Mike Buckna

Mike Mathew Buckna, born in Trail September 5, 1913, was an exceptional athlete, excelling in track and field, as well as hockey, where he made his major impact. Mike got his start in the junior ranks, then as a rookie senior with the Trail Smoke Eaters, who became the B.C. Champions of 1932-33.

In 1935, Mike went to Prague, Czechoslovakia where he took a job as player/coach with Prague's Lawn Tennis Club. While there, he met Aloisie (Lola) Frolikova. Lola was an exceptional tennis player and a natural talent and won several major European tournaments. Mike and Lola were married in Prague, on March 26, 1938.

In 1939, Mike and Lola returned to Trail where he went to work at Cominco. Of course he was also working in the family business, the Montana Hotel.

Mike was given a tryout with the Chicago Blackhawks, but when offered a contract decided against a life on the road and returned to Trail. In 1946, the family returned to Prague where Mike was given the opportunity to coach the Czechoslovakian National Hockey team and was the coordinator of the entire Czech hockey system. He taught the kind of hockey played in Trail - conditioning and passing. He pioneered hockey clinics, coached senior and junior teams and started minor hockey for several thousand youngsters throughout the country. The result: a world hockey power.

Mike coached the Czech Olympic Team in the 1948 Olympics. The team only lost one game in those Olympics and that was to Canada. Mike's team won a silver medal. He also led the Czech National Team to three European titles and one world championship, in 1947.

Shortly after the Olympics, the Russians occupied Czechoslovakia and Mike and his family had to return to Trail. He regained employment with Cominco and continued to play hockey for the Trail Smoke Eaters.

After his retirement from playing, Mike coached the Rossland Warriors and the Trail Junior Smoke Eaters. Mike was actively involved with hockey, both in Trail and Czechoslovakia, for almost fifty years.

Mike and Lola later bought the Montana Hotel and continued to operate it until their retirement in 1974. Lola passed away November 29, 1976.

Mike made several visits to Czechoslovakia, as a guest of the government, to attend world hockey tournaments. In 1978, as the guest of the Czechoslovakian Hockey Federation, Mike was introduced as the "Father of Czechoslovakian Hockey."

In 1989, Mike received a major honour in his life. He was inducted into the British Columbia Sports Hall of Fame. Mike continued to live in Trail throughout his retirement until his death on January 6, 1996.

Mike Mondin

Mike was born in Trail in 1956 and played hockey in the Trail Minor Hockey Association until his teenage years.  He became a journeyman carpenter following graduation for secondary school and took a position with School District No. 11 as an Industrial Arts teacher in 1981.

He began coaching a variety of secondary school sports upon his arrival at the Crowe.  He had already experienced his taste for coaching at all levels of minor hockey in the Rossland-Trail Minor Hockey Association and the Beaver Valley Minor Hockey Association from 1976 to 1978.  He continued coaching minor hockey from 1985 to 1996.

He then obtained his National Coach Certificate and quickly became a course presenter.  In 1999, he was recognized for his dedication to hockey by the BC Amateur Hockey Association as Coach of the Year.

He was soon appointed Coach of the BC representative in the Canada Winter Games as well as numerous other international hockey tournaments on behalf of Team Canada.  From 2000 to 2006, he was Assistant Coach of the Trail Junior Smoke Eaters.

In 2008, he was appointed as Assistant Coach of Canada's National Sledge Hockey Team.  The team won a Gold Medal at the 2008 World Sledge Hockey Challenege and a silver in the 2009 event.  The team won a bronze medal at the 2009 IPC Sledge Hockey World Championships.  In 2010, Mike helped coach Canada's sledge hockey team at the Olympic Games in Vancouver.  Mike has recently been promoted to Head Coach of the team.

Muriel Griffiths

Muriel Griffiths is a long-time builder of arts and culture in Greater Trail and British Columbia. She became involved in presenting performing arts in Trail in 1951, starting with the Celebrity Concert Series. Under her leadership, Trail developed one of the longest running and best-attended Community Performance Series in the province.

She was a director for the Southeast Region of BC on the BC Touring Council from 1984 to 1992. During this period, the BC Touring Council greatly expanded cultural opportunities in small towns in the Kootenays and in the rest of BC.

Muriel served on the Trail and District Community Arts Council from 1982 to 1996 in various capacities, including president. Perhaps her greatest accomplishment was the creation and upgrading of performing and visual arts spaces in the Greater Trail Community Centre. She raised the funds for and oversaw all other aspects of the project, which saw the birth of the VISAC Gallery, the renovation of the Charles Bailey Theatre, and the creation of a small recital space that today bears her name.

