County athletes inducted into 2026 PEC Sports Hall of Fame

Roger and Janet Bryant, who nominated the 1920-21 AAA Intermediate Baseball Team, are shown (at left) with PEC Sports Hall of Fame inductees for 2026, John and Jane Allison, Ken How and Vicki Gallagher.

Story and photos by Sharon Harrison
Baseball, track and a multi-sport athlete were all recognized at this year’s Prince Edward County Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony, which saw four individuals recognized, along with an historic baseball team.

A good turnout saw proud family members, friends, neighbours, colleagues and team mates gathered at the Wellington and District Community Centre to celebrate and hear about the accomplishments for the 2026 inductees.

Honoured were John and Jane Allison, Vicki Gallagher and Ken Howe, along with 1920-1921 Picton AAA Intermediate Baseball Team.

Describing this year’s inductees as a diverse set, once again 99.3 County FM’s Craig Foster was emcee for the afternoon, where he was joined by Prince Edward County mayor Steve Ferguson who shared a few words of congratulations.

Ferguson noted it was beautiful day to celebrate people in the community who have made a real difference to sports, as he congratulated this year’s inductees, thanking them for their contribution and for all they have done for the community.

“Sport has always been a very important part of life in the County. It teaches teamwork, perseverance, discipline and community spirit. It creates life-long friendships and memories, and it often brings out the very best in people,” shared Ferguson.

He said, this year’s inductees reflect those values in different, but equally remarkable ways.

“For example, we honour Ken How for his leadership in developing track and field opportunities, and for the impact he’s had as an educator, coach and community builder. Vicki Gallager’s achievements at the provincial and national level demonstrate the exceptional champion-level talent that can emerge from our community.”

“John and Jane Allison, affectionately known as Mr. and Mrs. Baseball, are recognized for their extraordinary commitment to minor league baseball, and for helping create Field of Dreams opportunities for generations of young athletes, whose ball diamonds aren’t going anywhere.”

“And finally, we remember and celebrate the 1920, 1921 Picton AAA Intermediate Baseball Team whose championships success following World War I inspired community pride and secured their place in County sports history,“ added Ferguson.

What unfolded as each inductee was introduced by their nominee, were heartwarming accounts of achievement and accomplishment, not just for the individual being recognized, but most often for the broader contribution to community, making a difference, giving back, bettering the lives of others, especially young people in their most formative years.

Words shared relayed proud moments, enthralling facts, emotion too, as stories were shared, tales were told, quips were made, poignant remembrances recalled. And it all came with fond nostalgia and much laughter to be shared with a grateful audience.

The messaging was about perseverance, of discipline and hard work, about dreams, the importance of keeping history and those stories alive that shaped the County. And, of course, it was about re-connecting with old acquaintances in this afternoon of memories and storytelling, and how its possible for one person to make a significant difference in a small community, one that often lasts years beyond.

JOHN AND JANE ALLISON
Known as Mr. & Mrs. Baseball, John and Jane Allison are inducted for being leaders in developing the “Field of Dreams” ball diamonds in Wellington, and for organizing minor baseball in the County for over 30 years.

As a proud son, Andrew Allison spoke fondly of his parents’ accomplishments and what they have done for Wellington and the County’s kids, where he said they built something for minor baseball in the County, creating opportunities were there were none.

“For most people, baseball is just a game, but for my family, and so many more families in this community, it has become something much bigger,” said Andrew. “It became a connection, it became purpose, it became hope.”

He said, his parents didn’t just cheer from the sidelines… they created a place for kids to belong, to grow, to believe in themselves – “I was one of those kids”.

“I grew up on the fields wearing my Lynx jersey surrounded by my friends with my parents as our coaches. They taught us how to swing a bat, how to field a ground ball, how to win with humility and lose with grace. But more importantly, they taught us how to show up, for our team, for our community and for each other.“

Andrew said what his parents gave went beyond baseball.

“They gave us confidence, they gave us discipline, they gave us memories that will last a life time, and for me, it gave me the love of the game that will always be a part of who I am. But even more than that, they coached me through life.“

“This afternoon’s recognition for what they accomplished, for the impact they have had on players, families and all this entire community, so to my parents, thank you. Thank you for the countless hours, the early mornings, late nights, and your unwavering belief in us all.“

Jane Allison said they were “genuinely surprised and humbled” to hear they were to be inducted.

“A very special thank you goes to our son, Andrew, for nominating us and for putting our names forward to the committee. Having our own son look back on our baseball journey and feel that it was worthy of this recognition makes today even more special. It’s certainly a very proud mother-dad moment,” shared Jane.

John Allison said when they started the Prince Edward County Baseball Association in 1995, they never dreamed that all these years later they would still be involved, and still enjoying themselves at the diamonds.

“Following the Blue Jays success in 1992/1993, we realized there was a huge appetite for baseball here in the County. As the kids got older, we needed a real baseball diamond for them to play on. Before we knew it, the entire community had come together to support the building of our Field of Dreams,” shared John. “That field has now been played on for more than 20 years and one of the greatest rewards for us is seeing generations of families enjoying the fields today.”

Jane added how they are incredibly proud that there is a place for kids in Prince Edward County to play baseball today, but she said that did not happen because of one or two people.

“It happened because the community came together, believed in something and made it happen. Thank you for being with us over the years. Although our names may be on the plaque, this honour belongs to all of you as well, we could not have done it without you.”

