James and Elaine Evans inducted into Hall of Fame

SportsKlub was never built from nothing. It was inherited.

On Sunday night, Elaine Evans was inducted into the SportsKlub Hall of Fame, class of 2025.

That truth sat at the heart of the SportsKlub Hall of Fame induction for James and Elaine Evans, a moment that honoured not just two people, but the foundation everything else was built on.

Inducting them into the Hall of Fame, their daughter-in-law Tamara Evans reminded the room that long before SportsKlub ever existed, James was already building community through sport. He organized ball hockey games in grocery store parking lots, not for trophies or recognition, but because he believed sport could bring people together. That belief never disappeared, it was passed on.

When SportsKlub was eventually imagined, Tamara said, it was not pulled out of thin air. It was shaped by years of watching James and Elaine organize ball hockey tournaments, community events, and charity tournaments with care, structure, and heart. The skills that built SportsKlub were learned the same way most meaningful lessons are learned, by watching people do it right.

Elaine made that dream possible in the most important ways. She drove SportsKlub (then SportsKids) athletes wherever they wanted to play. She welcomed kids into their home and said yes to imagination. Backyards became football stadiums, wrestling rings appeared overnight, and instead of questioning it, she often found herself helping to build it.

Together, James and Elaine showed that sports should never be about winning. They should be about creativity, community, and care. That philosophy carried into everything they touched, from Baseball Day in Orillia to the Rockies slo-pitch team. They led quietly and consistently, never seeking recognition, but leaving behind values that still live at the heart of SportsKlub today.

After the induction, Elaine took the microphone. She thanked everyone in the room for supporting her son Tyler and his wife Tamara, acknowledging the effort and heart they put into everything they do. She spoke about watching Ty grow and said she is incredibly proud of him, calling this honour just one more moment to add to a long list of reasons she feels that pride. She made sure to include Tamara as well, telling the room that both of “the kids” are awesome.

It was a simple, heartfelt response that perfectly reflected why James and Elaine belong in the SportsKlub Hall of Fame. Not for wins, not for championships, but for believing in people, saying yes to creativity, and quietly building something that continues to bring a community together.

Their legacy is not etched only in memories, it lives on every time a game is played, a friendship is formed, and SportsKlub feels like home.