Alberta Sports Hall of Fame and Museum

Alberta Woman “in a league of her own” passes away at 93

Duane Rolheiser

Published

6 years ago

4 minute read

Betty Carveth Dunn (nee Carveth), enshrined in the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame just 2 years ago, has died.

Betty, a member of the Rockford Peaches back in 1945, was one of just 64 Canadian women to play in Phil Wrigley’s World War II era All American Girls Professional Baseball League. The league and in particular the Rockford Peaches were the inspiration for the Tom Hanks / Geena Davis movie A League of Their Own.

Dunn was 93.

The day of her induction into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame I was fortunate to sit down and interview Betty. Here’s a post we made for that interview followed by her Induction video for The Alberta Sports Hall of Fame.

Born in 1925, Betty Carveth grew up in Grande Prairie, Alberta and became a part of baseball history.

Betty Carveth was one of only sixty-four Canadian women to play in the All American Girls Professional Baseball League. A right-handed pitcher, she played during the 1945 season with the Rockford Peaches and was traded mid-season to the Fort Wayne Daisies. She returned home to Edmonton and became the city’s first female Little League Baseball coach and coached the boys for 10 years. At the age of 12, she pitched for the Twilight Ladies Softball team which won three Peace River Championships in a row. In the mid-1940s, she pitched for Edmonton’s top-rated Walk-Rite women’s baseball team.

Betty played for the Walk-Rite team from 1943-1945 at the age of eighteen to twenty. It was during this time that a scout saw her play and asked her to try out for the All American Girls Professional Baseball League in the United States; a league that was featured in the 1992 movie “A League of Their Own.” Betty played from April to October in 1945, earning $75 a week – which was four times more than she had made as a secretary back in Edmonton. There was a list of rules and a dress code the players had to abide to, both on and off the field. They attended a half day of beauty school and were told to look and act like ladies, however while on the field, they were to play ball like men. Sliding into a base or making a flying catch was not pleasant as the uniforms were short dresses, knee socks, and caps which provided very little protection.

When the 1945 season closed, Betty returned to Edmonton and demonstrated her love for baseball by promoting and signing autographs throughout the years that followed. She was named Ambassador of Baseball for the inaugural IBAF (International Baseball Federation) Women’s World Baseball Championship in 2004 and then named Special Ambassador in 2012. She threw the ceremonial first pitch at both tournaments and did again in 2015 at one of the Edmonton Prospects games.

As a member of the AAGPBL, Betty was inducted into the American Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, USA in 1988. She was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 1998 with the Canadian AAGPBL players.

Related Topics:Alberta Sports Hall of Fame Betty Carveth Dunn

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After 15 years as a TV reporter with Global and CBC and as news director of RDTV in Red Deer, Duane set out on his own 2008 as a visual storyteller. During this period, he became fascinated with a burgeoning online world and how it could better serve local communities. This fascination led to Todayville, launched in 2016.

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Alberta Sports Hall of Fame and Museum

Alberta Sports Hall of Fame 2025 Inductee profiles – Luge Athlete, Alex Gough

Published on June 20, 2025

Alberta Sports Hall of Fame

Alex Gough – Luge Athlete

Calgary-born Alex Gough made history by winning Canada’s first Olympic medals in luge—a bronze in women’s singles and a silver in the team relay—at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang. Throughout her career, she amassed 6 World Championship medals and was a nine-time Canadian champion. Since retiring in 2018, she has served as President of Luge Canada, fostering the sport’s growth nationwide. Gough’s ground-breaking achievements have elevated Canadian luge on the world stage and inspired future generations of athletes.

Celebrate Alberta with us at the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame

Alberta

Alberta Sports Hall of Fame to Induct Class of 2025

Published on June 4, 2025

Alberta Sports Hall of Fame

Final Interviews CompletedThe final interviews for this year’s inductee vignettes are officially complete! We were thrilled to welcome Honoured Members Brian and Robin McKeever, along with a couple of members of the 1981–1989 Red Deer College Queens Volleyball Team, to the Hall for their final filming sessions. Their visits were filled with great stories, laughter, and reflections on the incredible journeys that led them to induction.