In 1992 Muriel received the Les Carbeau Award from the Governor-General "in recognition of outstanding contributions to Regional Culture." She has also been awarded the Canada 125th Commemorative Medal in recognition of her support of the Arts in BC.

Muriel passed away in 2010.

Nancy Greene Raine

Nancy Greene was voted Canada's Outstanding Female Athlete for two years in a row.

Nancy Greene-Raine was born in Ottawa May 11, 1943. She was raised in Rossland, B.C.

She was a Canadian National Ski Team member from 1960 to 1968.

Nancy competed in the 1962 and 1966 FIS World Skiing Championships.

In 1966-67, 67-68 she won the official World Championships on the international tour circuit.

At the 1968 Winter Olympics Games in Glenoble, she won a gold and a silver medal for Canada in slalom events.

In 1969, she was inducted into the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame and named B.C. Female Athlete of the Century.

Nello Angerilli

Nello was born in Trail in 1952, graduating from the JL Crowe in 1970.  Following graduation, he received a BSc from Simon Fraser Univeristy in 1974 and Masters Degree in Biological Science in 1978.

He describes himself as a "behavioural ecologist," studying how the evolution of animal behaviour, particularly those behaviours mediated by smell, provides selective advantage or can be manipulated in order to minimize or eliminate the use of toxic chemicals in agriculture.  Recently, he has turned his attention to the strengthening of education systems at the governmental and institutional levels.

Nello has extensive experience working on behalf of Canadian universities in Southeast Asia and Africa, where his research interests focus on behavioural ecology.  At SFU, he created SFU International, a unit charged with developing and managing the university's international interests.

For the past five years, Nello has been the Associate Vice-President, Students and International, during which time he led a major reorganization of the mission critical portion of the university.

Pat Haley

In the 1937 British Empire Games, Pat Haley competed with the 4x110 yard relay team which won the gold medal and set a World Record.

In 1936, he competed in the Junior Olympic Trials where he won the 100 metre, broad jump and high jump, setting a Canadian junior high jump record.

He attended Washington State University on an athletic scholarship and was undefeated in the Pacific Northwest for 2 years. In his freshman year, he could run 100 yards in 9.5 seconds.

The 1940 Olympic Games, to be held in Finland, were cancelled because of the war, at a time when Pat was in his prime.

In 1943, he joined the Navy and then went to work for Cominco in Trail upon his return.

Pat Haley at Washington State University, 1939-40

Patrick Iannone

Patrick Iannone excelled at hockey from an early age.  He has enjoyed his greatest success in the sport internationally, playing for various club teams in Italy and representing Italy at the World Hockey Championships.

He played hockey in Italy from 2003 to 2013.  He was a member of Italy's National Hockey team for seven of those years, winning two World Championships, in 2009 and 2011, and one silver medal in 2013.  In the 2013 tournament, he tied for second in tournament scoring and was selected as the best forward and the MVP by the International Ice Hockey Federation.  In three of the World Championship tournaments, Italy played in Group A against teams from Canada, the US, Sweden, and Russia.

Patrick shared a place on the National Team with fellow Trail native Trevor Johnson, who was inducted as a Champion in 2013.

He retired from international hockey in 2013 and now resides in Trail with his wife Stephanie and daughter Mila.

Patrick McMahon

Pat was born and raised in Trail, graduating from J. Lloyd Crowe in 1967. Pat was an excellent junior hockey player, but in 1972, decided to pursue a career in motion picture editing in New York. There he apprenticed under Actor/Director Woody Allen. He worked as a freelance film editor in New York until 1995 before moving to Los Angeles to further his career.

In the past 25 years, Pat has completed an impressive list of editing credits in television and film. In 2006, Pat was nominated for an Emmy by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for Outstanding Picture Editing in Non-Fiction Programming for the HBO documentary film "Baghdad ER". This film has won worldwide acclaim for both HBO and Pat.

Pat's other major film credits include Stephen King's "The Stand" and "The Shining", "Following Her Heart", and television show's "Roswell" and "Jericho". Pat was also co-Editor of "A Nightmare on Elm Street". He was nominated for an Editing Award for his work on "The Shining" in 1997.

Pat is a member of the American Cinema Editors and continues to be in great demand in the field of Filmography.

Paul Trussell

INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AND RESEARCH
Paul Trussell was born in Vancouver in July 1916 but grew up in Trail, where his father worked at the Cominco Smelter.
After graduation from Trail High School in 1934, he attended UBC, earning a degree in Agriculture. During 1939-40, Paul worked for the Consolidated Mining and Smelting Company, now Cominco. Following UBC, he attended Graduate School at the University of Wisconsin, where he obtained a P.H.D. in Agricultural Bacteriology in 1943.

