Jocelyn Lovell

Jocelyn Lovell is a premier cyclist who still hods the Pan American record for the 1000 metre time trial. At the 1970 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, he won the Gold, Silver and Bronze. These were the first such medals for a Canadian cyclist in 32 years.

Jocelyn competed in the 1968, 1972 and 1976 Olympic games. No other Commonwealth cyclist has won more Commonwealth medals.

While residing in Etobicoke from 1972 to 1983 Jocelyn was honored by mayor Dennis Flynn for his outstanding performance at the 1978 Commonwealth Games in Edmonton. At the time he was also ranked second in the world at the 1978 World Cycling Championships in Munich.

In 1975 he was named Canada’s Athlete of the Year and wa inducted into Canada’s Sorts Hall of Fame in 1985. Paralysed in a training accident, Jocelyn is the Canadian Co-ordinator of the cure research organization of the Canadian Spinal Cord Society.

Gus Ryder

Gus Ryder’s irrevocable link to water was established early in life when, as a young lad, he rescued two boys who had fallen through the ice of Toronto’s Grenadier Pond in 1916.

On that fateful day, the foundation of a legend was cast. Ryder, who died at the ripe age of 92, was a man who touched the lives of everyone who crossed his path, whether in his role as a swim coach, a teacher of handicapped children, a renowned handball player, prospector or businessman. But it is his role as founder and driving force behind the Lakeshore Swim Club that made his name.

“He taught me things that helped me live my life like the sun is going to come up tomorrow and that the tide will always turn” said Canada’s sweetheart, Marilyn Bell, shortly after Ryder’s death in 1991. “And he taught me not to be a quitter.”

Ryder used all his tools as a coach on that memorable day in 1954 when a little blond schoolgirl, Marilyn Bell, upstaged the American favourite Florence Chadwick to become the first person to swim across lake Ontario. Bell now acknowledges that there were times when only the will of her coach, urging and cajoling her on from the tiny support boat, Mipepa, kept her from faltering.

As a swim coach, Ryder was a master innovator and psychologist and, more than anything else, a father figure to the legion of swimmers who were fortunate to be tutored by the longtime Etobicoke native. “He was like a father to me” said Cliff Lumsdon, another former protégé and fellow Etobicoke sports Hall of Famer. “He had a bond with us.”

But more than anything else, it was his work with handicapped children that prompted the Government of Canada to award Gus Ryder the Order of Canada in 1975.

Helen Doberstein

Helen Doberstein was born in Etobicoke, in the early thirties. She grew up here with her 5 brothers and 4 sisters, attending Fifth Street Public school and Mimico High.

She began her softball career in 1951, playing for the Goodyear team at Rotary Park in the Lakeshore industrial league. The following year she began pitching in the Women’s League at Sunnyside.

Helen lived in Etobicoke up until her early 20s. In 1956, pitched in the East Toronto Senior League before moving to the Monarch Park League, where she stayed until 1963.

An injury forced her retirement, but she returned in even better form to compete across the country. Not only did she take her team to win the Ontario Ladies Championship in 1967, ‘68 and ‘69, but she went on to win the Women’s Canadian Championship in Vancouver in 1967 and in Winnipeg in 1968.

The 1967 championship in Vancouver brought her the honour of being named Outstanding Pitcher.

In 1969, in Halifax, this outstanding athlete from Etobicoke was winner of the first Canada Summer Games Championships.

Two of Helen’s sisters still live in Etobicoke.

Jack Stafford

Jack’s hockey playing days began when he was a student at Upper Canada College in the mid-thirties. In 1939, Jack played for the Marlboro Juniors, who became OHA finalists, and in 1940 he graduated to the Senior Marlboros.

Jack joined the Canadian Navy and played for the Navy team in 1941, effectively bringing his budding career to a close. He later played briefly for the Stafford company team in the senior OHA, after the war in 1945-1946. In 1953, Jack joined the NHL Oldtimers and played on this team for several years.

After Jack’s playing years, he co-founded the Humber Valley Hockey Association (HVHA), and he was the driving force behind its success. The Humber Valley Hockey Association began with two teams, the Redman and the Hornets, and has grown well beyond Jack’s fondest dreams.

