Barbara Benton
At the heart of every sport community is that one individual whose participation, commitment and volunteerism serves to rally others to join and benefit from local sport leagues. 2022 Glengarry Sports Hall of Fame inductee, Barbara Benton is such that person. Barb grew up on the Gore Road in Summerstown Station, daughter of Theresa and the late Charles Taillon. In 1981 her family moved to Apple Hill where she met and later married Barry Benton and together raised their two children Jacob and Melissa. Barb’s family has been active in many sport activities over the years and she has enjoyed playing along side her daughter in ball hockey, managing her son’s hockey teams and organizing a benefit golf tournament with her husband to raise funds for the Apple Hill Community and medical centre.
Barb’s athleticism and passion for sports developed at a young age. She recalls registering to play any sport that was offered in her immediate community, specifically broomball, baseball, sponge puck and ball hockey. When the Williamstown arena opened, Barb began playing recreational broomball and sponge puck. In the summer months baseball was her go to sport and in the 1980s, she added ball hockey to an already busy sport schedule. On her weekly calendar, each night had a game scheduled and weekends were often dedicated to home and away tournaments.
Barb has proven her athleticism and leadership time and time again as she has been recognized with numerous individual honours and as a member of championship teams. More than once has Barb been recognized as MVP in all the aforementioned sports. The Williamstown Broomball League recognized her dedication and commitment to the sport when she was recipient of the Elaine Avery Award. For each sport she has played and more than once, Barb has received team MVP awards, most sportsperson like awards, top batter awards, and the Guidon Award for her baseball accomplishments. Little wonder with an athlete like Barb on one’s team, her medal count proves that she has played on a local league or regional championship team more than twenty-five times.
During the 1980s and 1990s, broomball was a very popular and competitive in Glengarry. Followers of the sport will recognize the names of some of the teams on which Barb played such as Sealtest, Alfred Sport, Rayco Sports, MacMillans. For 6 years she played with Rayco Sports, a team comprising of players from the Williamstown Broomball League and these ladies annually advanced to regional and provincial competition proudly showcasing the skill of women athletes from Glengarry. Of all the sports that Barb has played, she admits to broomball being her favourite. Currently Barb plays ball hockey and is the lead organizer for the sport. Post covid participation has reduced the number of women’s teams playing out of the Maxville rink, but Barb is optimistic that participation numbers will increase next year, enough to continue this recreational league.
Barb’s variety of sporting accomplishments span an impressive 40 years, but her induction into the Hall of Fame also serves to recognize her countless volunteer hours spent to organize, recruit players and sponsors, schedule games and referees, and oversee all the other behind the scenes tasks that need to get done in order for league play to be offered and sustained. In the Glengarry sports’ scene, Barb Benton exemplifies the benefits of being physically active and participating in local sports. She silently leads by example, and demonstrates the importance of giving back to one’s community.
