VICTORIA – The University of Victoria Department of Athletics and Recreation is thrilled to welcome two exceptional athletes to its distinguished 2024 Sports Hall of Fame class. Women's basketball icon Kelly Boucher and men's rugby standout Ed Fairhurst will be honored for their individual athletic contributions, securing their place in UVic's esteemed Walk of Excellence.

Kelly Boucher
 
Before Kia Nurse and Aaliyah Edwards became household names, and before Caitlin Clark drew millions of viewers to professional women's basketball, there was Kelly Boucher. Paving the way for today's WNBA stars, Boucher made history in 1998 as the first Canadian to play in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). Just two years after the league's inception, the 6'1" Calgarian and former Vike was drafted by the Charlotte Sting, opening the door for every female Canadian player who followed.

Born and raised in Calgary, AB, Boucher attended St. Mary's High School, where she led her team to a city championship. After a season with the University of Calgary, she transferred to UVic to play for Kathy Shields and the Vikes. Over her four-year tenure, Boucher earned Canada West First Team All-Star honours three times (1988-89, 1989-90, 1990-91), a Canada West Second-Team All-Star nod (1987-88), and a U SPORTS Second Team All-Canadian selection (1990-91). During this period, UVic competed in the national championships three times, finishing third, fourth, and fifth. Years after exiting the program, she still remains the sixth best total rebounder (520) and owns the 10th best rebounding rate at 7.0 boards per game.

A Bachelor of Science graduate, Boucher went on to enjoy a long and successful professional basketball career, playing for a decade in Europe, the Middle East, and eight different countries. A two-time Olympian, Boucher represented Canada at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

In 2020, Boucher was named one of the U SPORTS top 100 women's basketball players of the century.

Ed Fairhurst

Ed Fairhurst's rugby journey started at just six years old at St. Michael's University School. Displaying a natural affinity for the sport, he captained SMUS to a BC Rugby High School AAA Championship in 1997. This early success was just the beginning for Fairhurst, who went on to make waves at regional, provincial, and international levels.

As a BC Rugby Hall-of-Famer, Fairhurst was instrumental in leading a powerhouse Vikes squad to the BC Men's Premier League Championship in 2004. His performance that season earned him the UVic Male Athlete of the Year award, cementing his legacy in UVic's rich rugby history.

Representing Canada at the under-17, under-19, and junior levels, Fairhurst earned MVP honours at the Junior Rugby World Cup in France. He debuted with the senior men's national team at 19, earning 57 caps and playing in three Rugby World Cups (2003, 2007, 2011). He also earned 15 caps with the Canadian sevens squad, including the 2002 Commonwealth Games and the 2005 Rugby Sevens World Cup.

After graduating with a degree in economics, Fairhurst played professionally for the Cardiff Blues and Cornish Pirates, amassing over 60 appearances.

Post-retirement, Fairhurst has contributed to rugby as a coach and through Rugby Canada's Alumni Connection program, aiding athletes in their transition to professional careers.

Fairhurst will also enter the Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame this fall.

This year's UVic Sports Hall of Fame inductees will be honoured at an in-person event during the 2024-25 academic year (date TBD).    

Congratulations, Kelly Boucher and Ed Fairhurst.

UVic Sports Hall of Fame moves forward with new schedule

The UVic Sports Hall of Fame is moving its annual enshrinement ceremonies. Traditionally held in the spring, the new induction cycle will see inductees honoured during either the fall or spring academic term to best align with the varsity schedule. Although Hall of Fame nominations are accepted year-round, the deadline to be considered for the current year is January 31st. Moving forward, the winners will be announced the first week of September each year.

For questions about the new Hall of Fame schedule, please reach out directly to Director of Varsity Performance Sport, Dr. Nick Clarke. 

Call for nominations

The University of Victoria Sports Hall of Fame is looking to add another historical chapter and is calling for nominations for its next induction class.
 
 NOMINATION FORM | TERMS OF REFERENCE 
 
Nominations are accepted on an ongoing basis but given the cycle change we're continuing to accept new nominations for the 2025 class until July 31, 2024. Each year, a selection committee made up of the Executive Director of Wellness, Recreation and Athletics, Director of Varsity Performance Sport, Associate Director of Sport Compliance and Student Support, alumni representatives, a media representative, two varsity coaches, a student-athlete, and as well as select community members are brought together to review nominations.
 
The UVic Sports Hall of Fame is focused on honouring outstanding contributions of athletes and community members who have enhanced the university's image and reputation through sport or recreation, preserving and recording the history and tradition of sport at the university, promoting sport and healthy living at UVic, and providing fundraising opportunities for the Athletics and Recreation department.
 
PREVIOUS INDUCTEES
 
The UVic Sports Hall of Fame features a variety of well-known coaches, builders, and athletes. The inaugural class of 2002 included Vikes basketball coaching legends Ken and Kathy Shields and rugby player Gareth Rees, Olympic rower Lorne Loomer, and soccer's Wally Milligan in the builder category.

Thank you to all our previous and ongoing sponsors and supporters of the Hall of Fame event. For anyone interested in sponsoring this year's event, or becoming a table sponsor in support of a particular team, please contact stuasponsor@uvic.ca for more information.
 
The nomination committee is currently accepting nominations via e-mail or mail to Kelley O'Grady, Vikes Communications Officer, at vikescommunications@uvic.ca, or mail to Room A245, CARSA Building, PO Box 1700 STN CSC, Victoria, B.C., V8W 2Y2.
 
Please note that nominations are accepted on an ongoing basis. Those not successful for 2025 will be kept for future consideration, while nominations from previous years are also still in consideration.

Don't miss this opportunity to honor the legends of sport and help preserve their legacy for future generations.