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While the dictionary defines “ambassador as a “representative” or “promotor,” in Pat Hall’s case ambassador means a-person-a-sport-could-not-do-without. The sports of field hockey and softball have been played for generations, but without Pat Hall, these two sports would not have thrived in this province to produce the top-quality athletes the way they have today.

Pat began by playing field hockey and was an active player in the Vancouver Island Ladies Field Hockey Association (VILFHA) for 27 years, from 1961 through 1988. She began coaching in 1970 and umpiring in 1973, co-founding the South Island Field Hockey Umpires Association in 1988. Although retiring as an umpire in 2000, Pat continues to this day to coach teams in various divisions.

Pat’s list of contributions is endless! In addition to her many years as player, coach and umpire, Pat served on the executive of the VILFHA for over 40 years. She has been Victoria or BC representative with Field Hockey BC, Field Hockey Canada, the South Island Umpires Association and the Victoria Junior Field Hockey Association.

Pat has received numerous awards over the years. She was honoured four times with VILFHA’s most prestigious award, the Christine Trophy, for combining sportsmanship, service and playing ability. She was also honoured by Field Hockey BC with their Barbara Schrodt Award for those who have made a difference, the Gold Pin Volunteer Award and Sport BC President’s Award. In 1983, Pat was named Victoria Sports Person of the Year. In 1993, she was awarded with VILFHA Life Membership and, in 2013, the VILFHA introduced the Pat Hall Officials Development Award.

Her contributions to softball are almost as numerous. She started in 1960 with Stuffy McGinnis as scorekeeper for the Independent Athletics Association softball league at MacDonald Park. By 1963, she was scorekeeper, announcer and statistician for the league. In 1975, when the league moved to Central Park to amalgamate with the Victoria Major Men’s League, Pat became President of the newly-formed league and served in that position until 1993. She helped draw up the new constitution for the MacDonald Park Men’s Softball League in 1995.

From 1986 through 2006, Pat was Senior Coordinator, District 1 for Softball BC, organizing men’s, women’s and mixed district and provincial tournaments in Victoria or Duncan. She continued to hold various executive positions with MacDonald Park until retiring from softball in 2010.

A dedicated mom, Pat was scorekeeper for the Maverick Men’s Baseball League as her son, Marty, played. She now takes pride in watching her grandson, Tyrus, compete in baseball, soccer, basketball and track and her granddaughter, Taleesha, compete in volleyball and track.

Pat has spent a lifetime as a volunteer dedicated to ensuring the sports of softball and field hockey were strong administratively and competitively in this province. She has the ability to not only celebrate the past but encourage those following in her footsteps to challenge the future. She is a unique individual who has passed on her knowledge and expertise and, in doing so, created a legacy that continues to this day.