Nine new members inducted into Cambridge Hall of Fame, Oct. 10, 2019
The City of Cambridge held their Hall of Fame induction ceremony last night, Oct. 10, welcoming nine new members. More than 100 people packed the Bowman Room at Cambridge City Hall to honour this year’s inductees and to celebrate their current works or legacies. With works ranging from volunteerism, advocacy, philanthropy and community-building, these nine inductees have all worked to make Cambridge a better place for all.
The City also introduced a new interactive story map of Hall of Fame members that allows users to browse inductees through the decades and learn more about their backgrounds. The 2019 members will be added to the story map in the coming weeks.
Learn more about the 2019 Hall of Fame members below.
2019 Hall of Fame Inductees
Jo Horner
Jo Horner has been an avid community volunteer for more than six decades, dedicating her time to numerous local boards and organizations. Jo also founded a support group for women who have been in abusive relationships that she ran weekly for 22 years.
Kayla Baker
Kayla Baker was a beacon for organ donation awareness serving as both an ambassador for Sick Kids and as a member associate of the Canadian Transplant Association. Her advocacy work raised $80,000 for lung research, over $120,000 for Toronto Sick Kids, and increased organ donor registration in the region by 30 per cent.
William “Bill” Barlow
Bill Barlow has been dedicated to serving his community for more than 50 years. He has held several political positions including Alderman for the City of Galt, Councillor for the City of Cambridge, and MPP for Cambridge. Also an avid volunteer, Bill has been involved with numerous local clubs and organizations.
Galt Curling Club
A Cambridge institution for more than 180 years, the Galt Curling Club first formed in 1838. Curlers representing the club have been Ontario Tankard winners, winners at the British Consols and representatives for Ontario at the Brier. The Galt Curling Club is the fourth oldest club that is still in existence in Ontario today.
Peter Jaffray
Peter Jaffray was an instrumental figure in bringing the power of media to Cambridge. In partnership with James Ainslie, Peter launched the Galt Reporter in 1846 with the first issue appearing on Friday, Nov. 13. After James Ainslie left the partnership, Peter maintained sole control of the paper sharing the management among his sons.
Lewis Kribs
An influential figure in Cambridge’s history, Lewis Kribs was actively involved in developing his community. A business man in the mill industry, Lewis also oversaw the building of Knox’s Presbyterian Church and assisted with the construction of the Grand Trunk Railway Bridge. Lewis was also active in local politics becoming Hespeler’s first Town Clerk in 1859.
Brad McEwan
An avid member of the arts community, Brad McEwan has been involved in local arts initiatives for more than two decades. He was the founder and Artistic Director of the Mill Race Folk, Festival which ran for 26 years. The festival drew in tens of thousands of people from all over the world to Cambridge each year, making it one of the most popular events in the city.
Sheila O’Donovan
Sheila O’Donovan was dedicated to serving her community through charitable works and philanthropy. The charitable foundation she established with her husband allowed for the creation of Lisaard House, the first residential hospice in the region. Her donations also provided support for the Cambridge Shelter Corporation, the University of Waterloo, Cambridge Memorial Hospital and rare Charitable Reserve.
Sheri-Lyn Roberts
A force to be reckoned with, Sheri -Lyn Roberts has often been refer red to as the “Face of Accessibility Advocacy” in Cambridge. A member of the City of Cambridge Accessibility Committee for more than ten years, she was instrumental in bringing the Stop Gap ramp project to the city. Sheri-Lyn also volunteers for many organizations delivering disability awareness seminars and wellbeing lectures.
About the Hall of Fame
With over 120 current members, the Cambridge Hall of Fame has been in operation since 1995. It was created to honour individuals and organizations who through their work and dedication have made our community a better place or brought renown to the city through their deeds abroad. Learn more at www.cambridge.ca/halloffame.