2025 Hall of Fame Inductees

Barry Abelson - Entrepreneur, Philanthropist 

Barry Abelson knows how to talk turkey. With his initial act of generosity in 2003, he laid the groundwork for the partnership between the House of Friendship’s Christmas Food Program now supported by the annual Kitchener - Conestoga Rotary Club Turkey Drive. House of Friendship Director, and nominator, John Neufeld says, “Every year, more than 5,000 households are able to celebrate a holiday meal together because of Barry.”

Born in Brooklyn, New York, with his school years spent in California, Barry was already demonstrating leadership capabilities by age 10. He and his family moved to Ontario in 1954, and since 1956 he has lived and worked in Kitchener-Waterloo where he has made a lasting mark in both his business and volunteer endeavours.

In 1964, Barry founded Abelson Siding and Windows in Waterloo and was President until his retirement from the company in 2009. He was the creator and founding member in 1988 of the Siding and Window Dealers Association of Canada which sets standards for the industry and served as their President and Director until 2005. During his tenure, he established the only North American Energy-Efficient Window Installation course. He also created the National Energy-Efficient Window and Energy-Efficient Installation Certification Program, which has directly equated to substantial fossil fuel and greenhouse gas emission reductions.  

Barry was often the keynote speaker at industry meetings throughout North America, and wrote two books outlining protocols for industry practices.

Barry’s volunteering and philanthropy ethos was both good business and very personal. The Abelson company donated over $100,000 in materials to Habitat for Humanity, and for many years, donated the windows and doors to the K-W Rotary Club’s annual Dream Home. 

Barry’s first wife, Wanda, developed Multiple Sclerosis at age 28. Barry became Founder, Director, and Vice President of the local MS Society, hosting those early chapter meetings at their home. For his devotion to volunteering with the organization, he received a Citation of Merit from the MS Society of Canada, and was made an honorary member for his fundraising efforts. He nursed Wanda until her death at age 52. Barry married Marian and they have been married for over 40 years.

Barry was president and director of Project Lift, a service for people with physical disabilities, the pre-cursor to GRT’s Mobility Plus program. He was a Kitchener-Conestoga Rotary Club member, and in 2012, received Rotary International’s Paul Harris Fellow Award. He also served as President and Director of the local Better Business Bureau, and was one of only three made an Honorary Life-time Director.  In 2004 and 2006, Barry was CKCO’s “local hero”.  

Barry’s most consequential contribution to the Region of Waterloo started in 2003 when he gave 100 turkeys to the House of Friendship’s Emergency Hamper program. The turkeys were gone in three days. The next year 1000 were needed. Barry rounded up friends and associates to help fund the increase, together donating 1,100 turkeys for regional families. He did the same thing in 2005 and 2006. By 2007, Barry had persuaded his old Rotary Club to take over. By 2022, the drive had raised over five million dollars to help address food insecurity throughout Waterloo Region.

Since his retirement, Barry has written and published four books.

He is a 4-time U.S. Squash National Champion and four times has ranked #1 in the world, in squash, in his age group.

Barry Abelson’s philanthropy, his business acumen, and his decades’ long volunteering have benefited thousands of people in this community, and he is warmly welcomed to the Waterloo Region Hall of Fame.  

Chelsea Aubry - Basketball

Chelsea Aubry, raised in Kitchener, achieved success at the international level of women’s basketball. Her childhood years were centred on physical movement, whether in dance class or the soccer pitch. As a student at Grand River Collegiate Institute, she expanded her athletic pursuits on the Renegades’ teams and mastered multiple sports including volleyball and rugby. It was on the basketball team, where she played power forward, that her athletic career started to take shape. She was named Athlete of the Year in both her junior and senior years.

Chelsea was selected as one of the country’s 72 top players to attend the Nike All-Canada Camp in Toronto, and was also tapped as one of the top five high school players in Ontario. She worked at improving her game as a member of the Waterloo Wildhawks, the regional basketball house league. Its programming is dedicated to skills development and teamwork, and with Chelsea on their team, were provincial champions.

In 2002-2003, Chelsea played for the Canadian U20 National Team, and the Canadian World University Games.   

