Western Ontario Athletic Association (WOAA) – 2019 Sandy Hawley Award

The Western Ontario Athletic Association boasts longevity and a rich history of community service. The W.O.A.A., a non-profit corporation, currently coordinates programs for 390 minor hockey teams, 5l women’s hockey teams, 14 Senior hockey teams and 8 softball teams for a total of 463 teams. They are the governing body of minor and senior sports in a region encompassing Grey County, Bruce County, Perth County, Huron County, northern Middlesex County, and northern Wellington County. The WOAA Senior Hockey League has been around since 1948. The organization itself has been in existence since 1942, when W.T. “Doc” Cruickshank saw his dream become a reality by forming a governing sports body for local hometown communities in Southwestern Ontario. Today, the W.O.A.A. are affiliated members of the Ontario Minor Hockey Association, the Ontario Women’s Hockey Association, and Softball Ontario. They also have a close working relationship with the Ontario Amateur Softball Association. In 2017, the W.O.A.A. celebrated their 75th Anniversary in conjunction with their 15th Annual Celebrity Golf Tournament. At the event, the W.O.A.A. recognized 23 local sport community builders who had volunteered numerous hours over the years for the betterment of their home centres, the youth and future sports programs. The W.O.A.A. were also pleased to welcome back “home” several local sports alumni to celebrate this milestone.