40th Annual

Sports Celebrity Dinner

Hosted by the Canadian Progress Club - Halifax

Home
The Dinner
Head Table
Past Guests
Buy Tickets
Sponsors
Progress Club
Our Charities

Thursday, February 9th, 2012 ~ 6:00 pm ~ Cunard Centre ~ Halifax, N.S.

Against all odds.

Moon

Rudy

Chelios

Holmes

Parent

40 years of world class speakers from all genres of professional and amateur sport contributing to the generous fundraising efforts of the Canadian Progress Club – Halifax. Helping us celebrate this significant milestone are a group of men who acheived greatness against all odds. Join us for a night of laughter, locker room tales and life lessons with the sporting world's elite.

The Dinner No Frame

Home
The Dinner
Head Table
Past Guests
Buy Tickets
Sponsors
Progress Club
Our Charities

scd2011_2.jpg

The Dinner

On February 9th, 2012, the Canadian Progress Club - Halifax will be hosting our 40th Annual Sports Celebrity Dinner in Halifax, Nova Scotia. In reaching this significant milestone, we will be building on the tradition of providing our patrons with an evening of entertainment unlike any other. Over the past 39 years, we have brought in over 250 of the most elite athletes in the world to our event. Names such as Bobby Orr, Julius Irving, Carl Yastrzemski, Gordie Howe, Ken Dryden, Mike “Pinball” Clemons, Jim Kelly, Jesse Owens, Joe Frazier and Catriona LeMay Doan have all visited our province and entertained our patrons due to the effort of the Canadian Progress Club –- Halifax. The event continues to flourish and has now grown into one of the single largest fundraising events in Atlantic Canada with over thirteen hundred guests, national press coverage and tremendous local business support.
Head Table

Home
The Dinner
Head Table
Past Guests
Buy Tickets
Sponsors
Progress Club
Our Charities

Warren Moon

Warren Moon NFL/CFL Hall of Fame Quarterback

Prior to the 1978 NFL Draft, some NFL scouts suggested that since the University of Washington quarterback Warren Moon had played in a rollout rather than a drop-back passing offense, he would be a midround pick. Others speculated that since only one African American quarterback, James Harris, had achieved any measurable success inthe NFL, Moon would have to play some other position. Regardless of which misguided reason motivated NFL scouts, Moon remained confident of his abilities and opted to sign with the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League. He went on to lead the Eskimos to an unprecedented five consecutive Grey Cup victories.Against all odds, Moon returned to the United States to play for the Houston Oilers in 1984. He racked up nearly 50,000 passing yards in 17 NFL seasons. Moon set a new club record with 3,338 yards passing in his first year with the Houston, a mark he would break four more times. In 1986, when the Oilers installed the run-and-shoot offense, Moon's quarterback skills finally became apparent to all. The wide-open offense showcased Moon's strong arm, running skills, and big-play ability.Despite spending his first six professional seasons in the CFL, Moon ranked third all-time in NFL passing yardage and fourth in touchdown passes thrown at the time of his retirement. He is one of only two people to be enshrined in both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and Canadian Football Hall of Fame.

Rudy Ruettiger

Daniel “"Rudy"” Ruettiger International Celebrity, Acclaimed Motivational Speaker, Distinguished Author and Humanitarian

Against all odds on a gridiron in South Bend, Indiana, Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger in twenty seven seconds carved his name into history books as perhaps the most famous graduate of the University of Notre Dame. It took years of fierce determination to overcome obstaclesand criticisms, yet Rudy achieved his first dream - to attend Notre Dame and play football for the Fighting Irish. As fans cheered RUDY, RU-DY, he sacked the quarterback in the last 27 seconds of the only play in the only game of his college football career.Today, Rudy is one of the most sought after motivational speakers in the United States as well as being an author and founder of The Rudy Foundation, whose mission is to help children of all ages around the world reach their full potential. The RUDY AWARDS Program was created by the Rudy Ruettiger Foundation to recognize children who make an outstanding, exceptional effort to do their personal best every day, overcome obstacles, set goals, stay on track to reach their Dreams and build the qualities of Character, Courage, Contribution, and Commitment into their lives every day. The RUDY AWARDS isabout a child's heart, will to change, and desire for self-improvement.