Chelsea was scouted as a top recruit for US College Basketball and was accepted by several colleges. She chose the University of Nebraska (UN)-(National Collegiate Athletic Association Division 1) and in 2003, her freshman year, she was the first Canadian to play for the UN Huskers.

In her four years at UN, playing both offence and defence, she scored 898 points and had 539 rebounds. In her senior year she averaged 8.4 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. Chelsea started in 90 games including 78 straight to end her career. In her senior year, as team captain, she led her team to its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2000.

Among Chelsea’s many on-court achievements while at Nebraska are Second-team Academic All-Big 12 Conference (2005, 2007), NCAA Leadership Conference Participant (2005), Nebraska Team Captain (2005, 2006, 2007), NCAA Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Representative, and still managed to make the Big 12 Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll. Chelsea graduated with International Business and Ethnic Studies degrees.

Chelsea competed at two FIBA World Championships in 2006 (Brazil) and 2010 (Czech Republic) with Canada Basketball at the International Federation of Basketball (FIBA) World Championship for Women. FIBA is the worldwide governing body that regulates and oversees international competitions.

In 2012, Chelsea, team captain of the Canada Basketball Senior Women’s National Team, helped secure them a berth, on Canada Day no less, at the London Olympic Games. Canada advanced to the quarter finals.

Chelsea played for Canada Basketball for 12 years and captained the Canadian Senior Women’s National Basketball team for six years.  During Chelsea’s playing career with the Canadian Sr Women’s National Team, the team went from 22^nd to 8^th ranked team in the world.

Launching her professional career in Europe, she played in Slovakia for a season and then in Australia for seven seasons with Bendigo Spirit.  Chelsea helped Bendigo Spirit claim back-to-back championships in the Australian Women’s National Basketball League National Championship.

Chelsea retired from playing in 2015, but post career, was involved for three years with the local Rising Stars basketball program as a Senior Coordinator and Project Manager. As a LEAD Programs Instructor and Facilitator, she coordinated programs in both the athletics and education divisions. Chelsea was a major contributor to the Rising Stars’ collection of innovative programs for youth, students and athletes. Chelsea joined the Kitchener-Waterloo Basketball Officials Association starting her officiating in 2024-2025.

Chelsea currently lives in Cambridge with her husband Shane and two children, Matilda age 6, and Brooks, age 4. 

Anne Benedetti - Field Lacrosse

Anne Benedetti, raised in Cambridge, excelled early on at a range of sports, but it was during her university years that she was introduced to the game of lacrosse. Canada’s national summer sport was a perfect fit, and the start of Anne’s journey to successfully compete at the international level. 

Anne established her record for winning during her school years when she was a stand-out at softball, speed skating, basketball, and soccer. She played basketball with the Kitchener Boys Youth travel team, and in high school was a point guard for the Cambridge Basketball girls’ travel team. Twice she was named to the Kitchener-Waterloo Record district high school all-star basketball team, plus three times to the all-star soccer team. In six years with Cambridge Basketball, she competed regularly at the Central West Ontario Region meets. In short track speed skating, she won her first Ontario championship title in 1985, and again in 1987. 

As a student at Queen’s University, Anne tried lacrosse, which soon became her chosen sport. From 1998 to 2000, she captained the team, and as head player and coach, led her squad to back-to-back Ontario University Athletics titles. Anne’s performance during her first season with the Queen’s team landed her on Team Ontario, where she played from 1998 until 2006.

In her final season at Queen’s, she was the league’s top scorer, a conference all-star, the league MVP, and earned the title of Queen’s Journal Athlete of the Year. 

Anne was just warming up. Starting in 1999, she played for seven years as a mid-fielder on Team Canada, including at the Lacrosse World Cup in England. Recognized as a role model for young women, she was named in 2000 to the Canadian Association for Advancement of Women in Sport and Physical Activity.

While pursuing her athletic career, Anne was also busy studying law at Western University. She again served as player and head coach, this time with the Mustangs lacrosse team. In 2003, Anne was named Western’s outstanding female scholar athlete.

