Irwin takes top Hall of Fame post

From the Motorcyclists Confederation of Canada

MARKHAM, ON -- At its annual meeting held Nov. 7 in Burnaby, BC, the leadership of the Canadian International Motorcycle Heritage Museum Foundation (CIMHMF) experienced a re-arrangement, with Kellee Irwin of Vancouver accepting the position of President for a two-year term. John Cooper becomes the Immediate Past-President and was given a tremendous vote of thanks for his leadership over the past two years.

Fulfilling the position of Vice-President will be Dave Lloyd, a long-time Director with a significant interest in preserving the heritage of motorcycling. Jack Criger retains his position as Treasurer. Peter Jacobs has joined the Board and will undertake the role of Secretary, one he held as a non-voting Director in the past.

Rounding out the rest of the Board are returning Directors, Bernard Benoit of Sherbrooke, QC, Bar Hodgson of Ashburn, ON (and the Founder of the CIMHMF), Bryan Lowes of Richmond, BC, and Peter Sheppard (a former President) of Madoc, ON. New Directors welcomed to the Board include Ron Keys of Newcastle, ON, Cal Rakach of Sundre, AB, and Vada Seeds of Embro, ON.

This ambitious and passionate group is now undertaking to develop a strategic plan which will include a review of bylaws, the establishment of working committees to address promotion, communications, alumni, and governance, and, of course, the very successful Canadian Motorcycle Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Reunion. It has already been established that the 2011 Hall of Fame event will take place at the Delta Meadowvale Resort & Conference Centre in Mississauga, ON, and that Montreal will welcome the selected Inductees in 2012. A formal agreement with the Motorcyclists Confederation of Canada to administer the affairs of the Foundation is in the throes of being finalized.

The Canadian International Motorcycle Heritage Museum Foundation was founded by Bar and Hedy Hodgson as a charitable foundation and originally operated as the Canadian Motorcycle Heritage Museum. Their vision was to preserve and protect Canadian motorcycle history for the benefit of the motorcycling community. In 2005, the Hodgsons created the Hall of Fame and added to the operations of the Foundation, with the first 12 honourees inducted in May, 2006.