Chris Chelios

Chris Chelios Stanley Cup Champion, Future Hall of Famer, Advisor to Hockey Operations - Detroit Red Wings

Against all odds, Chris Chelios went on to have one of the most amazing careers in NHL history. The longevity of his career helped him establish a number of records. When he was called up from the AHL’s Chicago Wolves to play for the Thrashers during the 2009-2010 NHL season, Chelios was the oldest active player in the NHL – and the second oldest of all time – had played the most games of any active player in the NHL was the last player from the 1981 NHL Entry Draft (or any draft from 1986 and earlier) still active and had the most career penalty minutes of any active player. He only missed the playoffs twice in his entire career and when he captained the US Olympic Hockey Team in the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy; he set a standard, by becoming the first player to take part in an Olympic ice hockey tournament, twenty-two years after he played in the first. He was in numerous all star games, won the James Norris Trophy three times, as well as three Stanley Cups. WOW!But to appreciate his career one must look at where he started from. He beat the odds. He wasn't even drafted because his career got off to a slow start, after a move toSouthern California as a teenager. Unable to play high school hockey in Southern California, Chelios wasn’t recruited by any U.S. colleges. His only scholarship offer came from local San Diego-based U.S. International University, the only NCAA Division I hockey team west of the Rockies. But when Chelios arrived on campus as a freshman in 1979 he soon realized he was in the wrong environment, facing bigger players with considerably more junior hockey experience. He was eventually cut from the team and considered quitting hockey. Instead, he tried his luck in Canada, where he was twice cut by Junior B teams in Canada and hit a low point when he had to borrow money from strangers to get home to California one year. Chelios said, "I wasn't any bigger or any better than the other guys, so they weren't going to take a kid from the States when they could have a local guy." He then returned home, grew three inches, put on 40 pounds and as they say the rest is history.

Larry Holmes

Larry Holmes Former Heavyweight Champion of the World

Against all odds, Larry Holmes has become recognized as a true Champion inside and outside the ring. It didn't come easy. Holmes was the fourth of twelve children born to John and Flossie Holmes. When the family moved to Easton in 1954, Holmes' father went to Connecticut, where he worked as a gardener until his death in 1970. He visited his family every three weeks. "He didn't forsake us," said Flossie Holmes. "He just didn't have anything to give." The family survived on welfare. To help support his family, Holmes dropped out of school when he was in the seventh grade and went to work at a car wash for $1 an hour. He later drove a dump truck and worked in a quarry. He started boxing at the age of nineteen and over the next 38 years compiled the most consecutive wins than any other heavyweight fighter in boxing history. Perhaps it's the training as Larry Holmes mastered his boxing style and signature jab before he won the Championship heavyweight title by working with Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Earnie Shavers and other boxing elite.Larry Holmes will tell you he is a businessman first, fighter second. To illustrate, Larry received only $63.00 from his first fight and parlayed his future earnings into a real estate empire that would be an annuity for his life after boxing. He has never forgotten where he came from and continues to train and mentor underprivileged young fighters to become future “Champions”. In retrospect, Larry Holmes was not given the chance in life to succeed; he beat the odds and proved that discipline and determination will bring you closer to reaching your goals.

Bernie Parent

Bernie Parent NHL Hall of Fame Goaltender, Broad Street Bully

Bernie is best known for being the clutch netminder on the Philadelphia Flyers’ championship teams. He grew up in Montreal in the early 1950s remarkably, Parent didn’t learn to skate until he was 11. By 1965 Parent had moved his way up to the Bruins’ farm system. He played a few games with the Bruins but he was stuck behind Gerry Cheevers and Eddie Johnston. In 1967 Parent was claimed by the Flyers in the Draft and it was there that he started to establish his reputation as a top goalie. In 1971 Parent was traded to Toronto in a very controversial deal. The Flyers had another young goalie, Doug Favell, and thought that Bernie would be better trade bait. In the end the trade was good for Parent because it was in Toronto that he became a teammate of his hero, Jacques Plante. Parent left the Leafs with great acrimony in 1972 when he became the first Leaf to defect from the NHL ranks to the World Hockey Association. He signed with the Miami Screaming Eagles for but he ended up with the Philadelphia Blazers in the WHA instead. Parent quit the team during the 1973 playoffs in a pay dispute and forced the Leafs to trade him back to the Flyers. Against all odds, Parent returned to the Flyers and became a sports hero in the City of Brotherly Love. One local bumper sticker read, “Only the Lord saves more than Bernie Parent.” Now part of the Flyers’ Broad Street Bullies, Parent and his teammates won the Stanley Cup twice in a row, in 1974 and 1975. In both seasons, Parent won the Vezina Trophy as best goalie and the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. Sadly, Parent’s remarkable career was short-lived. In a freak accident, a stick hit him in his right eye when he was 34, causing permanent damage to his depth perception and his ability to focus. Parent was forced to retire from hockey in 1979. He was inducted into the NHL Hall Of Fame in 1984.