In 2002, Anne combined her passions for sport and law when she was selected to be clerk for the Ad Hoc Court of Arbitration for Sports at the Manchester Commonwealth Games. Her role was to assist staff in running the court, and aid the arbitrators with any legal or procedural questions arising during the Games.

In 2004, Anne was invited to study at the University of Oxford where she obtained her Masters of Law degree. True to character, Anne joined Oxford’s Lacrosse Blues, helping them win the British Home Nationals. She also toured with the British Universities Sports Association National Lacrosse Team and was named player of the year for the Oxford varsity team.

From 2007, Anne served for six years as a board member of the Government of Canada’s Sport Dispute Resolution Centre.

Anne Benedetti is recognized for her outstanding contributions as a skilled player, a winning coach, a game official, and especially for creating opportunities for younger generations of lacrosse players. Called to the bar in 2004, she practises law in Toronto., at Goodmans LLP, where she is a partner and member of the Executive Committee. 

Mike Bergauer (1933-2023) - Educator, Musician, Mentor

Music meant everything to Mike Bergauer. He channeled his passion for this art form into a lifetime of teaching, playing and mentoring generations of students. Some of his protégés are still performing internationally, but it is within Waterloo Region that his most lasting contribution plays on. Today our KW Youth Orchestra can trace its roots to decades ago when Mike founded a new day camp. 

Mike grew up in Kitchener and was a life-long resident of Waterloo Region. He was a student at St. Jerome’s High School, began teaching in 1954, and soon became the Coordinator of Music for the Waterloo Catholic District School Board. The position allowed him to establish an instrumental music program in the schools. His last teaching position, coming full circle, was back at St. Jerome’s

Mike was first and foremost a musician. At age 14, he was playing trumpet on the radio, and over his career, not only taught music, but started a number of his own bands, composed and arranged music, and conducted concerts. In 1967, Centennial year, Mike orchestrated one of the largest school productions in Canada called “Canadian Opus ‘67” in which 1,500 students from the Catholic schools participated. 

In 1966, Mike established the first Music Day Camp in Canada through the Optimist Club, of which he was a member. The camp operated annually until 1972, and its camp orchestra became the nucleus of the K-W Junior Symphony, now known today as the KW Youth Orchestra. The not-for-profit organization supplements music education and offers a high standard of orchestral instruction and rewarding performance opportunities, especially through ensemble performance.

Mike’s major musical impact within Waterloo Region was his mentoring and encouragement of young musicians, many of whom went on to professional careers in the industry. Among his protégés were members of groups such as Opus II, Brassline, Ruby, Horizon, and Blue Midnight. John Tank, a professional jazz saxophonist now living and working in New York City, was a grade 2 student when he first encountered Mike, and credits him as being a major influence on his career. Mike arranged an interview for John with concert saxophonist, Paul Brodie, who in turn, helped John get accepted into the Berklee School of Music in Boston.

Donnie McDougall, who started first as a percussionist with Opus II when he was just 17 years old, and still playing professionally, as a drummer, 45 years later, is unequivocal when he states that he owes his career to Mike. On the occasion of Mike’s 75th birthday, hundreds of his students attended the party in Kitchener, and were entertained by a full orchestra of his former students. His Celebration of Life at Bingeman’s Park in 2023 was a similar momentous reunion of students.

Mike Bergauer’s commitment to music, the musical life of young people in Waterloo Region, and the establishment of the KW Youth Orchestra will be his enduring legacy to our community.

Mike Poulin - Box Lacrosse

Mike Poulin, born and raised in Kitchener, was first introduced to the game of lacrosse in grade 3 at his elementary school. His life’s work has been to play the game at full throttle, while amassing wins and awards up to and including the professional and international levels.

As a youth, Mike played box (indoor) lacrosse with the Kitchener-Waterloo Braves, an organization within the OLA Junior A Lacrosse League. He attributes his successful goaltending career to this local organization and the mentors who inspired him, so much so that he has the Braves’ logo tattooed on his back.

