By Sam Cortes, Communications Coordinator
The Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame has only had three volunteer Selection Committee Chairs in its 41+ years of operation: Terry Hind throughout the 80s and 90s, Dennis Nord in the 90s and well into the 2000s, and Blake Fitzpatrick for much of the past decade and a half.
Blake, who’s the Secretary-treasurer of Maple Leaf Construction here in Winnipeg, has also been involved in the MJHL for many years with the Saints hockey club.
He has served on the Board of Directors of the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame for over 20 years with a short respite in between to come back and serve as Selection Committee Chair. His easy-going demeanor and impeccable integrity make him perfect for the job.
An original participant in the Hall’s annual Stanley Cup Play-Off Hockey Draft since 1995 (and 2003 Champion with the Maple Leaf Construction Maple Leafs), Blake and his family’s company have been faithful corporate supporters of the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame since the 90s, when former Chair, Sam Fabro, first drew him into the fold. His company has been a Platinum Host Sponsor at our Induction Dinner every year since the program was introduced in the 90s.
There’s a saying that goes, “If you want a job done well, go find the busiest people.” That describes Blake Fitzpatrick to a tee: in addition to the aforementioned Hall of Fame volunteer work and his lifelong love affair with junior hockey, Blake is heavily involved with the Board of the True North Youth Foundation, is Chair of the Sam Fabro Classic Golf Tournament to raise funds for FortWhyte Alive, and served on the Board of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers from 2000-2006.
We wish Blake the best of luck in his retirement and thank him for his lifetime of service to the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame!
