Justine Colley-Leger

Justine Colley of East Preston since she was eight years old, Saint Mary’s Basketball player extraordinaire, Justine Colley has been a student of the game of life.

A native of East Preston, she has figured out how to balance her passion for the SPORTS game of basketball and Justine Colley-Leger academic studies. She attributes much of her success to her family and friends and an amazing supporting cast of people made up of her team JUSTINE COLLEY-LEGER mates, coaches and professors. Justine Colley-Leger named honorary chair of 2017 Subway AUS Justine became the all-time Basketball Championships. scoring leader in Canadian Interuniversity Sport Atlantic University Sport held a women’s basketball with an press event Monday afternoon at the astonishing 2,376 points. Scotia Bank Centre to make several exciting announcements around the She finished her brilliant university career with five upcoming Subway AUS Basketball selections as a first-team Championships. AUS all-star, four as an all- Canadian (including three Five women's games and five men's first-team nods), one on game had been played from Friday, the CIS all-rookie squad, as March 3 to Sunday, March 5 at the well as three CIS scoring Scotia bank Centre in Halifax. crowns. AUS executive director Phil Currie made several announcements around the upcoming championship weekend, including the naming of renowned Saint Mary's Huskies basketball alumna Justine Colley- Leger as the event's honorary chair.

The 5-foot-9 guard played five season with the Saint Mary's Huskies from 2009-10 to 2013-14. The East Preston, N.S. native was the 2013 and 2014 recipient of the Nan Copp Award as CIS (now U Sports) player of the year.

Colley-Leger was the AUS scoring champion in all but her freshman year with the Huskies. She is a three-time CIS first team all- Canadian, a five-time AUS first team all-star and a two-time AUS MVP. She was also the 2010 AUS rookie of the year. She holds the AUS single-season points record, having scored 565 points in one season. And most notably, Colley-Leger's career points scored total 2,376—more than any other women's basketball student- athlete has ever posted in AUS and U Sports history. "We're thrilled Justine agreed to come on In 2014, she earned the CIS (now U board as this season's honorary chair," Sports) BLG Award as the top female student-athlete in the country. said AUS executive director Phil Currie. She graduated in 2014 with a degree "Justine represents everything we know in finance and began a career with our student-athletes—past and present— RBC Royal Bank. Now married, with children of her own, she continues to be. In her playing days, she worked hard to give back to young people in her community as a motivational in the classroom while simultaneously speaker. Colley-Leger talks to youth proving herself to be one of the best around the Halifax area about achieving goals, overcoming basketball players in the country. Now obstacles and using your athletic that she has graduated, she juggles a talents to gain a post-secondary education. successful career and motherhood while continuously giving back to the community."

KIRK JOHNSON Boxing Johnson represented Canada at the 1992 Olympics in , where he lost in the quarter-finals against eventual silver medallist David Izon (Nigeria). His amateur record was 76 wins and 7 losses.

Come Back

After the Klitschko fight, Johnson staged a comeback. He knocked out Mexican Gilbert Martinez in July 2004 and won a technical decision over Cuban Yanqui Díaz in June 2005, although he lost his next bout (later changed to a technical decision) against Californian Javier Mora in March 2006. Mora appeared to have accidentally stepped on Johnson's foot, causing Johnson to dislocate his knee. This decision was subsequently appealed Kirk Cyron Johnson is a Canadian former professional and the result changed to a No Decision. boxer who challenged once for the WBA heavyweight Johnson has since recovered from his knee title in 2002. injury. North Preston, Halifax Regional Municipality On April 29, 2010, Johnson returned to the ring Height: 1.88 m after a four-year absence and fought Martial art: Boxing journeyman Douglas Robertson defeating him Division: Heavyweight via first-round TKO. Total fights: 41 Johnson's record is now at 37–2–1 (27 KOs), with Other name: Bubba one No Decision. Wins: 37

He had his first professional bout on April 24, 1993 against Andre Smiley. In his first title fight in 2002 Johnson faced for the WBA Heavyweight Title. In the tenth round Johnson was disqualified for low blows while losing on all of the judges' scorecards. Johnson appealed the disqualification to the WBA, on the grounds that referee Joe Cortez had erred in calling some of the low blows and did not act impartially (both Ruiz and Cortez are of Puerto Rican descent). Though many boxing commentators agreed that the disqualification was unwarranted, the appeal was ultimately denied by the WBA.