These vignettes capture not only the accomplishments of our 2025 Inductees but also the heart, passion, and dedication behind each of their contributions to sport in Alberta and beyond. With the final edits now underway, all that’s left to do is celebrate.

We can’t wait to share their inspiring stories with everyone at the Induction Ceremony on June 7. Stay tuned—it’s going to be a night to remember!

This newsletter is sponsored by Hockey Alberta Foundation

Honoured Member-Megan Delehanty

Rowing Athlete – Inducted 2007Megan Delehanty was born and raised in Edmonton. Originally a track athlete at the University of Alberta, she was working out in the weight room in 1988 and was approached by a member of the rowing club to see if she would be interested in trying a new sport.

Megan started training at the Edmonton Rowing Club and excelled in club regattas. She continued as a rower at the University of British Columbia. She won a spot on the Canadian National Rowing Team and represented Canada as a member of the Under-23, Women’s 8+ at the United States Rowing Championship in 1990. From there, she moved up to the Canadian Senior A team, and in 1991 was a member of the World Champion Women’s 8+. Megan was a member of the Canadian Women’s Eight team at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona when the team won the gold medal.

Honoured Member Profile

Provincial Sport Organization – Rowing AlbertaAlberta Rowing Association (ARA) is the provincial governing body for rowing in Alberta. Dedicated to the growth and development of rowing at all levels, ARA supports a network of rowing clubs and programs throughout the province. The organization coordinates regattas, competitive events, and training camps, offering development pathways for rowers from novice to elite levels. ARA also provides coaching education and resources, ensuring high standards of coaching and athlete development. Its mission is to foster a passion for rowing, promote excellence, and advance the skills and competitiveness of rowers across Alberta, contributing to the overall success and growth of the sport in the province.

Artifact in Focus!
Rowing Canada Nike shirt

Inductee Back with Elks

The Edmonton Elks have announced the exciting return of longtime equipment manager and Alberta Sports Hall of Fame 2025 inductee, Dwayne Mandrusiak. Dwayne will rejoin the organization in a dual role focused on community engagement and team history—just in time to celebrate his 50th season with the Club in 2025.

Dwayne will be officially inducted into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame on June 7 as a recipient of the Achievement Award, recognizing his decades of dedication and impact behind the scenes in Canadian football. Welcome back, Dwayne—and congratulations on this well-earned honour!

Read the official announcement by clicking on the link below.

Edmonton Elks Announcement

Alberta Sport Recognition Award Recipients

We are thrilled to once again be partnering with the Government of Alberta to host the Alberta Sport Recognition Awards during our Induction Ceremony on June 7 at the Red Deer Resort and Casino.

The 2024 recipients that will be awarded this Saturday are:

Junior Male Athlete of the Year – Aiden Norman (Swimming)
Junior Female Athlete of the Year – Dianne Proctor (Athletics)
Junior Team of the Year – U22 Female Team Alberta (Box Lacrosse)
Open Male Athlete of the Year – Marco Arop (Athletics)
Open Female Athlete of the Year – Hallie Clarke (Skeleton)
Open Team of the Year – Team Canada Women’s Sitting Volleyball
Coaching Recognition Award – Joe Cecchini (Skeleton), Alex Dawson (Swimming), and Ron Thompson (Athletics)
Technical Official Award – Louise Buskas (Athletics), Drew Fischer (Soccer), and Jeff Verhoeven (Boxing)
Sport Volunteer Recognition Award – Blair Carbert (Speedskating) and Virginia Dilger (Water Polo)
Don Watts Coach Development Award – Jackie Cool (Swimming)

The Alberta Sports Hall of Fame wants to congratulate all the recipients, and we look forward to honouring them during our Class of 2025 Induction Ceremony.

2025 Inductee Highlight-George Hopkins & Dwayne Mandrusiak

We’re just days away from the 2025 Induction Ceremony, happening this Saturday! With only a few inductee spotlights left to share, this week we’re highlighting George Hopkins, Dwayne Mandrusiak, and Clara Hughes.

