2018 Inductees

Mike Kennedy

Athlete-Builder: Basketball, Soccer, Fastball

Mike Kennedy was a star basketball, soccer and fastball player during his playing career. He was an integral part of the New Waterford Stags, winners of the Nova Scotia Challenge Cup Soccer Championship in 1973. He also played for the Hi-Fi Hawks fastball team and the Mount Carmel Strands, winning provincial titles with both teams. He was a physical education teacher at St. Agnes Elementary School and was the co-founder of the New Waterford Minor Basketball Association and lead organizer of the Common School basketball program. He was also a key volunteer with the annual Knights of Columbus track and field events in the town.

Phonse Brenna

Athlete: Soccer, Hockey, Fastball, Baseball

Phonse Brenna, born and raised on Atlantic Street in New Waterford, starred in multiple sports including soccer, hockey, baseball and fastball. He captained many teams to provincial championships and was known as a clutch player who delivered at key times. Brenna was also part of the 1972 Nova Scotia Canada Games soccer team. He will be inducted as an athlete.

Doris MacDonald

Athlete-Builder: Dance

Doris MacDonald was inducted into the hall of fame as a builder for dance. She opened her first school of dance in October 1946 and soon expanded her classes to the entire area of industrial Cape Breton. Almost all of the dance instructors in the province can trace back their roots to Doris.

In her younger years, Doris was an award-winning dancer. Watch the youtube video of her induction below:

Carmel Pasher

Athlete: Darts

Carmel Pasher was inducted into the hall of fame for darts. She began competing at provincial and national levels in 1986. Pasher was ranked No. 1 in Canada in 1990 and was selected to play for her country in many international tournaments. In 1990, she traveled to Singapore, winning the ladies double titles, a first for a Canadian woman.

John Gillis

Athlete-Builder: Basketball, Soccer, Baseball, Track

John Gillis was an outstanding athlete who excelled in baseball, basketball, hockey, soccer, and track and field. He contributed to the success of New Waterford baseball and basketball teams that won several Nova Scotia and Maritime championships. At St. Francis Xavier University, he was an important part of two Maritime intercollegiate championship teams. As a builder, he constructed a powerhouse athletic program at Mount Carmel High School during the late 1960s, among other notable accomplishments.

Gregor McPherson

Athlete-Builder: Baseball, Soccer, Hockey

Gregor McPherson, as an athlete, participated in baseball, basketball and football and excelled in soccer at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish,leading the team in scoring. As a builder, he coached hockey, baseball and soccer.

Gary Burke

Special Recognition: Basketball

Gary Burke was inducted into the hall of fame for the special achievement award for his lifetime of dedication to sport in New Waterford. He was a longtime physical education teacher at Central High School and Breton Education Centre. He officiated basketball in the community for more than 50 years. He was also a founding member of the New Waterford Coal Bowl Classic.

New Waterford Strands

1958-59, 1959-60 ,1960-61, 1962-63,

1963-64, 1964-65, 1965-66, 1971-72

Team: Basketball

The New Waterford Strands Basketball team was revived in the fall of 1958. Piggybacking off of their namesakes earlier success, the team established themselves as a sports dynasty. Between 1958 and 1972, The Strands won an amazing, 9 NS Championships and 7 Maritime Championships. These championship teams were inducted into the New Waterford & District Sports Hall Of Fame in July of 2018, marking long overdue recognition for arguably, Cape Breton's premiere sports dynasty.