On December 6, 2003 Johnson faced

On December 6, 2003 Johnson faced the Ukrainian contender and future champion in New York's . He was easily defeated by Klitschko, losing by a second-round knockout. Johnson compounded the Kltschko embarrassment by coming into this fight at 260 pounds — an all-time high for him. Johnson weighed 232 pounds in his biggest win, over future WBC Heavyweight Champion Oleg Maskaev, in 2000.

After the Klitschko fight, Johnson staged a comeback. He knocked out Mexican heavyweight Gilbert Martinez in July 2004 and won a technical decision over Cuban Yanqui Díaz in June 2005, although he lost his next bout (later changed to a technical decision) against Californian Javier Mora in March 2006. Mora appeared to have accidentally stepped on Johnson's foot, causing Johnson to dislocate his knee. This decision was subsequently appealed and the result changed to a No Decision. Johnson has since recovered from his knee injury.

On April 29, 2010, Johnson returned to the ring after a four-year absence and fought journeyman Douglas Robertson defeating him via first-round TKO.

Johnson's record is now at 37–2–1 (27 KOs), with one No Decision.

AYJAY COLLEY

Coach of the Year

"It's the most dangerous sport," he said. "We chuck people, we catch people — we literally risk our lives every second of our two-minute- and-thirty-second routine," he said. Colley said he has had other coaching offers from cheerleading gyms across Canada, but he is dedicated to helping Nova Scotia Ayjay Colley is athletes reach their full potential. nominated for coach of "I'm born and raised here and I don't want to leave Nova Scotia,"said the year at Cheer Expo, Colley. Nova Scotia's biggest annual cheerleading competition.

Athlete and coach Colley has competed at international championships five times, and hopes to compete again at the upcoming world championships in Florida. He also holds contracts with cheerleading gyms to train their athletes. Colley said he aims to motivate, not just teach, the kids he coaches. Colley credits cheerleading for teaching him the value of commitment, taking risks and being a team player. NEW GLASGOW

In 2015Pictou County Sports Heritage (representing husband Hugh “Sparky” – Hall of Fame celebrated African inductee – boxing), Pictou Centre MLA Heritage Month Tuesday. Shown are Pat Dunn Henderson Paris (inductee – builder, track), New Glasgow Mayor Barrie MacMillan, Hall of Fame chairperson Kenny Langille, Jackie Dorrington (inductee – bodybuilding), Ruth Paris

Dorrington from New Hall of Fame Glasgow and is a strong proponent of exercise and He went on to become a boxing trainer and was one of the founding members keeping physically active – of the Pictou County Sports Heritage the 68-year-old rides his Hall of Fame. bicycle more than he drives his car. He also runs and lifts weights. “I think everybody Paris, was also inducted into the Nova should work out,” he said. Scotia Sports Hall of Fame and the Canadian Boxing Hall of Fame. At age 56, Dorrington won the World National Sports Organization Canadian Musclemania Grandmaster Champion, and the Fitness and Model Expo Other People inducted into the Hall of Fame Competition. He has three crystal trophies to show for Ed Bowden - 40-year involvement with his accomplishments. Kinsmen Power Skating.

Hugh “Sparky” Paris was a Gloria Borden – Track and field and boxer, inducted into the Hall soccer (Nova Scotia champion). of Fame in 1990. His career Norman “Paddy” Lawrence- The army’s in the ring began when he best light-middle weight boxers from was 18 years old, and 1958 to 1960. spanned 13 years, ending in the 1950s. Howard Lawrence- He played third base for the Colored Wonders, which placed first in the Pictou County Baseball League in 1930.

Freeman “Pete” Paris- Goaltender for the Speed Boys hockey team, which won the Nova Scotia championship three times.

There are so many in the Hall of Fame. You will be amazed at what you find.