On April 5, Michele O’Keefe, NC’s associate director, Athletics and Recreation, will accept the esteemed H.L. Cudney Memorial Award at the City of Welland athletic banquet. The award, first presented in 1962, honours individuals for outstanding achievements and contributions to sport.
Congratulations to @mokeefe64 on receiving the HL Cudney Memorial Award as a builder 👏🏆 Michele was awarded this at the Welland Sports Promotion Committee last night for their annual awards banquet. Great work, Michele ✨🙌📢 #NiagaraCollege pic.twitter.com/COswNUD5TR
— Niagara College (@niagaracollege) April 6, 2019
O’Keefe is being recognized for her contributions to basketball in Canada, specifically for elevating the sport on a national level.
“All of us at Niagara College wish Michele a heartfelt congratulations on this incredible recognition by the City of Welland,” said Niagara College president Dan Patterson. “Her exemplary leadership skills and her ability to bring people together are apparent in the work she does at the college.”
O’Keefe is a Welland native who returned in 2018 to lead NC’s Athletics and Recreation department. She has held many titles, most notably president and CEO of Canada Basketball. In her former role, O’Keefe worked to develop strong relationships with provincial/territorial partners, national stakeholders and other international federations. She was also responsible for the oversight of all government relations and supported sponsorship negotiations for Canada Basketball.
“Through her incredible leadership, Michele brought basketball back in Canada. I can’t think of anyone more deserving of this award,” said Ron Lemon who sits on the award selection committee. “She’s so involved in and dedicated to Welland. We’re already seeing signs of her influence on sport in our city.”
Lemon, himself a celebrated member of Welland’s athletic community and former women’s basketball coach at Niagara College, remembers reffing O’Keefe in high school basketball. “She was always involved, dedicated, down-to-earth and humble.”
O’Keefe is heavily involved in sport in Niagara. She is currently serving as board member of the 2021 Canada Summer Games Host Society, as well as chair of the 2021 Legacy Committee.
Lemon compares O’Keefe to today’s great leaders in Canadian basketball. “She’s up there with Jay Triano and Steve Nash.”
The H.L. Cudney Memorial trophy for outstanding contribution to Welland sports is presented in honour of the late Harold Cudney, one of Welland’s outstanding athletes and the original owner of Cudney Funeral Home in Welland. Cudney was a long-time supporter of local sports along with former managing editor of the Welland Tribune, T.N. Morrison. After Cudney’s death, his family, including son-in-law Larry Cooney, started the award. The Libertine family, current owners of the Cudney Funeral Home, continue to support the award.
Two hundred and fifty people are expected to attend the City of Welland athletic banquet at Casa Dante in which awards will be given to players, teams and coaches at all levels and across a wide range of sports.
