The Kingston & District Sports Hall of Fame introduced its ‘Class of 2026’ on Tuesday night at Kingston City Council, there are five new inductees – two athletes and three builders.

Undrafted, it was hard work and perseverance that led Kingston’s Rob Bagg to an 11 year CFL career with Saskatchewan Roughriders. Rob was a Grey Cup champion in 2013 and a Western All Star the following year. Rob went to Frontenac Secondary School and in addition to football, played Greater Kingston Triple A hockey and ran track and cross country. Rob captained the Queen’s football Gaels, was team MVP and a second team All-Canadian in 2007. He is a member of the Queen’s Football Hall of Fame and the Saskatchewan Roughriders ‘Ring of Honour.’

John MacMillan is one of winningest drivers and trainers in Ontario harness racing. John was introduced to the sport at Kingston Park Raceway, and in a career spanning almost four decades – has over 1,800 career wins as a driver and trainer while amassing over 10-million dollars in career winnings. John relocated to Ottawa where he has had a long association with Rideau Carleton Raceway. John has worked in management roles, been a longtime track announcer and has continued to train and drive horses. John has also called races at Blue Bonnets in Montreal and the now defunct Connaught Park in Aylmer, Quebec. In 2026 John will receive the Unsung Hero Award from the US Harness Racing Association.

Three builders are being honoured; Corrie Abrams for Sports Journalism. For decades Corrie was a fixture around Junior C hockey in Eastern Ontario – and also covered the Kingston Voyageurs. Corrie reported on Junior hockey happenings through her popular ‘Corrie’s Corner’ columns that ran in local newspapers for many years and she also was the longtime Convenor of the Empire Junior C Hockey League. Corrie was a founding member of the Greater Kingston Triple A Hockey Association. She spent 25 years as an organizer with the Kiwanis Amateur Athlete of the Year Awards and served as Past President and a board member with the Kingston & District Sports Hall of Fame. In 2025 Corrie received the prestigious King Charles III Coronation medal for her contributions to our community.

Longtime Kingston Whig Standard sportswriter Doug Graham is going in as a builder. Doug’s involvement with local sports went well beyond the pages of the newspaper. Doug was instrumental in bringing High School baseball back to Kingston in the early 2000’s as both an organizer and coach. Doug was the General Manager of the Kingston Ponies Senior Baseball team, and a board member of both the Ponies and the Kingston Baseball Association. Doug is a Past President of the Royal Kingston Curling Club, he co-founded the competitive Kingston Major Curling League and helped initiate the ‘Little Rocks’ program to introduce kids to the sport of curling.

Steve Vallier is being recognized as a builder in minor baseball. Known to many as ‘Mr. Baseball’ in Kingston – Steve has been a tireless worker for Kingston baseball for over 30 years and has been a great mentor to his players. Steve joined the Kingston Baseball Association in the early 1990’s and has been involved ever since. Coaching Rep and House League teams, Steve has served as an executive member and has filled almost every role in local minor baseball both on and off the field. When the KBA moved to Little League Canada it saw its registration numbers explode and now with Steve’s continued involvement – Kingston has hosted successful Canadian Little League Championship tournaments at the Cricket Field.

The 29th annual induction ceremonies for the Kingston & District Sports Hall of Fame will be held Friday May 01.

Mark Potter is a Kingston & District Sports Hall of Fame Inductee from 2012 and is a longtime former Kingston broadcaster.