The HVHA now holds some 1500 registered players, and serves our community with quality hockey competition unrivalled in the Metro area. This is a tribute to the volunteers who have followed in Jack Stafford’s footsteps. All because a devoted father wanted his children to have the same pleasures, the game of hockey gave to him years before.

Jane Wright

Joining the Etobicoke Memorial Aquatic Club in 1963 at the age of eight, Jane Wright’s swimming career blossomed. She became a member of the Canadian National Swim Team by the age of 13.

Jane was with the National Team from 1968 to 1973, and represented Canada in the pool at the 1970 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, the 1971 Pan-American Games in Munich, and the 1973 World Championships in Yugoslavia. Her gold medal at the Pan-American games came as a member of the medley team in which she swam the breaststroke portion. The win was especially sweet since the Canadians beat an extremely powerful American team in the race.

During her swimming career Jane established more than 100 Ontario and Canadian records. In 1991 she was inducted into the University of Toronto Sports Hall of Fame.

A dedicated athlete, Jane was also an extremely hard-working student who notched top marks while attending Richview Collegiate. She was also very modest about her swimming achievements; few friends were even aware that she competed in the Olympics.

Jane competed in swimming for the love of her sport and remembers the pride she felt as a member of the Canadian team when our anthem was played at the Pan-American Games. She also treasures the thrill of walking into a stadium during the opening ceremonies as a member of the Canadian team.

Jane still lives in Etobicoke, on the same street she grew up on, with her husband and three children.

Joey Votto

Joey Votto’s journey from the fields of Connorvale Park in Etobicoke to becoming one of the most celebrated baseball players in the Major Leagues is a testament to his unparalleled work ethic, unwavering determination, and profound talent.

Born and raised in Etobicoke to parents Joseph and Wendy, Votto’s passion for baseball was ignited at a young age when he first picked up a bat given to him by his parents. His dedication to the sport was evident early on as he spent countless hours honing his skills, whether it was through games of catch with his father or relentless practice sessions at the batting cage.

Votto’s talent and work ethic caught the attention of coaches and mentors throughout his youth, including Bob Smyth of the Etobicoke Rangers and Stath Koumoutseas of Richview Collegiate Institute. Despite initially being overlooked in the MLB draft during his senior year of high school, Votto’s decision to join the Etobicoke Rangers proved pivotal as he continued to develop his game under Smyth’s guidance.

Through perseverance and determination, Votto eventually caught the eye of major league scouts, leading to his selection by the Cincinnati Reds in the second round of the 2002 MLB draft. From there, Votto’s ascent through the minor leagues was marked by consistent excellence, culminating in his major league debut with the Reds in 2007.

Throughout his career, Votto has garnered numerous accolades and achievements, including being named the National League’s Most Valuable Player in 2010. His remarkable skill set, characterized by a quick and powerful swing, exceptional command of the strike zone, and ability to adapt during at-bats, has solidified his status as one of the premier hitters in the game.

Beyond his on-field accomplishments, Votto’s character and integrity have earned him admiration both on and off the field. His dedication to charitable causes, including mental health initiatives for veterans and their families, reflects his commitment to giving back to his community and making a positive impact beyond baseball.

Despite achieving financial success and widespread recognition, Votto remains grounded and committed to continuous improvement. His relentless work ethic and determination to be the best version of himself serve as inspiration to aspiring athletes and fans alike.

As Joey Votto continues to etch his name in the annals of baseball history, his journey from Etobicoke to the Major Leagues stands as a testament to the power of hard work, perseverance, and unwavering dedication to one’s craft.

John David D’Amico

John David D’Amico made his mark as an NHL linesman renowned for passionate dedication, strong skating and immense physical strength – qualities which gained him the enduring admiration of everyone in his profession.

Born in Toronto in 1937, John was a typical Canadian boy, spending his free time playing lots of baseball and hockey. But after moving up to Junior B hockey, he knew he could go no further. It was time to get real, and John got a job in construction. He couldn’t stay away from the game he loved though, and began officiating church hockey. One thing led to another, and as he worked the line for an NHL exhibition game in Kitchener, he was offered a pro contract.

In 1964, at the age of 27, John began his NHL career as a referee. But after just 22 games he became a linesman because he was more comfortable helping players than judging them. When he retired he was the last of the Original Six officials.

