Centenarian who paved way for women in sport inducted into Manitoba Hall of Fame

The oldest living person to ever be inducted into the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame says she is grateful to have helped pavethe way for women in sport.

"I am proud to have been a part of this female athletic empowerment movement," said Mary Dopson, 100, who was inducted Thursday night at the 40th anniversary of the local sports hall of fame.

Dopson was among 28 people and 15 teams from before 1960to solidify a spot in Manitoba sports history, including 1940s bowler Ed Sobie who became the first 10-pin bowler to be inducted.

Dopson's love for track and field dates back to her days at Lord Roberts School in Winnipeg, where she became interested in running at 13.

She would go on to represent Canada atthe 1938 British Empire Games the equivalent of the modern-day Commonwealth Games in Sydney, Australia.

Among her achievements, Dopsonset an intermediate record of 4.8 metresin the running broad jump in Montreal at the 1936 trials for the Berlin Summer Olympics. Sadly, a lack of funding made it impossible for her to afford the trip overseas.

"There was such an insufficient recognization or funding for women athletes as compared to men," the centenarian told the crowd after accepting her induction medal.

Dopson was active at a time when women's participation in sport wasn't only inadequately supported but "frowned upon and discouraged," said Rick Brownlee.

"They persevered and fought through [for] the athletes that we see today," said Brownlee, sport heritage manager and executive director of the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame. "They blazed the trail for [them]."

Dopson was one of only three inductees from the pre-1960s era who are still alive and were present for the ceremony.

Russell Jackman, who was on the 1953 Brier-winning curling team, and Harry Nightingale both received accolades at the induction event.

"It's very exciting," said Nightingale, who played and coached lacrosse in the 1950s and 1960s. "It was a game that I loved so much."

Full list of inductees:

• Isa Beairsto golf.
• Andy Bieber football.
• D. C. Mac Braden curling.
• Billy Breen hockey.
• Modere "Mud" Bruneteau hockey.
• Bill Carpenter baseball.
• George Druxman football.
• Jimmy Dunn All Round
• Art Foster tennis.
• Vera (Tustin) Gilbert swimming.
• Charles Harvey golf.
• Halldor "Slim" Halldorson hockey.
• Frank Hawkins lacrosse.
• Dot (Ferguson) Key softball.
• Ed Kotowich football.
• Les Lear football.
• Lou Lucki softball.
• Cornel Piper football.
• Andre Roziere archery.
• Jim "Babyface" Saunders boxing.
• Art Shaw all-round.
• Alex Shibicky hockey.
• William "Snake" Siddle baseball.
• Ed Sobie ten pin bowling.
• Jimmy Thomson hockey.
• Nick Wasnie hockey.

Teams inducted:

• 1930 Howard Wood team curling.
• 1931 Bob Gourlayteam curling.
• 1932 Jim Congaltonteam curling.
• 1934 Leo Johnson team curling.
• 1935 Winnipeg Maroons baseball.
• 1937 Manitoba Canoe team paddling.
• 1938 Ab Gowanlockteam curling.
• 1939 Winnipeg Maroons baseball.
• 1940 Howard Wood team curling.
• 1942 Winnipeg Maroons baseball.
• 1947 Jimmy Welsh team curling
• 1953 Ab Gowanlock Team curling
• 1957 Winnipeg Goldeyes baseball.
• 1959 Winnipeg Goldeyes baseball.
• 1960 Winnipeg Goldeyes baseball.

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