Elliott: Riders Jo-Jo Polak, Canadians Donald Campbell highlight Ottawa District HOF class
Former Ottawa Rough Riders GM Jo-Anne Polak was inducted into the Ottawa and District Sports Hall of Fame.
June 2, 2025
By Bob Elliott
Canadian Baseball Network
OTTAWA _ It was easy to wonder what was going on upstairs sitting at a table for the annual Ottawa and District Sports Hall of Fame induction diner.
We mean away, way up in the clouds.
All you had to do was shut your eyes and think of the late Gordon Hamilton standing at the corner of the bar on some cloud. Watching from above, he would be looking down on the proceedings flashing his gap-toothed smile and uttering that giggle which was so entertaining.
Gordon had probably gathered with some of Ottawa’s finest for the event. People who made Ottawa sports great ... like:
_ Former Ottawa 67s co-owner Howard Darwin.
_ Famed speaker and former Toronto Argo Jake Dunlap,
_ Raconteur J.P. ‘Lally Lalonde’, on both sides of the Ottawa River.
_ Legendary columnist Eddie MacCabe,
_ Broadcaster Pat Marsden,
_ Former golfer and savant Hugh Riopelle, Jr.,
_ Hugh’s father by the same name (Mr. Rip) a man who never met a kid without skates in The Village he wouldn’t outift, thanks to his Montagnard Club,
_ Former Rough Riders pass catcher Bobby Simpson,
_ former Boston Bruin rearguard Des Smith who was the voice at Rideau-Carleton raceway,
_ and of course Gordon’s football-minded brother Bruce Hamilton.
Nary a word would be spoken when the husband and wife duo of Donald Campbell and Jo-Anne Polak took turns at the mike as the eight-member class of 2025 was inducted.
(Years ago we were taught that on first reference you use a person’s first name. After that you write last name. But Jo-Jo, Donald and Gordon are/were dear friends ... so we’re on a first name basis here.)
Inductee Donald Campbell after his speech is over.
* * *
Gordon would have smiled listening to Donald, who barged onto the Ottawa-Nepean Canadians scene in 1978 as general manager of the senior team. He would have remembered the trips to Sherbrooke, Syracuse, St. Johnsville, Binghamton, Kingston, Windsor and Sudbury.
Donald is still involved with the Ottawa-Nepean Canadians Sports club, after coaching junior and senior ball for over 30 years. This year, under president Robbie Clouthier, who played defence for Gordon’s Raiders -- but was not his favorite -- the club raised $111,000 for amateur sports bringing the total amount of donations to $5 million.
The club was Gordon’s idea as he like many in the capital district idolized Mr. Rip and his Montagnard Club. Donald noting the significance in the the connection of eras recognized Mike Arundel, Mr. Rip’s grandson who flew in from Atlanta for the event.
Campbell, with daughters Sara and Krista, plus mom Patsy on hand, credited Gordon for being his mentor, adding: “for all the eye-rolling, second-guessing and feigned clearing of their throats when he thought I may have messed up.”
Donald began his speech by saying: “I feel a little like the Jelineks ... then again neither one of us are great skaters.”
The brother-and-sister team of Otto and Maria Jelinek competed as figure skating pairs, winning the 1962 World Championship, as well as winning 1961-1962 Canadian champs.
Donald and Jo-Jo were the first husband-and-wife duo to be inducted the same year for the Ottawa Hall. Rather than being inducted individually, they went in as an entry. We saw Donald’s triple Salchow one night in Hull and heard he tried it again In Nashville. Not Olympic worthy.
* * *
Gordon for sure would have shed a tear listening to Jo-Jo, the brains of the entry, who followed Donald to the mike ... as Jo-Jo gave the best speech of the night.
Jo-Jo was the first general manager of any pro sports franchise in North America when handed the reins of the Canadian Football League’s Ottawa Rough Riders.
While in her 20s, Polak was hired as the Riders’ GM. Looking towards Dee Dee Roscoe, sister of Gordon to explain how both Gordon and her had worked on Claude Bennett’s campaign 1985 and “went our separate ways.”
Jo-Jo received a call at her desk, in December of 1986.
Jo-Anne Polak with her former Canada Post pals, Anick Losier, left, Polak, Aurelie Walsh, Mary Traversy.
“It was Gordie,” Jo-Jo said. “Gordie said ‘Can you come over to the offices of Gowling & Henderson? We have 27 Ottawa businessmen, the Mayor and we need communications help. I put forward your name. They were indifferent. My life changed completely that moment.”
Then, it was as if Jo-Jo was speaking directly to Gordon on his special cloud saying, “Gordie, I am so grateful you had faith in me, when no one else knew my name. We worked on the same campaign, but Gordie Hamilton and I did not move in the same political circles.”