George Hopkins and Dwayne Mandrusiak are celebrated as two of the most dedicated equipment managers in Canadian Football League history. With careers spanning over five decades, they have each contributed significantly to their teams—the Calgary Stampeders and the Edmonton Eskimos—and to the broader football community in Alberta.

Starting as a 13-year-old equipment assistant in 1972, George Hopkins rose to become the Calgary Stampeders’ Head Equipment Manager by 1977. Over 52 seasons, he has worked more than 1,000 games, including 12 Grey Cup appearances, and has been part of six championship teams. Hopkins is renowned for his meticulous attention to detail and his unwavering commitment to player safety and team success. Beyond his role with the Stampeders, he has been instrumental in advancing amateur football. In 1985, alongside Dwayne Mandrusiak, he co-founded the Amateur Football Equipment Inspection Program, conducting over 400 inspections to improve equipment safety for youth football programs across Alberta.

Dwayne Mandrusiak began his tenure with the Edmonton Eskimos as a ball boy in 1971 and became the Head Equipment Manager in 1977. Over nearly 50 years, he has been part of 11 Grey Cup championship teams and worked over 1,000 games. Mandrusiak is deeply respected for his professionalism, expertise, and the mentorship he provided to players and staff. His commitment to the team and the league is exemplified by his co-founding of the Amateur Football Equipment Inspection Program with Hopkins, enhancing safety standards for young athletes.

Together, Hopkins and Mandrusiak’s contributions extend beyond their teams. Their collaborative efforts have significantly improved the safety and quality of football equipment used in amateur football, fostering a safer environment for youth athletes. Their dedication to community service and the sport’s development at all levels has left an indelible mark on football in Alberta.

Their legacies are characterized by exceptional service, deep-rooted passion for the game, and a commitment to excellence that has inspired countless players, coaches, and colleagues throughout the Canadian football community.

2025 Inductee Highlight-Clara Hughes

Clara Hughes, born September 27, 1972, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, is a legendary Canadian athlete renowned for her exceptional accomplishments in both cycling and speed skating. She is the only athlete ever to win multiple medals at both the Summer and Winter Olympics, a testament to her extraordinary versatility and dedication.

Clara’s athletic career took off in cycling, where she earned two bronze medals at the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics in the road race and individual time trial. She continued to excel in cycling, securing seven medals at the Pan American Games and competing at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Demonstrating remarkable adaptability, Clara transitioned to speed skating, training at Calgary’s Olympic Oval in Alberta. She quickly became a dominant force, winning a bronze medal in the 5,000 meters at the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics. Her pursuit of excellence led to a gold medal in the 5,000 meters and a silver in the team pursuit at the 2006 Turin Winter Olympics. She added a sixth Olympic medal with a bronze in the 5,000 meters at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, where she proudly served as Canada’s flag bearer during the opening ceremony.

Beyond her athletic achievements, Clara is a passionate mental health advocate. She has openly shared her own struggles with depression, using her platform to destigmatize mental illness. As the founding spokesperson for Bell Let’s Talk, Clara has been instrumental in initiating a national dialogue on mental health.

In 2014, she undertook “Clara’s Big Ride,” cycling over 11,000 kilometers across Canada to promote mental health awareness. Her efforts engaged communities nationwide and inspired countless individuals to seek help and support.

Clara’s humanitarian work includes significant contributions to Right to Play and Take a Hike, organizations that support youth through sport and outdoor education. She also serves as an Honorary Witness for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, advocating for Indigenous communities affected by the residential school system.

Clara Hughes’ legacy is one of unparalleled athletic achievement and profound social impact. Her induction into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame honours not only her sporting excellence but also her unwavering commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of others.

Help Us Meet Our Goal!Your gift to the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame through Birdies for Kids presented by AltaLink is more than a donation—it’s an investment in the future. With matching opportunities of up to 50%, every dollar you contribute goes further, amplifying your impact on youth education and the preservation of Alberta’s sport legacy.

By giving today, you’re helping to inspire young athletes, celebrate our province’s rich sporting history, and ignite a passion for learning and leadership in the next generation. Be part of something bigger—help us reach our $100,000 goal and make a lasting difference.