Canada and the United States. He is a member of a variety of editorial boards of peer-review journals and has served on numerous scientific review committees of peer-review agencies. He is currently a member or Chair of several data safety monitoring, external validation and steering committees of multi-centre studies.

Dulio "Duke" Scodellaro

Born in Maple Leaf, Alberta in 1914, a community that now forms part of the municipality of Crowsnest Pass, Duke arrived in Trail in 1936 at the age of 22. He worked at Cominco and joined the Smoke Eaters in 1937. That season, he would shine in net, earning himself the moniker, “The Shut-Out King.” The following year, the Smoke Eaters won their first Allan Cup Championship, after a cross-Canada battle. He accompanied the Smoke Eaters to the 1939 World Championship tournament in Switzerland representing Canada, where they swept their opponents. Duke and his team allowed only one goal, showcasing not only his skill in net, but also the team’s elevated style of play. He spent another 12 years with the Smoke Eaters, retiring in 1952, after winning the BC Amateur Hockey Association’s Outstanding Player award.

As a builder, the hockey world credits Duke with a now-common style of goaltending which sees goalies leave the crease to better cut down angles. This style of play was first noticed while he served in the Royal Canadian Air Force in Toronto during the Second World War. If that weren’t enough, Duke is also associated with designing and developing the first goalie blocker, a now-standard piece of equipment held in the stick hand. An example is on display in the Trail Museum & Archives.

Duke, famous for his flipped-brimmed hat, was a pivotal element of the storied Smoke Eater legacy and a mentor to many goalies. He passed away in Trail in 1983 at the age of 69.

He was inducted in 2025.

Elsie G. Turnbull

Elsie Turnbull was a well-known community worker and historian.

She is best known for her historical accounts of Trail. Some of her books include Topping's Trail, Churches of the Kootenays, Trail: An Invitation to History and Trail Between Two Wars. These books were thoroughly researched and were a pleasure to read.

Elsie attended the University of Toronto, majoring in History and English.

She worked with the Trail Skating Club and was Commissioner for the Girl Guide Association.

As well as being involved in numerous other clubs, Mrs. Turnbull wrote many newspaper and magazine articles.

Elsie died in 1995.

Eugene Nesmith

Eugene Nesmith, who was raised in Trail, is President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of the Hongkong Bank of Canada.

Mr. Nesmith joined the Bank of Montreal in 1946. He was the Senior Vice-president for BC and Yukon when, in 1980, he joined Wardley Canada Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation. Under Mr. Nesmith's stewardship, Wardley Canada Ltd. converted to a Canadian bank in July, 1981.

In November, 1986, Mr. Nesmith played a key role in negotiating the acquisition of the assets and liabilities of the Bank of British Columbia for Hongkong Bank of Canada.

Frances Pettitt

18 year old Frances Pettitt lives in Rossland and is currently the North American Women's Muay Thai Featherweight Champion, winng the belt in the Cominco Arena Gymnasium.
Frances began training at Trail's Pride Gym when she was 13 years old and fought her first Muay Thai Kickboxing match at 15. She had immediate success in the sport, becoming Pacific Northwest Lighweight Muay Thai Champion in February 2004, Canadian Featherweight Champion in Paril 2004 and World Kickboxing Featherweight Golden Gloves Muay Thai Champion in Septmeber 2004 before winning the North American Championship in April.

Frances is ranked 9th in the World by the Women's International Kickboxing Association rankings 122lb. fighters, while competing against mostly adult fighters.

Frances also spends a considerable amount of her time helping to instruct Muay Thai at the Pride Gym, teaching classes for children and adults.

Frank "Deacon" Wait

COMMUNITY BUILDER - SPORTS
Frank was born on April 9, 1902 in Qu’Appelle, Saskatchewan. As a boy, he was interested in athletics, primarily track and field events and ice hockey.

Frank started a serious hockey career, playing junior with the Brandon Wheat Kings. He then played senior hockey at Indian Head in Weyburn, Saskatchewan before coming to play for the Trail senior team in 1924. In 1925, he turned pro with the Vancouver Maroons. Deacon was then a member of the 1926-27 Springfield Indians. He was then traded to the Boston Tigers in 1928-29. That year, Deacon led the league in points and was chosen the Most Valuable Player. At this time in his career, he was believed to be the best stickhandler in pro hockey. He was called the “Babe Ruth” of the American Hockey League. In 1929-30, Deacon played for the New York Rangers.

In 1934, Frank retired from professional hockey and he accepted a coaching position with the Trail Smoke Eaters and a position with Cominco Ltd. Frank left coaching in 1937 to focus his energies on raising a family. Frank returned to coaching with the intermediate Smoke Eaters in 1951. In that year, the Smoke Eaters won the Coy Cup, the Western Canadian Intermediate Hockey Championships in Brandon. In 1953, he moved on to coaching various divisions in minor hockey where he remained until 1972. During these years, Frank’s teams won 11 Provincial Championships.

