presented by Myrna Bilton June 14, 2022.

It is my honour and gives me great pleasure to nominate John & Lenore Holder to the Ontario Shuffleboard Association Hall of Fame for the “Special Awards Category”.

In 2003 John & Lenore retired from dairy farming and moved to Pine Meadows Retirement Community. This is where they were introduced to shuffleboard. The Holders have always been involved in the communities where they have lived so it didn’t take them long to get involved with the shuffleboard and running the club. That same year they decided to be snowbirds and bought a home in Florida where they continued to play shuffleboard.

The Holders have participated in many OSA and CNSA tournaments. They have represented Ontario in 4 Interprovincial Tournaments. In 2011 – Innisfail, Alta, 2013 – Dieppe, NB, 2015 – Goderich, Ont & 2017 – Moose Jaw, Sask.

John & Lenore represented Canada in 3 ISA tournaments. In 2012 at Seattle, WA, 2013 at St Petersburg, FL & 2014 at Midland, Ontario. The Holders were on the planning committee and played a big role at the Midland ISA tournament to make it a successful and memorable event. Lenore designed and made the lovely flag arrangements for the banquet tables.

The Holders played in many tournaments in Florida with both of them achieving pro status. They played on 2 teams from their Lazy Days Park. John became the first Canadian President of the Lee County Shuffleboard Club and Lenore was a board member there with many duties.

In 2015 John & Lenore represented Canada at the first major UK competition at the Norwich Open tournament where again they made new friends. Another highlight of the Holders shuffleboard journey was taking the Rocky Mountaineer train from Vancouver to Calgary. Rendall and I shared this trip with them….wonderful memories.

In 2009, John & Lenore were co-founders of the Centre Wellington Shuffleboard Club. Countless hours of dedicated work and planning was put into this new club. The Centre Wellington Shuffleboard Club held its first OSA tournament in 2014. That was always a wish for John.

The backbone of any organization is determined by people who work for it and the Holders have set a shining example of that. The club is what it is today because of the effects of people like you.

John & Lenore say “They are extremely proud and thankful for the opportunity of meeting and working with many kind and friendly friends”.

I am pleased to recognize all the contributions that John & Lenore have made to shuffleboard. On behave of Rendall, I am honoured to present the OSA Hall of Fame, special awards to them today.

John and Lenore are most deserving of this award.

Congratulations friends Rendall & Myrna Bilton