Mike launched his professional career with the National Lacrosse League (NLL), a North American men’s professional league. He started in 2007 with the Toronto Rock, moved in 2009 to the Boston Blazers, next to the Calgary Roughnecks in 2010, and then spent five seasons with the Georgia Swarm from 2017 to 2022.

The awards soon followed. He was NLL Goaltender of the Year, All Pro First Team (2012); All Pro Second Team (2017). In 2018 he was singled out for stopping 682 shots on goals, the seventh most in NLL history.

In 2019, Mike was named Kitchener Sports Association Athlete of the Year, and the same year, with the Peterborough Lakers, was Mann Cup Champion at the Canadian Senior Men’s National Championship. He was also the recipient of the Mike Kelley Memorial Trophy for MVP.

Continuing his 2019 streak, Mike tended goal for Team Canada at the World Indoor Lacrosse Championship, in Langley, BC. The competition is held every four years, with 20 countries participating that year. The team won gold, and Mike was selected as goaltender for the All World Team.

In the summer of 2022, after 15 years of goaltending, Mike retired from the NLL. With the Georgia Swarm at the time, and their franchise leader in wins, he moved from the playing field to their office as Assistant General Manager, Player Acquisition and Development.

Mike took with him one NLL Championship (Georgia; 2017), three NLL Teammate of the Year awards (2016, 2017, 2020), one NLL Goaltender of the Year honour (Calgary; 2012), and two NLL All-Pro Team accolades (2012 First Team, 2017 Second Team).

Waterloo region has always been home base for Mike, and in 2019 he was named Goalie Coach to the KW Braves Junior A Lacrosse team. He also coaches all three of his sons,

(U-11, U-9, U-7) in the Ontario Lacrosse Association, as well as mentoring a fall league for youth in KW.

Mike is the founder of Empowered Athletics (Lacrosse), where he and fellow coaches inspire young athletes to be their best selves on and off the playing field. They offer summer camps, classroom engagement, clinics and leagues.

After a very brief retirement as a player and a one-year stint as an Assistant Coach for the Georgia Swarm, Mike has returned to the field as an experienced back-up goalie and mentor for a young goalie on the 2023-2024 San Diego Seals Lacrosse Team.

Mike Poulin has dedicated his life, on and off the lacrosse field, to advocating for a healthy and active lifestyle especially for our youth.   

Ken Seiling - Politician, Community Leader, Volunteer

Many citizens have contributed to the vibrancy of Waterloo Region, but as a community leader, Ken Seiling’s imprint is unparalleled. As former councillor Tom Galloway stated in his letter of support, Ken’s “leadership style was always understated but very much collaborative and inclusive. His behind-the-scenes consensus building acumen is legendary in local civic circles.”

Ken Seiling began his career as a history teacher and next took the job as Director of the Wellington County Museum and Archives. A resident of Elmira, he ran for local municipal office in 1976 and was elected to the Woolwich Township Council. Two years later, he was elected Mayor of Woolwich Township, which included serving as Regional Councillor. In 1985, Ken’s fellow councillors elected him as chair of the Waterloo Regional Council. Beginning in 1997, the region’s citizens were able to directly elect him as Chair, a position in which Ken served for a total of 33 years. He retired from council in 2018.

During Ken’s decades-long career in public service, he worked on many boards and commissions, including the Waterloo Regional Police Service Board, Waterloo North Hydro Commission, the Grand River Conservation Authority, and the Board of Governors of the University of Waterloo. He also served on the board of the Association of Ontario Municipalities, chaired the Mayors and Regional Chairs of Ontario, and after retirement, conducted an Ontario government-directed review of regional governments.

Ken’s accolades include the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for community service, the Paul Harris Rotary Fellow Award, and to celebrate its centennial, Wilfrid Laurier University listed him as one its 100 Alumni of Achievement. On his retirement, Regional Councillors renamed the Waterloo Region Museum in his honour – the Ken Seiling Waterloo Region Museum.