In recognition of his dedication, sportsmanship and his contributions to minor hockey, Frank was honoured with a number of awards. He was named Trail Citizen of the Year in 1971 and was awarded the BC Amateur Hockey Association Diamond Stick Pin for his contribution to minor hockey in 1967. The Diamond Stick is the highest award given by the BC Amateur Hockey Association.

Following his retirement from Cominco in 1967, Frank and his wife moved to Christina Lake. Frank passed away in July 1989.

Frank Beinder

Frank Beinder came to Rossland in 1947 from Britain. He started working at Cominco in Public Relations and was Senior Public Relations Assistant when he retired in 1976.
Immediately upon arriving in Rossland, he joined the Scouting movement as a leader and then went on to serve seventeen years on the Trail School Board.

He also served as:
President: BC Chamber of Commerce
Chairman: Selkirk College Council
President: BC School Trustees Association
President: BC Association of Colleges

Frank Emery

Frank is being honoured for his excellence in the sport of badminton, or more correctly, Masters Badminton.

Frank has played competitive badminton for over 52 years. He began competing in Seniors Badminton in the early 1990s and moved to the Masters level in 1998.

From 2002 to 2006, he won Gold in the BC OVer 65 Men's Doubles. In 2004 and 2005, he won Gold at the Canadian Over 65 Men's Doubles and won the Silver in the 2006 Canadian Over 65 Men's Doubles and Mixed Doubles. From 2003 to 2006, he won Bronze medals in the BC Over 65 Men's Singles.

Frank has also competed at the World Masters Games in 1998 and 2005. In 2005 he was the Silver medal winner in the Men's Doubles.

Frank also served on the Board of Badminton BC and assists in organizing local badminton competitions. Frank has dedicated his life to the sport of badminton and to furthering its popularity in our community.

Frank passed away in 2011.

Frank Turik

Frank "Putsy" Turik grew up in Trail and played his minor hockey in the City.  In 1944, Frank was a member of the famous Trail Junior hockey team that played in the final of the Memorial Cup championship against the Oshawa Generals.  Despite the team losing the finals to the more powerful Generals, Frank was a standout and in 1945 he was invted to play for the St. Michael's College of Toronto Juniors, who went on to win the Memorial Cup.  He was the tournament's leading scorer with an amazing 3 hat tricks in 5 games.

He then moved to the Ottawa Senators of the Quebec Senior League and was selected to the League's all-star team in 1947.  The following year, he had a trial with the Montreal Canadiens.  After not making the team, he returned to Trail to play with the Smoke Eaters for the next 12 years.  With the WIHL, he was the first player to score 500 points and was noted for his skating abilities and his slick stick handling.

Frank played two years with the Rossland Warriors but returned to the Smoke Eaters for the Allan Cup drive in 1960.  He was a member of the 1961 Trail Smoke Eaters World Championship team, however did not travel to Europe.

Following retirement from hockey, Frank coached the Smoke Eaters and was Referee in Chief for the WIHL.  Frank continued to play old timer hockey with skill until he was 65 years old.  Frank passed away in 2009.

Fred Heslop

Fred Heslop was born in Trail and played minor hockey through to the junior level.  He spent many years coaching minor hockey, winning the Provincial Juvenile Championship 1968.

In 1992, Fred was invited to become a member of the Board of the BC Amateur Hockey Association, now called BC Hockey.  He served on the Board from 1992 to 2006.  He represented the West Kootenay District from 1992 to 1996 and was then appointed an Officer of the organization, serving on many Board committees until he retired from the Board.  He was elected President of the BC Hockey in 2004, serving in that capacity until 2006.  Upon retirement from the Board, Fred was presented with the Diamond Stick Pin,the highest honor given by BC Hockey.  He was also named the recipient of the 2006 Sport BC Presidents’ Award for his dedication to minor hockey in the province.

In 2015, the BC Minor Hockey Association announced that the Minor Hockey Week awards, which honour volunteers in minor hockey, was being named the Fred Heslop Minor Hockey Awards beginning in April of 2016.

Fred passed away in 2013.

Garry Hill

Like all good Trail kids, Garry Hill had dreams of being a big sports star, but this 1965 graduate of J.L. Crowe never got any farther than being the BC juvenile boys record holder in the triple jump and earning a track & field scholarship to Washington State Univeristy.

In 1969, when it came time for him to graduate with a degree in Bacteriology & Public Health, he had a choice between running a sewage plant and moving to California to work for the "bible of the sport" - Track and Field News. The choice was an easy one.

Garry started in the position of Statistician and became one of the youngest members ever in the Association of Track & Field Statisticians, creating several innovations in the sport's record keeping which have been adopted worldwide.

In the 35+ years at the magazine, Garry moved through the ranks, eventually becoming editor and co-owner of the publication for the last 18 years. In conjunction with his work at the magazine, Garry has become one of the world's preeminent track & field public address announcers, working regularly for the International Association of Athletics Federations, headquartered in Monaco.