Derek Edwards

Derek Edwards Comedic Virtuoso

"Edwards is the kind of guy who could read the nutritional content off a cereal box and have you in tears." - Jennine Profeta, Winnipeg Free PressThe comedy of Derek Edwards has made him one of the hottest properties in Canada. A regular at the Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal, where he was recently hailed as a “virtuoso at the peak of performance”, Derek’s comedic gift is in making the ordinary extraordinary. Derek has been featured on numerous radio and television comedy shows, is a two time Gemini nominee, and has been voted Canadian Comedian of the Year. He has filled theatres from coast to coast and most recently completed a 60 city tour of his show, My Blunderful Life. "“Still the funniest man in Canada”" - Toronto Sun"“5 STARS - the funniest man on earth”" -– Winnipeg Free Press“"4 STARS –- a first rate comic…the crowd howled”" - –Victoria Times Colonist“"Edwards reigns as King of Canadian comedy”" -– Charlottetown Guardian“"Derek Edwards is hysterical”" -– Calgary Sun

Rod Black

Your Host...Rod Black CTV and TSN Sportscaster

Rod Black's knowledge, versatility and enthusiasm have earned him a reputation as one of Canada's most recognized and distinguished sportscasters. In his 24 years as a sports journalist, Black has been involved with a variety of different events and competitions, fitting into each role with ease. Black's extensive sports resume includes play-by-play commentating on TSN for Blue Jays Baseball, CFL, golf and figure skating, hosting duties on TSN for the NBA, and anchoring CTV's coverage of the Canadian Open, MasterCard Skate Canada and Canadian Figure Skating Championships.Rod has also covered the Olympics, including the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver, BC, the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City, the 1994 Winter Games in Lillehammer and the 1992 Summer Games in Barcelona.He won the 2005 Sports Media Canada Award as Outstanding Sports Broadcaster and has earned five Gemini Award nominations for Best Sports Broadcaster."My whole life is pretty much about sports. It's not a job. It's not a hobby. It's a passion.'' Rod Black

Warren Moon
Rudy Ruettiger
Chris Chelios
Larry Holmes
Bernie Parent
Derek Edwards
Rod Black

Past Guests No Frame

Home
The Dinner
Head Table
Past Guests
Buy Tickets
Sponsors
Progress Club
Our Charities

A taste of the greats we have dined with over the years...

NFL Football

Tom Dempsey 1974

Franco Harris 1975

Rocky Bleier 1978

Johnny Unitas 1983

Ray Nitschke 1985

Ken Anderson 1986

O.J. Anderson 1996

Tony Dorsett 1997

Thurman Thomas 1998

Bob Lily 2002

Marv Levy 2003

Bruce Smith 2005

Jim Kelly 2008

Boxing

Floyd Patterson 1978

Archie Moore 1979

Ricky Anderson 1982

Trevor Berbick 1982

George Chuvalo 1985

Angelo Dundee 1986

Jake LaMotta 2000

Kirk Johnson 2002

Joe Frazier 2009

‘Irish’ Mickey Ward 2010

CFL Football

Joe Theismann 1974

Matt Dunigan 1992

Pinball Clemons 2004

Damon Allen 2005

Terry Evanshen 2006

Anthony Calvillo 2010

Hockey

Dale Hawerchuk 2006

Doug Gilmour 2006

Gerry Cheevers 2007

Bob Probert 2007

Paul Coffey 2007

Gordie Howe 2007

Frank Mahovlich 2008

Brian Trottier 2008

Dennis Hull 2009

Paul Henderson 2009

Theo Fleury 2009

Jeremy Roenick 2010

Walter Gretzky 2010

Baseball

Ferguson Jenkins 1973

Carl Yastrzemski 1980

Wade Boggs 1983

Ernie Whitt 1983

Tim Raines 1984

Buck Rodgers 1990

Kelly Gruber 1991

Dave Winfield 1992

Mike Timlin 1994

Tommy Lasorda 1995

Andre Dawson 1996

Keith Hernandez 1996

Gaylord Perry 1997

Ozzie Smith 1999

Tommy John 2000

Bobby Valentine 2001

Jesse Barfield 2002

Phil Niekro 2004

Joe Carter 2006

Sparky Anderson 2007

Jim Abbott 2009

Roberto Alomar 2010

Hockey

Jean Beliveau 1974

Maurice Richard 1976

Eddie Shack 1977

Alan Eagleson 1978

Bobby Orr 1981

Bobby Hull 1983

Harry Sinden 1983 Wayne Cashman 1984

King Clancy 1985

Don Cherry 1987

Mike Bossy 1991

Denis Potvin 1992

Brad Park 1993

Ken Dryden 1994

Darryl Sittler 1995

Pat Burns 1997

Don Koharski 1998

Tony Esposito 2003

Marcel Dionne 2004

Grant Fuhr 2004

Darcy Tucker 2005

Kelly Hrudey 2005

Buy Tickets No Frame

Home
The Dinner
Head Table
Past Guests
Buy Tickets
Sponsors
Progress Club
Our Charities