Following graduation, he took up a research position at Ayerst, McKenna & Harrison, a pharmaceutical company based in Montreal, as a Research Biologist. In 1947, Paul gained employment with the BC Research Council in Vancouver, where he remained until his retirement in 1980.

In 1961, Paul became Director In Charge of the BC Research Council, and rapidly put BC Research on a sound financial footing, with the majority of its funding coming from competitively-won private contracts, rather than government grants.

In 1963, he was invited to New York City to a United Nations meeting, organized by the Centre of Industrial Development. The purpose was to lay groundwork for the transfer of information, and this developed into a new field of contract work. For 15 years, he was closely involved with the initial formation of the World Association of Industrial and Technological Organizations, and was its Director for 8 years. Paul also served on the Fisheries Research Board of Canada. In 1970, Paul was the First Secretary General of the World Association of Industries and Technological Organizations. In 1973, he did an evaluation for the U.N. of the Industrial Research Operations in Turkey, this was followed in 1974 by similar studies in Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan.

After retirement from BC Research in 1980, Paul served on international forestry missions, one to China in 1981 and another to Jamaica in 1982.

In 1990, Paul established a scholarship for science students, who have completed secondary schooling in the Kootenay-Boundary area. Paul’s initial contribution of $100,000 was matched by the BC Government, and the Vancouver Foundation contributed $75,000.

In 1979, Paul was able to purchase land in West Arrow Park, originally homesteaded by his father and where he had spent all the summers of his youth. Up until 1997, Paul and his wife spent half of the year at their Arrow Park property, and the other half at their home in Vancouver. Paul passed away in his sleep on May 6, 2001, Paul married Helen Dryer, and they have two sons, Richard and Devin.

Peter Dewdney

Peter was born in Trail in 1945.  Following his high school education here, he attended the University of British Columbia where he eventually received three degress:  a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Physics; a Masters of Science in Electrical Engineering; and a Doctorate Degree in Electrical Engineering.  Dr. Dewdney is a Senior Research Officer with the Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory National Research Council.  His research areas include HII regions, ionization and dissociation processes, interstar mediums, super nova remnants, astronomical data reduction and the design of telescopes.

Peter is the International Project Engineer for SKA and has served as a Professor of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Manchester.  He has won the prestigious International Award for Radio Telescope Technology.  Peter is currently involved with the massive signal correlator located in New Mexico, a large radio wave telescope in Hawaii and leads a Canadian University team developing a large adaptive reflector.

Peter was inducted in 2019.

Peter Jones

OCEANOGRAPHIC SCIENCE AND RESEARCH
Peter was born on January 17, 1935 in Trail, BC. He attended school in Trail and after graduation, attended the University of British Columbia, obtaining a Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Physics in 1958; and a P.H.D. in Physics in 1963.
He spent the next year and a half at the University of Tokyo, in Tokyo, as a National Research Counsel Post Doctorate Fellow, then two years at Columbia University in New York City as a Research Associate. In 1966, he was appointed as an Assistant Professor in Physics at the University of Toledo in Ohio, and in 1972, was a Visiting Associate Professor at MacMaster University in Hamilton.

In 1973, he moved to the Bedford Institute of Oceanography in Halifax, where he has been working ever since. Peter’s research at the Bedford Institute of Oceanography has been mostly in the Arctic and Labrador Sea. In 1976, he made his first voyage north of the Arctic Circle to Lancaster Sound in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. This was followed by several other voyages to the Canadian Arctic Archipelago and Baffin Bay. Subsequently, he was the principle investigator on several international Arctic Ocean expeditions.

Between Arctic expeditions, he joined an expedition on the German icebreaker POLARSTERN, the first scientific voyage into the Arctic Ocean in modern times, exploiting modern technologies. In 1987, Peter again joined the POLARSTERN in another expedition that obtained the first modern oceanographic section across a major basin within the Arctic Ocean. In 1991, he was aboard the Swedish icebreaker ODEN on another expedition. He was aboard the Canadian icebreaker LOUIS ST. LAURENT, that together with the US icebreaker POLAR SEA, was the first ship to cross the Arctic Ocean. In addition to work in the Arctic, since 1986, Peter has been on annual and sometimes seasonal expeditions to the Labrador Sea and neighbouring regions of the North Atlantic Ocean.

more... Page 2

Peter Jones - page 2

...back Page 1

Peter’s work on the Arctic Ocean is related mostly to questions of climate and climate change. The work has helped to build a much more complete picture of processes and circulation within the Arctic Ocean Basin and has shown that the Arctic Ocean is a more active participant in global climate processes than previously thought. The Labrador Sea studies are also in the context of climate change and variability, specifically focusing on the sequestering of anthropogenic carbon dioxide from the atmosphere into the ocean. In 1994, Goteborg University (Sweden) awarded Peter the degree of Doctor Honoris Causa, siting his oceanographic research in the Arctic Ocean.

