Perth & District Sports Hall of Fame to honour regional athletes at eighth annual ceremony

The achievements of five Perth athletes/teams are being celebrated at the eighth annual Perth & District Sports Hall of Fame ceremony later this month.

The Board of Directors of the Perth & District Sports Hall of Fame is inducting five exceptional Perth athletes/teams in the categories athlete, builder (supporter of sports in the area and beyond), or team.

“On behalf of the Board of Directors, we are proud to celebrate the 2026 class of inductees. These individuals exemplify the pursuit of excellence and the achievement of the highest standards, while also demonstrating a strong commitment to helping others reach their own goals,” wrote Tim Zander, Perth & District Sports Hall of Fame Chair, in an email to Lanarkist.

Nick Tritton is a 2026 inductee in the athlete category for judo. Tritton was a member of the Canadian National Judo Team for a decade and competed at the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games in Judo. Among other achievements, he’s a six-time Canadian National Judo Championships medallist, winning gold in 2007, 2008, and 2010.

Gary Mahon is a 2026 posthumous inductee, also in the athlete category for hockey. Born in 1951, Mahon played hockey for the Perth Blue Wings in 1967-1968. Among many other teams, he also played for University of Ottawa’s Gee Gees from 1973-1977 and Queen’s University’s Golden Gaels from 1977-1978. In 1999, he was inducted into the Perth Blue Wings Hall of Fame.

David Thompson is a 2026 inductee in the builder category for figure skating. Thompson coached with the Lanark and Perth Figure Skating Clubs from 1986 to 2020. He was the first coach at the Lanark Figure Skating Club to have skaters pass a gold level dance test.

Thompson is the annual provider of the Spirit of Skating Award from 1991 to the present. The award, part of the Perth Figure Skating Club, recognizes skaters who promote dedication, strong work ethic, personal character and love of the sport regardless of their skill as a skater. Over 105 skaters have been presented with the Spirit of Skating Award since its inception.

Albert Lyon is a 2026 posthumous inductee, also in the builder category for lacrosse. Born in 1882, Lyon was known for his lifelong advocacy and promotion of sport. He was elected president of the Canadian Amateur Lacrosse Association (CALA) in 1930. He helped to select the 1932 Canadian Olympic lacrosse team and oversaw the transition of lacrosse from the field to the arena (box lacrosse).

He was the vice-chairman of the Ontario Athletic Commission from 1939-1946 and the vice-chairman of the Canadian Boxing Federation from 1946 to 1947. In addition, he was an honorary president of the Perth Minor Hockey Association and the Perth Collegiate Boys’ Athletic Committee.

Finally, the Perth Blue Wings Midget A 2001-2002 team are being inducted in the team category. The team were Ontario Women’s Hockey Association (OWHA) provincial gold medalist in the 1999/2000 season.

Inductees are anticipated to attend with Lyon’s great-nephew and Mahon’s sister and children to accept on their behalfs.

Coldwell Banker Settlement Realty 8th Annual Perth & District Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is set for Sunday, May 24, 2026. It will be hosted at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 244, 26 Beckwith Street East from 1 to 2 p.m. The Master of Ceremonies is Dave White, well-known in Perth for his work in radio.

Admission is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served following the ceremony.

“Celebrating achievement in sport is essential, particularly in Perth and District, a community with a rich and often celebrated history. Yet, the history of sport in the region has not always been fully recognized or recorded,” Zander expressed.

“Over the years, the area has produced outstanding athletes, teams, and coaches. It has also been shaped by dedicated volunteers who have worked tirelessly to provide opportunities for youth through sport. These contributions deserve recognition—not only to honour those involved, but also to preserve and enrich the region’s broader historical record, foster community pride, and serve as inspiration to the youth of today.”

Nominations for induction in the following calendar year are accepted until Friday, Aug. 31, 2026. Any individual or association may submit a nomination. If the nomination is unsuccessful in the year of its submission, it will be kept on file and may be considered in future years.

Nomination forms can be attained at www.perthanddistrictsportshalloffame.com. Nomination forms can also be requested by contacting chairperthsportshall@gmail.com