Buy Tickets

Tickets are $225.00 each or $2,250.00 for a table of 10, plus HST. To purchse tickets please contact a member of the Canadian Progress Club - Halifax directly, or send us an e-mail using the form below and one of our ticket chairs will contact you.

Thank you for supporting the Canadian Progress Club – - Halifax!

Your support will assist disabled children, or those ‘at risk’ of developmental delay.

Your support will assist mentally challenged adults.

Your support will allow us to provide much needed funds for our charities and assist those less fortunate in our communities who are in need.

Thank you to our Sponsors

Platinum Sponsors

Gold Sponsors

Presenting Sponsor

Sponsorship opportunities still available. For further sponsorship or corporate table information, please contact:

Conrad Coughlan, Event Sponsorship

conrad_coughlan_irco.com

1-902-471-4221

Doran Donovan, Event Co-Chair doran.donovan_cibc.ca 1-902-483-1441

Steve Murphy, Event Co-Chair stevem_cbcl.ca 1-902-478-3935

Progress Club No Frame

Home
The Dinner
Head Table
Past Guests
Buy Tickets
Sponsors
Progress Club
Our Charities

The good we do is all here in black and white...

It was 1965, when the 15 charter members of the Canadian Progress Club– - Halifax came together to form a new chapter of our national service club. From modest beginnings, great things have grown and the club has become a model of charitable fundraising success in Halifax. Numerous members have followed the footsteps of the original 15 and all have adhered to the maxim that you join the Canadian Progress Club to give back to our community. We limit our membership to 50 and ask a lot of every member. Along with the Sports Celebrity Dinner, the Canadian Progress Club –- Halifax also hosts The Big Spring Gala & Auction and is a beneficiary of A Night For Progress, and the Pro-Am Golf Tournament. We also involved in many other fundraising activities. Having raised millions of dollars since our inception, we are able to make significant contributions to King’s Meadow Home and the Progress Centre For Early Intervention. Our financial and service contributions have also extended far beyond our two major charities, including Special Olympics Canada, Nova Scotia Special Olympics, IWK Hospital, Byrony House, Feed Nova Scotia, Feeding Others Of Dartmouth, Abilities Foundation, Mental Health Organizations, Breast Cancer, etc. Contributing to the community in the way we do is made possible by the continued support of our generous patrons and sponsors. We will continue to provide funds for our charities and will continue to be actively involved in our community for many years to come with your help and continued generosity.
Our Charities No Frame

Home
The Dinner
Head Table
Past Guests
Buy Tickets
Sponsors
Progress Club
Our Charities

In November, 1985, the Progress Centre For Early Intervention was officially opened in Halifax. This Centre was established through the efforts of the Canadian Progress Club, the Junior League of Halifax, and the C.A.C.L., Nova Scotia Division. The Progress Club – Halifax provides the funding required to operate this centre from monies generated by various activities. The Progress Centre For Early Intervention provides service aimed at facilitating the development of infants from birth to three years, who are disabled, or ‘at risk’ for developmental delay. Research has shown that intervention at an early age has beneficial effects for both children and their families. Case workers work with parents at home and in the centre. The purpose is to provide a range of stimulation and activities for the parents to carry out with the child, as well as support services and training for the parents.
Simple

King's Meadow Home

Situated on nine acres of well-groomed, lightly wooded farmland near Windsor, Nova Scotia, King’s Meadow was the one time estate of former Nova Scotia Lieutenant Governor, the late Dr. H.W. Kendall. A magnificent structure, King’s Meadow spacious rooms are today, home to ten adultswith mental disabilities who are supervised by a professional team of residential counselors. King’s Meadow offers residents all the easy-going seclusion and privacy of a rural setting yet is within easy walking distance of all the amenities and services of the town of Windsor. King’s Meadow has served as a model for similar facilities across Canada and over the year has acquired an enviable reputation for providing a warm family environment for residents.