Gwen Walker never had children of her own, but she spent more than half a century making a difference in the lives of hundreds of young people through her work in the Church Athletic League.

Walker is recognized as the longest serving volunteer in the Church Athletic League’s 75-year history.

Gwen’s journey began in 1952 following the league’s inaugural season, when six teams competed in hockey and the first championship was won by her own parish, St. John’s Anglican Church in Portsmouth.

In a 2004 interview with the Kingston Whig Standard, Walker reflected on those early days.

“I started keeping score for the kids who were bowling. Then I helped the softball team for girls. But hockey has become my main interest since then.”

Over the next five decades, Walker became one of the CAL’s most recognizable and respected volunteers, helping generations of Kingston youngsters participate in hockey, five-pin bowling and softball.

Walker assumed numerous leadership responsibilities over the years, serving as a convenor, organizer, executive member and eventually league president.

I played for St. John’s Anglican CAL hockey in the 1960’s and 70’s, Walker had several nephews who also played for St. John’s, she was a constant presence at the games.

Gwen spent many years as a convenor of both bowling and softball. Walker was always very hands on in her role, and was a fixture on Saturday mornings at Brock Bowling Lanes for years.

Walker was only the second woman to head up the CAL, she was named president and succeeded Shirley Reynolds in 1986, after more than three decades of dedicated service.

In 1991, Walker received high praise from Rev. Canon Jim Scanlon, who successfully nominated her to be recognized in “Kingston’s Book of Honourable Achievement.”

“Miss Walker has been one of the CAL’s shining lights, promoting its wholesome activities at every level, and faithfully upholding its principles.”

Scanlon went on to add, “She has devoted herself tirelessly to the welfare of children and young people as individuals.”

But the Church Athletic League was only one part of her remarkably active life.

A longtime employee of Bell Canada, she was also a devoted and active member of St. John’s Anglican Church, where she provided leadership in numerous capacities, including overseeing the parish sports teams and its Sunday school program.

An accomplished recreational athlete in her own right, Walker was an avid competitive curler who competed regularly in women’s curling leagues around Kingston.

In 1989, she took early retirement from Bell Canada following a 39-year career. More than 200 friends and colleagues gathered at Cataraqui Golf Club to pay tribute to her.

But Walker made one thing perfectly clear that evening.

“I am not retiring from the Church Athletic League.”

Her years of involvement with the CAL also provided many memorable experiences.

One of the highlights came in 1968, when Walker had the opportunity to meet Prime Minster Pierre Trudeau during a visit to Kingston.

“I was given permission from Bell Canada to take time off to meet the Prime Minister. Pierre Trudeau was coming to Kingston to officially rededicate the Harold Harvey Arena.” That was the year the sides were put on the Harold Harvey Arena and it became a fully enclosed rink.

Over the years, Walker has crossed paths with some of Kingston’s best-known sports personalities and future celebrities.

“Gord Sinclair of the The Tragically Hip was one of our players, and so was Wayne Cashman. When Cashman was a kid, his parents didn’t have a car, so our league secretary used to drive out to Verona to pick him up.”

Cashman had a lengthy NHL career, eventually becoming captain of the Boston Bruins.

Walker’s remarkable dedication to the Church Athletic League was perhaps best summed by her friend and longtime educator, Dick Dodds.

“I went away for 22 years and when I came back to Kingston, there she was, still slugging away for the Church Athletic League.”

Walker passed away in 2005, but her legacy of community service lives on.

At St. John’s Anglican Church in Portsmouth, the parish hall bears her name, a lasting tribute to her years of dedication to the congregation.

And in 2025, a full two decades after her passing, the Church Athletic League honoured its longest-serving volunteer by naming one of its championship trophies in her memory,

A fitting tribute to a woman who devoted more than half a century to an organization that has now been a part of the Kingston sporting community for 75 years.

The CAL is hosting a 75th anniversary celebration on Friday November 06 at Cataraqui Arena. Everyone is welcome.

RSVP Here

Mark Potter is a former Kingston broadcaster, a member of the Kingston & District Sports Hall of Fame and growing up in Portsmouth played in the CAL for St. John’s Anglican.