Dr. Jones is clearly recognized as a national and international authority on the Arctic Ocean, and processes within it. He is also clearly recognized as a national and international authority, on the sequestering of anthropogenus carbon dioxide in oceans. A significant mark of international recognition of his work and respect of it, was being named to the Scientific Steering Group of the Arctic Science System Studies, a program formed under the World Climate Research Program.

Peter has published 65 scientific papers and refereed science journals, and has written 3 chapters for books and one for an encyclopedia and has been an author on about 100 presentations at science meetings, and has given invited talks at several universities and many science meetings.

Peter married Helen Hill in 1961. They have two adult children, Evan and Rachel. The Jones’ have one grandchild, Carson, born in 2000.

Peter McIntyre

Pete was born in June 1986 in Perch, Ontario. He received his education at the University of Ontario and joined the Consolidated Mining and Smelting Company in 1921 in the Research Department and later moved to the Refinery where he became Superintendent. During World War II, he became Controller of Manpower for the Company.

Pete was one of the earliest promoters of sports in Trail and area. He was an accomplished golfer and curler and played and coached baseball, hockey, field lacrosse, and track and field in the community.

Through his position with Cominco, he was responsible or instrumental in bringing to Trail many of those already recognized as Champions on the Home of Champions Monument.

Pete was one of the original organizers of the Trail and District Welfare Society (Community Chest) serving for five years as Director. For eleven years, he was also a member of the Trail/Tadanac Parks Board, being Chairman for six of those years.

Pete was an early President of the Trail Athletic Association and Past President of the Trail Smoke Eaters Hockey Club. In 1960/61 he was a member of the World Champion Smoke Eaters Committee.

Pete was a great sportsman and was generous in winning and graceful in losing. His greatest forte was in dealing with individuals. He always thought the best of everyone and he was one of the best community workers and citizens that Trail has ever known.

R.W. Diamond

R.W. Diamond, Cominco engineer and Administrator, led the team that developed the flotation method for the complex Sullivan Mine Ore (1918), and he led the project to produce chemical fertilizers at Trail in the late 1920's. Diamond won many awards for his accomplishments in the Metallurgical industry including:
1934: The McCharles Medal and Award from the University of Toronto.
1935: The Leonard Medal from the Engineering Institute of Canada.
1948: The Julian C. Smith Medal from the Engineering Institute if Canada.
1948: The Selwyn G. Blaylock Medal from the Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
1951: The Platinum Medal from the Institute of Medals, London.
1956: The Gold Medal from the Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, London.

Ray Ferraro

Ray Ferraro began his hockey career with Trail Minor Hockey League Association.

While playing with the Brandon Wheat Kings in 1983-84, Ray broke the WJHL scoring record and was the league's Most Valuable Player. During the season, he scored 108 goals in 72 games.

In 1984, Ray was drafted in the fifth round by the Hartford Whalers of the National Hockey League.

He played for the Whaler's farm team the Binghamton Whalers of the American Hockey League, before entering into the regular NHL season. With the Whalers, he scored 78 goals in three full NHL seasons, ranking third in total points on the Whalers statistics and second in goal scoring.

In 1990, he was traded to The New York Islanders and was signed by the New York Rangers.

Ray was traded to the Los Angeles Kings in 1997. During 1996-97 with the Kings he played 81 games, scored 25 goals and had 21 assists.

Ray played three seasons with the Atlanta Thrashers before being traded to St. Louis in 2001. He retired from the NHL in 2002. He currently broadcasts for Team 1040 Radio and TSN.

Reg Stone

Reg Stone was elected to the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame in March 1974.

He is an honorary member of the B.C. Curling Association and was inducted into the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame in 1984 as an Athlete/Builder in Curling.

Reg Stone Curling Rinks have participated in six Canadian Curling Championships, in which they came close to winning a number of times.

Reg has won a number of B.C. Senior Curling titles as a member of his brother's (Roy Stone) curling rinks.

