New names added to Kinsmen Wall of Fame
Roger Varley, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Six more local superstars were added to the Kinsmen Wall of Fame during an induction ceremony held last Thursday evening at the Uxbridge Seniors’ Centre. From left: John Cavers, Jack Ballinger, Pat Higgins, Julie Fitzgerald (accepting on behalf of Jessica Phoenix), Jim Campbell, and representatives from the Uxbridge No-Faults Baseball team. Photo by John Cavers
Six new names were inducted into the Kinsmen's Wall of Fame last week at a ceremony at the Uxbridge Seniors’ Centre. Three were named for their community involvement, one for leadership, one for sports achievement and a sports team.
Jessica Phoenix, a top Canadian equestrian, was selected in the "athletics" category. Phoenix has represented Canada in three Olympic Games, and four world championships. Currently living in Cannington, she is from Uxbridge.
The Uxbridge No-Faults baseball team of 1991-95 received the nod for the team sports category. The No-Faults competed in the Ontario Baseball Association's championship every year, winning the championship in 1992.
In the community category, inductees were Jim Campbell, Pat Higgins and the Cosmos' photographer John Cavers.
Campbell has been a member of the Kinsmen for over 50 years and was the one who conceived the idea of the Wall of Fame.
Higgins, former owner of Uxbridge's Canadian Tire store, was the first to receive the Order of Uxbridge award. He also initiated the highly popular Huck Finn fishing days and ran a successful Jumpstart program (a Canadian Tire initiative) for Uxbridge children.
Cavers has been known for years for his Superman magic shows, his work with the Cosmos as a photographer since 2013 and his work with various sports groups.
Jack Ballinger was inducted in the leadership category. Ballinger, a former councillor in Uxbridge township, has long been associated with sports in the community and in 1994 was inducted into the International Hockey Hall of Fame as a COHA coach and builder.