Remembering legends

Diane Imrie says she`ll remember Fred Bragnalo as the man who fought hard to achieve his dream of a sports hall of fame in Thunder Bay.

Bragnalo, 88, who served as the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame and Museum’s first president from 1978 to 1981, passed away in December. The hall inducted Bragnalo, along with Al Hackner, Greg Johnson, Jay Miron, David Walker and George Gwozdecky, into the Northwest Ontario Sports Hall of Fame earlier in the year.

Diane Imrie, executive director of the hall of fame, said Bragnalo didn’t get a chance to see the exhibit before he died, but would have been happy with what they put together.

"I always remember Fred and his blue blazer," Imrie said. "Fred’s ultimate dream was to have a sports hall of fame. He was the driving force in getting this started. It’s very fitting that he was inducted this year."

Tears began to fill her eyes as she spoke of her friend. She said she remembers when Bragnalo interviewed her for a job at the hall more than 20 years ago. Bragnalo was instrumental in bringing little league baseball to Fort William, organizing the sports celebrity dinners and getting the legion track, she added.

With his induction it will mean he`ll always be a part of the hall.

"He was a really wonderful man," she said. "He was one of those fantastic guys that really felt the importance in giving back to your community."

The hall held an open house for the new exhibits on Saturday. Imrie said she expected more than 200 people to come through the doors.

Canadian boxing champion Domenic Filane, who fought for gold at the Olympics in 1992 and 1996, attended the open house along with his wife, Kim and their three sons, Nicholas, 6, Cosimo, 8, and his youngest, Kaden, 2, on Saturday.

He said it reminded him of when he was inducted in 2004.

"It’s just an awesome experience to see," Filane said. "I went through the induction for Al Hackner, Greg Johnson, Fred Bragnalo and you just feel for them because you have been through it and you know what kind of night it was."

Don Patola, 70, a retired customs broker, said he didn’t come to the hall that often but wanted to take advantage of the open house to take a look around. As he walked by the former Thunder Bay Whiskey Jacks’ mascot, he said that the hall brought back fond memories when he played football and hockey.

"It brings back a lot of memories when I see some of the old names and faces," Patola said.

The grandfather of three still plays hockey twice a week. He said it’s important to remember the past and to remember the role sports has played in the region.