Garry announced both the 1996 and 2004 Olympic Games in Atlanta and Athens, and also manned the microphone at World Championships competitions in seven different nations around the world between 1991 and 2004. Next year, as a run-up to the 2008 Olympics, he will be announcing the World Junior Championships in Beijing.

Garth Rizzuto

Garth was born in Trail on September 11, 1947. As with all boys growing up in Trail in the 1950s, Garth played hockey.

Garth was a tough competitor and was skilled enough to play junior hockey for the Kelowna Buckaroos and the Moose Jaw Canucks. Garth made his professional hockey debut with the Dallas Black Hawks of the Central Hockey League in 1967, playing three seasons. The team won the league championship in 1969 and Garth was the top scorer on the team.

In 1970, Garth was claimed by the Vancouver Canucks in the NHL Expansion Draft. He played 37 games with the Canucks. He played with the Rochester Americans and the Seattle Totems in the 1971-72 season and signed with the Winnipeg Jets of the World Hockey Association in the summer of 1972. From 1972 to 1974, Garth played with the Jets, playing in the AVCO Cup Finals in 1973. Garth retired from hockey in 1975.

Garth excelled at many sports and continues to make a contribution to the advancement of sports in officiating. He is a certified National Level 3 Coach in hockey, a certified National Level 3 Coach in boxing, a certified Level 1 Referee in boxing and a certified National Level 3 Racquetball Referee. Garth is currently a boxing instructor at the Cranbrook Boxing Club.

Gary Picone

Gary is another member of our community's long list of accomplished baseball players. Gary was born and raised in Trail and played both Trail Little League and Babe Ruth Baseball. In 1966, he played on the Trail team that participated in the Canadian Little League Championships and was a member of the BC Champion Babe Ruth teams from 1969 to 1971.

From 1973 to 1975, Gary attended Lewis-Clark State University and was an All District Player each year. He has played on Canada's National Baseball Team three times and served three terms as Coach. As Coach of the Lewis-Clark Baseball Team, Gary has led the team to 5 NAIA National Championships.

In 1997, Gary was Coach of the Canadian National Youth Baseball for players 18 and under and won the World Championship. This is the only Canadian team to do so.

Gary became a leader in baseball at a young age and has made a significant contribution to the advancement of the sport in Canada and the United States. Gary is currently the Athletic Director for Lewis-Clark State University.

George Grey

George was born in 1979 and grew up in Rossland.  He began cross country skiing at the age of six.  By his teenage years he had started to take the sport seriously and at the age of nineteen moved to Canmore, Alberta to work with the Canadian National team.

He immediately showed promise and represented Canada at numerous international cross country skiing events.  In a highly competitive sport, dominated by European teams, he began to excel in the 4 x 10 km relay and sprint events, finishing in the top half of the World Cup fields.

He was a member of Team Canada's 4 x 10 km relay team which placed 15th in 2003, 11th in 2007 and 5th in the 2009 World Championships.  In the 2005 World Championships, he finished 6th in the team sprint event and finished 9th in 2009.

In 2006 and 2010, he was a member of Team Canada at the Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy and Whistler, BC.  In Whistler, he finished 7th in the 4 x 10 km relay and 8th in the 30 km pursuit, his best finishes on the World Cup circuit.

George has enjoyed a remarkable career in cross country skiing and excelled at every discipline in which he has participated.

George Merry

George Merry was one of the founding members of the Trail Ski Club and was a member of the Club when it joined the Rossland Ski Club to form the Red Mountain Ski Club.
During his school years, George won slalom and giant slalom events at annual high school meets, and won the Kootenay Zone Championships in downhill and slalom.

While attending university, George won the giant slalom and slalom events at an invitational meet in Banff, Alberta and placed third in the All Canadian Slalom.

In 1951, George earned a place on the Canadian Olympic Ski Team and won the Western Canadian Championships in Senior Men’s Slalom.
In 1952, George was a member of the Canadian Winter Olympic Team in Oslo, Norway and competed in the Giant Slalom and Slalom events. That same year, he was a member and coach of the UBC Thunderbirds Ski Team.

From 1953 to 1955, George was a Coach and racer with the Washington State University ski team.

Upon his retirement from competitive skiing, George became President of the Red Mountain Ski Club and set the giant slalom course for the World Cup event on Red Mountain for the DuMaurier International World Cup in 1967. George spent over 30 years participating, developing and contributing to the sport of alpine skiing in Canada and the Rossland-Trail area.

Gerry Moro

Gerry Moro at the Canadian Olympic Trials August 1968Gerry Moro has held the Canadian pole vaulting record. He was raised and educated in Trail.

Gerry was a member of the Canadian Olympic Team in Tokyo (1964 ) and in Munich (1972).

He also competed in the 1962 British Empire Games in Perth, Australia, and in the 1966 British Empire Games where he won a bronze medal in pole vault and the decathlon. In 1967, Gerry competed in the Pan-Am Games.

In 1971, he won the decathlon at the Canada and Italy Games.