Three outstanding community members are being inducted into the Okotoks Hall of Fame in recognition of their lasting contributions to sport, arts, culture and community service.
At the April 27 Regular Council Meeting, Sandi Kennedy, Wayne Meikle and Don Seaman were announced as the 2025 Hall of Fame Inductees. Those able to attend were presented with commemorative plaques and formally recognized by Mayor and Council.
“Sandi, Wayne and Don each represent what it means to lead with vision, generosity and service,” said Mayor Tanya Thorn. “Their contributions have helped shape Okotoks into the community we know today, and we are honoured to recognize their lasting legacies through the Okotoks Hall of Fame.”
Sandi Kennedy was nominated in the community service category for decades of civic leadership and volunteer service in Okotoks, including involvement with the Chamber of Commerce, Royal Purple, Oil Wives and Okotoks Minor Hockey. Her legacy includes a historic tenure as the first women elected Mayor of Okotoks, during which the community experienced significant growth and major civic developments, including the Okotoks Public Library, Sandstone Seniors Lodge and the Milligan Drive fire station. Her commitment to community service continues through her involvement in the Foothills Community Centre Foundation and Okotoks Rotary Club.
Wayne Meikle was nominated in the community service category for more than three decades of dedicated civic leadership and volunteer service in Okotoks. His contributions include service towards numerous boards and committees, as well as serving as a Town of Okotoks Councillor. He played a key role in initiatives such as the Okotoks Sheep River Valley Management Plan, Active Transportation Strategy, River Valley Clean Up, D.A.R.E. program and establishment of the Okotoks Community Garden. His lasting impact is reflected in the green spaces, pathways and community programs that continue to enrich life in Okotoks.
Don Seaman was posthumously nominated in the sports category for his role in helping establish Okotoks as a premier youth baseball development community and a national hub for youth and collegiate baseball. Made possible through his generous support for community facilities including Seaman Stadium and the Duvernay Fieldhouse—which together welcome more than 120,000 fans each year—Don’s impact lives on in the venues that bear his name, and the generations of young athletes whose lives he helped shape.
Each inductee will be honoured with a plaque on the Okotoks Hall of Fame wall, located at the Okotoks Recreation Centre outside the Murray Arena.
The updated Hall of Fame Program policy was adopted at the January 27, 2025 Regular Council Meeting, introducing changes to the eligibility criteria and selection process. Public nominations were accepted from March 5 to June 30, 2025, inviting residents to nominate individuals or groups, living or deceased, in the categories of sport, arts and culture, and community service.
The nomination and selection process occurs every four years, with nominations closing June 30 of each nomination term and the Okotoks’ Governance and Priorities Committee serves as the selection panel.
To learn more about the Hall of Fame program, visit okotoks.ca/fame.