1945 - 1949 B.C. Curling Champions: Reg Stone, Roy Stone, Scotty Ross, Hugh Miller, Pete McIntyre

1952 - 1953/1955 B.C. Curling Champions: Reg Stone, Roy Stone, Scotty Ross, Buzz McGibney, Hump McKay

1957 - 1962 B.C. Curling Champions: Reg Stone, Roy Stone, Buzz McGibney, Frenchy D'Amour, Ernie Gordon, Harvey McKay

Reg Stone was also an active golf player and golf course designer.

Stone Rink, winners of the Nelson and Trail Cups, 1944 From left: Roy Stone, Reg Stone, Fred Wendel, W.S. "Scotty" Ross

Rhonda Michallik

Rhonda moved to Fruitvale from Calgary with her family in 1981.  She began dancing at the age of five in Calgary, participating in several disciplines of dance, including ballet, jazz, hip hop, musical theatre, swing and ballroom, winning many awards.

She moved to Vancouver in 1988, perfoming in many of the City's theatre productions.  After a short stint in Ontario, she moved to New York, then to Los Angeles, performing in professional dance productions.  She relocated to Trail in 1991 and opened a dance studio called Steps Dance Centre.

Since then, she has made a substantial impact on the art of dance in the Greater Trail Area as a dance instructor, choreographer and role model for hundreds of emerging dancers and athletes.  Her passion for dance and her leadership has been a source of inspiration for many students who have chosen to dance professionally around the world, as well as those who love to dance recreationally.

She continues to seek new opportunities to expand her capacity as a teacher and professional across North America.  Her students, as a team and individually, have won national and international recognition at competitions in Canada and the United states, with many awards and accolades for their dedication to dance.  She personally has won many, many awards for her teaching skills and contribution to the art of dance.

Richard Kromm

Richard was born in Trail and is the son of the famous former WIHL playe and professional coach, Bobby Kromm, who has been previously recognized on the Home of Champions Monument. This is the first father/son team to be so honoured.
Richard was a talented play-making centre participating in 372 NHL games with the Calgary Flames and the New York Islanders. Richard was a member of the WHL Portland Winter Hawks from 1981 to 1984, winning the Memorial Cup in 1983. He was drafted 37th overall by Calgary in 1982 and joined the team for the 1983/84 season. He was traded to the Islanders in 1986, where he played untl retiring from hockey in 1993.

Following his playing days, Richard has coached hockey, first in the International League, then the American Hockey League, and in 2001, coached the Calgary Hitmen of the WHL.

Richard continues to coach hockey and now resides in Penticton.

Robert Bisaro

Bob was born and raised in Trail and following University, joined the Ford Motor Company in 1967 as an Engineer.

Bob is renowned for his work in vehicle emissions reductions, and through his accomplishments in the field, he has responded to worldwide environmental concerns.

Bob helped design, develop and apply the first catalytic converter on Ford products and led efforts to develop and implement the single-cell electric-chassis dynameter, a design that became the US standard by 2001. He was instrumental in developing emission testing equipment used in Ford emissions laboratories worldwide.

Through his involvement with the American Automobile Manufacturers' Association, Bob chaired a committee that initiated a program to establish and maintain emissions and fuel economy correlations between Ford, Chrysler, and GM and the US Environmental Protection Agency. This has proven beneficial in establishing the best practice for new emissions testing facilities.

Bob has been a leader in reducing automobile emissions and a strong advocate for a cleaner environment.

Robert Rowlands

Robert was born in Trail in 1936. He received his Bachelor of Applied Science from UBC, and a Masters and PHD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois.

Upon graduation, Robert was employed as a Researcher at the IIT Research Institute. Since 1975, he has been the Professor at the University of Wisconsin in the Department of Mechanical Engineering.

Robert has had a distinguished career in mechanical engineering. He has twice been awarded the Attenyi Award from the Society for Experimental Mechanics for best research paper of the year. He has also received the Frocht Award of the Society for Experimental Mechanics. He is a Fellow of the Society for Experimental Mechanics and the American Society of Mechanical Engineering.

He has lectured on a variety of mechanical engineering courses at the University and also lectured throughout the United States and abroad. He has also participated in many international conferences.

Robert has provided support for the University of Wisconsin’s program for minority students during the summer months and has received funding for the past 30 years from the US Military, the Federal Government and private industry.

Robert has served and is serving on a variety of committees within the University at the Administration and academic levels.

Finally, Robert serves as a consultant to research institutes, government, private business and industry, and engineering organizations.

Robert is a leader in mechanical engineering and his contribution to his profession, his University and his students is exemplary.