Saint John honours 2026 Sports Hall of Fame class spanning six disciplines
The City of Saint John has announced the 2026 Greater Saint John Sports Hall of Fame class, recognizing six individuals whose performances and leadership have shaped sport in the region. The inductees include four Athletes and two Builders, reflecting competitive success on national and international stages and long-term contributions to coaching and administration.
The Athlete inductees are Peter Britt (boxing), Glen Hayward (judo), Olivia Gauthier (soccer) and James Smith (shooting). The Builder inductees are Robert McInnes (karate) and Allie Vaughan (taekwondo). Together, they represent decades of sustained excellence and leadership rooted in Greater Saint John’s clubs, schools and community programs.
Who’s being inducted and why it matters
According to the City’s announcement, the 2026 class illustrates the breadth of sport in the region—from combat sports and precision shooting to university and professional soccer. Their resumés span provincial, national and international competition, as well as sport governance and coaching that helped grow participation and performance in New Brunswick and beyond.
| Inductee | Role | Sport | Notable achievements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peter Britt | Athlete | Boxing | 7 provincial titles; 6-time national medalist; 2 national championships; three-time National Team; competed in 1984 Olympic Box-Off Trials |
| Glen Hayward | Athlete | Judo | 7 provincial titles; 3 Atlantic and 4 Eastern Canadian championships; seven National Championships; Francophone Games |
| Olivia Gauthier | Athlete | Soccer | Fundy Soccer alum; NCAA Division I at University of Memphis (captain, second-team All-American, Defensive Player of the Year); pro in Sweden and Kazakhstan |
| James Smith | Athlete | Shooting | World Police and Fire Games: 10 gold, 3 silver, 2 bronze; multiple team medals for Canada |
| Robert McInnes | Builder | Karate | More than six decades in coaching and administration; founded first Maritimes Karate Association |
| Allie Vaughan | Builder | Taekwondo | Long-standing provincial and national leadership; Taekwondo Canada Performance Coach; coaching facilitator |
What the selection says about local sport
Saint John’s sport community is reflected in this class’s balance of competitive milestones and institution-building. The Athletes’ achievements highlight pathways from local clubs to national teams and international events. The Builders’ legacies underscore how structured coaching, safe programming and effective administration help athletes advance from community levels to high-performance environments.
- Breadth of disciplines: From martial arts to soccer and shooting, the inductees demonstrate the region’s diverse participation base.
- Progression pathways: Several athletes advanced from local clubs to national and international competition, signalling the strength of development systems in Greater Saint John.
- Sustained leadership: Builder inductees have contributed over decades to coaching systems, talent identification and sport governance.
Inductee highlights
Peter Britt earned seven provincial titles and reached the podium at national championships on six occasions, including winning two national crowns. A three-time member of Canada’s national boxing team, he reached the 1984 Olympic Box-Off Trials, defeating the reigning Canadian champion before being edged by split decision for the Olympic berth.
Glen Hayward collected seven provincial judo titles, three Atlantic championships and four Eastern Canadian championships, and represented New Brunswick at seven national championships. His competitive record includes international experience at the Francophone Games.
Olivia Gauthier progressed from Fundy Soccer to provincial teams and then to Shattuck–St. Mary’s. At the University of Memphis, she captained the NCAA Division I program and was recognized as a second-team All-American and Defensive Player of the Year. She later played professionally with Lidköpings FK in Sweden and BIIK Shymkent in Kazakhstan.
James Smith has excelled in small- and large-bore rifle events, amassing 10 gold, 3 silver and 2 bronze medals at the World Police and Fire Games and contributing to multiple medal-winning Canadian teams.
On the development side, Robert McInnes has invested more than six decades in karate coaching and administration, guiding athletes from provincial through international levels. He founded the first Maritimes Karate Association, helping anchor the sport’s structure in Atlantic Canada. Allie Vaughan has provided long-standing leadership in taekwondo, serving at provincial and national levels, including as a Taekwondo Canada Performance Coach and as a coaching facilitator with the Coaching Association of Canada.
What’s next
The City’s announcement focuses on the class and their accomplishments. Details about ceremony timing, venue and public recognition activities were not included in the release. The Greater Saint John Sports Hall of Fame typically acknowledges contributors whose efforts have elevated sport locally and represented the region on larger stages. Residents can expect formal recognition events to follow, consistent with past practice.
For athletes, coaches and volunteers across the region, this class offers a visible benchmark of what local programs can support—from early skill development to high-performance competition—reinforced by governance and coaching frameworks established by long-time builders.