Ken Seiling’s signature leadership style was community-based and took the long view. As just a sample of his foresight, he developed the Growth Management Study which led to the establishment of the countryside line to preserve farmland; promoted and led the effort to build a light rail transit line, today’s ION; passed the Anti-Smoking bylaw, the first such bylaw in the province, and which subsequently provided the template for other communities to follow; provided leadership in establishing the Waterloo Region Museum which includes the curatorial centre, Doon Heritage Village, McDougall Cottage in Galt, and Schneider Haus in Kitchener; aided in the development of the master plan for the expansion of the Region of Waterloo International Airport; and helped to establish the Crime Prevention Council which became a leader across Canada.  He worked with McMaster University and the University of Waterloo to bring a medical school to the Region.

In his personal life, Ken has been a longtime volunteer, a supporter of the arts, and is an accomplished choir director and organist. He currently serves as the Chair of the Board of Directors for the Grand Philharmonic Choir. He and his wife Kathryn have five children and 13 grandchildren.

Ken Seiling has been an outstanding visionary on behalf of Waterloo Region. His nominator, Brian Hunsberger states that his “lasting legacy will be his modeling of an ethical, democratic, inclusive style of leadership that has further developed and maintained a progressive, peaceful, prosperous community”. 

Scott Walker - Hockey

Scott Walker, born and raised in Cambridge, stepped on the ice as a local junior hockey player and quickly advanced to the game’s professional level. His career in the National Hockey League (NHL) and Team Canada spanned 17 seasons, during which he established a record as one of the most talented players to emerge from his hometown.

Scott played in his youth for the Cambridge Winter Hawks, and for the Junior B Kitchener Dutchmen. In 1991, he was drafted into Junior A, playing in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) for three seasons, with the Owen Sound Platers.

Scott found the net frequently and was a formidable opponent. During his final year of Junior hockey, he finished third in Platers scoring with 23 goals, 91 points in 57 games, and accumulated 110 penalty minutes. In 1993, he was named to the OHL second all-star team for his strong performance.

In the 1993 NHL entry draft, the Vancouver Canucks selected Scott in the fifth round. His NHL debut was in April 1995 against the Edmonton Oilers. Soon, he got his first NHL point, an assist, during the Canucks 2-2 tie with the Dallas Stars. In 1996, Scott switched from playing defence to right-wing forward.

Scott’s NHL career included four years with the Vancouver Canucks, seven years with the Nashville Predators, four years with Carolina Hurricanes and a final year with the Washington Capitals. He racked up an impressive record: 829 regular season games, scored 397 points and earned 1,135 minutes in penalties. Following the 2009-2010 season, he retired as a player after an outstanding career.

Internationally, Scott competed as a member of Team Canada at the Ice Hockey World Championships in 1999, 2001 and in 2005, earned a silver medal.

While Scott retired as a player, he was far from done with hockey. He extended his career, becoming a coach, mentor and specialist in the game. In December 2011, Scott was named head coach of the OHL’s Guelph Storm, and by 2014, as both coach and owner, he steered the team from ninth place to first, winning the Robertson Cup at the championship playoffs. In 2019, the Guelph Storm were again the OHL champions under Scott’s ownership. In 2021, the Guelph Storm’s new owners named Scott President of Hockey Operations. 

Scott, as Assistant Coach (AC), guided international junior hockey for several years. In 2012, he was the U20 Canadian team’s AC at the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Junior Championships, winning Bronze. In 2015, he assisted again on the gold-medal winning Canadian team at the IIHF World Junior Championship games.

In 2015, Scott was Head Coach at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, Hockey Canada’s annual tournament. His Team Canada won gold, the first time under the revised format of sending three teams. In 2017, with Scott as AC, Team Canada took the Spengler Cup Gold Medal in Davos, Switzerland. Scott’s international mentoring included the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, S. Korea, when the team brought home the Bronze Medal.

Since 2015, Scott has been in demand as a coach and front office special assistant. He held roles such as player development consultant and director of player development with the Vancouver Canucks; special assistant to the general manager with the Arizona Coyotes; and in 2021-2022, assistant coach to the Canucks’ Bruce Boudreau. Scott Walker’s dedication to hard work, professionalism and team play was evident during his career on the ice. His commitment to paying it forward as a coach, advisor and team owner is equally commendable.

Scott and his wife Julie have two children, son Cooper and daughter Anna.