“Thank you from Mr. & Mrs. Baseball” added John.

VICKI DAWN GALLAGHER
A local all-round, multi-sport, stand-out athlete, Vicki Gallagher was also an Ontario and Canadian All-star, five-time Ontario champion, and Canadian bronze medallist with the York University Volleyball Team (1990-1995).

Arif Nathoo said if he had to describe Vicki in one word, the word would be “exceptional”.

“And if I got to describe her in a few more words, you would have heard talented, competitive, dependable, humble, hardworking, and, according to her high school volley ball coach, very low maintenance.“

He joked how she never got the memo to just play one sport as she played volleyball, basketball, soccer, badminton, tennis, hockey, softball, golf, and “probably anything else that involved a ball, a net or a competitive opportunity”.

Nathoo said what makes her sporting achievements all the more remarkable is that she did it while also excelling academically.

“What do all these accomplishments tell us, they tell us about an athlete with an extraordinary talent and her contribution to sport did not end when she graduated. In many ways, that was just the beginning of another important chapter in her life, a chapter where Vicki gives back to sport and the impact she lays for the next generation of athletes.”

KENNETH JOHN HOW
Described as a highly accomplished track athlete, Ken How founded the Quinte Legion Track Club, spearheaded the construction of the Wellington Lakeshore Track, and was a dedicated Prince Edward County elementary teacher and coach for 30 years.

Vic Alyea spoke fondly of his friend Ken (and Alyea also happened to be Ken’s school principal).

“When you think about someone who is inducted in the Sports Hall of Fame you naturally think about athletic achievement, competition, dedication, success and the ability to perform at a very high level,” expressed Alyea. “Ken has earned that distinction as an athlete himself, but what makes Ken’s induction especially meaningful to me is that his great contribution to sport was not simply what he accomplished himself as an athlete, it is what he gave to others.”

Ken created opportunities for young people to discover what they could accomplish, reflected Alyea. “Sometimes, the most important thing a coach can give a young person is simply the opportunity to try.”

Alyea noted how Ken was not only being honoured today for the athlete he was, but for the teacher, coach, organizer, builder and the mentor he became.

“You helped put a running track in the County, you helped build a track club, and most importantly, you helped generations of young people discover the rewards of hard work, competition, teamwork and perseverance. Life skills people, life skills.”

Ken shared how heartwarming it was to be here, also very humbling.

“I am really honoured to be up here, to celebrate my impact on the sports in this community, but what’s most important is what sports had on me,” he shared. “Sports definitely changed my life dramatically. I was a shy, quiet, very neurotic, over-active youngster. Sports had a huge impact on my life, it calmed me down, created a focus, despite difficulty in elementary school…I was not a good student, I was a terrible student.”

Picton AAA Intermediate Baseball Team: Back Row: Harry Campney, Phil Herrington, Earl (Rusty) Mulholland, Harold Campney, Royal Burns; Middle Row: Jack Welsh, Brock Hudgins, Walt Pope (Manager), Stan Croft, George Beatty (Trainer), Nixon Welsh; Front: Cuthbert Frederick, George Tobey, Ralph Frederick. Other players (not in photo): Roland Rourk, C. Reid, John Bell. Coaches (not in photo): Alex MacDonald, Earl Croft, Dick Trimble.

1920-1921 PICTON AAA INTERMEDIATE BASEBALL TEAM
Also recognized for their achievements were the 1920, 1921 Picton AAA Intermediate Baseball Team who, just after World War I, this team captured the hearts and spirit of the community while capturing the first two Ontario Championships held by the Ontario Baseball Amateur Association.

Foster outlined how one of the roles of the PEC Sports Hall of Fame committee is to also look at athletes who have impacted the community from before the committee existed. “Certainly this next team qualifies and we are talking about almost 100 years ago now, certainly well over 90 years ago.”

Nominated by Roger Bryant, Foster said there was one sentence that stuck out to him in his nominee letter: “The County has had very few back-to-back provincial championship teams and I am certain none of them had such an impact on the spirit of the community”.

“I want to remind you this was 1920, 1921, and if there were ever something that Prince Edward County needed to root for, that would be the time, wouldn’t it,” said Foster. “And that’s what this team brought to the table, they brought light in a time of darkness.”

Jan Bryant explained how Roger had come across some old newspaper write-ups about this team while he was doing some other research, when something caught his attention.

“Write-ups prior to this team’s success in 1920 was done by letters from the front. One can only imagine how pre-occupied and depressed the community was with the war,” stated Jan. “In the fall of 1920, write-ups put on the team’s advance to a provincial championship for baseball, not war, on people’s minds.”

She further noted that all the players on that team were County born and bred. Generations later, there are still many descendants living here, some of whom are here today, she said.

Created in 2011, the Prince Edward County Sports Hall of Fame is a non-profit organization whose mission statement is to honour individuals or teams that achieve recognition for their accomplishments and brought that honour to the County for their sporting achievements.

The first eight inductees were recognized in 2012 and since then, 20 more inductions have been made to include swimming, pole vault, rugby, harness racing, javelin, arm wrestling, rowing, baseball, boat racing, football, volleyball, hockey, golf, track shooting, archery and dragon boat racing.

A plaque for each inductee (including all past inductees) can be found upstairs at the Wellington and District Community Centre on the wall beside the Task Force Lounge, where each inductee also received a small plaque to take home to mark the occasion.