That same year John moved his young family into Etobicoke, where he remained for 23 years. When hockey season concluded every year, John would go back to working in Etobicoke, first for Pepsi Cola and then for Apex Forwarding. John continued to work hard in the off-season, using his name and position to do countless hours of charity work.

D’Amico’s career as an NHL linesman included 1,689 regular season games, 247playoff games, 52 Stanley Cup final games and six international hockey series.

During 1986-87, D’Amico weaned himself off the job he loved so much to become a supervisor of NHL officials. But he couldn’t quite give up his skates. One night in March 1988, he was watching the Leafs on TV when one of the linesmen had to leave the game. In a flash, John grabbed his skates and headed over to Maple Leaf Gardens to replace him!

John D’Amico was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1993. He was diagnosed with leukemia in 2004 and succumbed to his illness in May, 2005.

He leaves his wife Dorothy, sons Angelo (who was also an NHL official), Jeff, Anthony and daughter Tina, as well as grandchildren Ashley, Reece, Emma, Elise and John David. John’s spirit is kept alive through Hustle For A Cure – The John D’Amico Fund, which was created to bring much needed awareness toward the fight against pediatric blood cancers.

Glenn Goldup

Glenn Goldup was born in 1953 in St. Catharines, to a large and growing family. He was the fifth of eight children, that later moved to Etobicoke in the fall of 1956.

As a boy, he heard many hockey stories from his father, Hank Goldup, who played for the Toronto Maple Leafs and NY Rangers during World War II. This undoubtedly sparked Glenn’s desire to play in the NHL.

Glenn started playing hockey as an enthusiastic 7 year old in the Humber Valley minor hockey program. He soon joined the Toronto Marlies as a Pee Wee and later the Toronto Marlboros of the OHA in the late sixties where he refined his game. The more he played, the more he grew to love the sport.

He was drafted 17-th overall and made his NHL debut on November 7, 1973 with the Montreal Canadiens. One of his proudest moments was winning the Calder Cup in 1976, while he played for the Nova Scotia Voyagers, where he led the league in goals and penalty minutes during the playoffs.

In 1976, Glenn was traded to the LA Kings where, for five seasons, he put up respectable offensive numbers. In 1981, Glenn was dispatched to the Kings AHL affiliate in New Haven where he rounded out his on-ice career. He retired from official play in 1983.

Today, Glenn is actively involved in coaching and supporting the many sports his children participate in, including soccer, ringette, swimming and skiing.

Glenn and his wife Wendy are long time residents of Etobicoke.

Carol-Ann Duthie-MacDonald

In 1952, at 15 years of age, Carol-Ann won the United States National Slalom Water Skiing championship, the first time a Canadian had ever done so.

Also in 1952, she won the junior championship in Mexico and later that summer, at the Canadian National Exhibition, won the Junior Girls’ World Water Skiing Championship. The following year, at age 16, she swept the all-round Junior Championship with a perfect score, breaking the Mexican record in Jumping.

Carol-Ann held the Ontario Water Ski Championship title from 1951 to 1955 and the Eastern Canada Water Ski Championship from 1953 to 1955.

In 1954, at the Eastern Canadian Water Skiing Competition, she entered the senior category and placed first in the Tricks and Slalom events.

Carol-Ann was named Etobicoke’s Outstanding citizen in 1956.

A lifelong resident of Etobicoke, Carol-Ann learned to water ski at Florida’s Cypress Gardens and began water skiing as part of the Canadian National Exhibition waterfront show at age 13.

Hank Goldup

Hank Goldup is probably best recognized in sports circles for his involvement with the Toronto Maple Leafs, but that is not the extent of his contributions. He played six years with the NHL, three with the Leafs and two with the New York Rangers.

Goldup helped the Leafs win the 1942 Stanley Cup in one of the great comebacks in the history of the league.

His 202 game career included 63 goals and 80 assists, but his involvement in sports did not end with his retirement from the NHL.

What followed was 15 years of instructing Toronto youngsters on the finer points of the game in a coaching capacity in the THL or at hockey schools.

Competitive amateur golf followed as Goldup made his mark in the Etobicoke community playing out of Markland Woods.