That was Gordon. He had an eye for talent: whether it was coaching the Ottawa 67’s Jr. Bs or the Nepean Raiders, or picking an executive to save the almost-bankrupt Ottawa-Nepean Canadians ball club ($3,950 in debt after the 1979 season), helping Darwin bring triple-A ball back to the city or keeping the Rough Riders, one of the CFL’s most storied franchises, alive, or who would be a good candidate in South Ottawa. (He never asked me.)
Gordon was not really a ball fan. He was not really a football fan. He was a hockey guy. The thing is, Gordon wanted what was best for his city. His friends. And it was his idea to found the Ottawa-Nepean Canadians Sports Club, which has donated cash to almost any sport you can name, to a new heart room at the Ottawa Civic Hospital.
At times, Gordon’s heart seemed larger than the Parliament Buildings and he was the most honest person I have ever met. There was an old saying around about a respected Canadian harness driver I knew. His friends at Roosevelt Raceway on Long Island described him as ...
“The type of guy ... that if you needed $50 and he only had $20, he’d go borrow the $30 and give you the $50.”
That was Gordon. He was one in a million. Jo-Jo and Donald were two of his thousands of loyalists in the Ottawa Valley ... from Smiths Falls, to the West End, to the Glebe to Pembroke and all that area entails.
Donald Campbell and Jo-Anne Polak entered the Ottawa and District Sports Hall of Fame as an entry … like pairs champs Otto and Maria Jelinik.
* * *
As a youngster, Donald has season tickets for the 67’s games at the Civic Centre. He spent intermissions walking the concourse and reading the plaques of the Ottawa Hall of Fame members.
Donald remembered thinking what great people these folks must be, adding, “And in subsequent years as I met many of them, they never disappointed. They were great people ... Hall of Fame-type characters.”
Like Gordon and his brother, Bruce.
Donald worked at the Ottawa Journal, the Ottawa Sunday Herald and almost 40 years at the Ottawa Citizen, covering the Ottawa 67’s, college as well as amateur sports and most every event taking place in the capital at one time or the other.
* * *
Jo-Jo pointed out how when she was a little girl in the 1960’s women playing prominent roles in sports at any level “was inconceivable.” And the thought of Erica Wiebe -- gold medal winner in the 75 kilogram division at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, the 2012 Ottawa Fury, winners of the 2012 W league title beating California’s Pali Blues in the championship and her own self, all being inducted into any Sports Hall of Fame would not be fathomable.
“In 2025, young women hear stories about the ‘bad old days,’ and wonder what the big deal is, because that is NOT their reality. and that is awesome,” Jo-Jo said. “Mark my word, I know how lucky I am to be standing here.”
Jo-Jo also had praise for the other “giants” in her football story:
_ Gary Page, who worked for the Riders. Jo-Jo pointed out how the director of operations is “really a big deal when you are running a bankrupt franchise in a struggling league.”
“Imagine being asked to gather everything you need to run a game, and keep it in the trunk of your car, in case we show up one day and there are locks on the doors,” said Jo-Jo. “Imagine working under those conditions?
“Gary is a logistical genius, and was always the glue that kept the whole crazy place together.”
_ Wendy Lisowski, who was by Jo-Jo’s side during this “extremely difficult and volatile time for our team and the CFL.”
“To say I was feeling the pressure as a woman running THIS franchise at THIS moment in time, would be an understatement, but I had Wendy by my side every single step of the way, She was the Thelma, to my Louise.”
Jo-Jo told the story of Wendy looking at her in disgust and sending her home to change when Jo-Jo showed at the Lansdowne wearing the visiting team’s colours.
“Wendy, I adore you,” Jo-Jo said. “I am so glad that Gordie brought us together so many years ago. You are best thing that could have happened to me.”
* * *
One year Gordon, heavily involved in politics, had a problem. He needed some Claude Bennett lawn signs posted on Fielding Cres. and Fielding Court. So, Campbell and his pal were told in to take the signs, go to the addresses and plant the signs. Only a few thumbs were damaged in hammering signs into the ground.
Returning back to Gordon’s office, the two diligent workers were asked if they had completed their task.
“Yes, no problem ... but why on earth would it help a candidate for the sign facing the house?” one asked. “The people in the house already are supporting your guy?”
Gordon’s face reddened as he played with a string of paper clips.
“Please tell me you two dopes did not post the signs facing the house ... THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE SO PEOPLE DRIVING PAST CAN SEE THEM.”
One of the dopes laughed. Gordon fired the paper clips at one, a pen at another. And a good laugh was had by hall ... for of course the dopes were wise dopes with senses of humour.
* * *
Here is the type of person Jo-Jo is. I once heard a story about a CFL board of governors meeting at a Toronto airport hotel.
Jo-Jo was paying for something at the tiny gift shop as the bored cashier looked over Jo-Jo’s shoulder and asked in an excited tone, “Was that REALLY John Candy going into that conference room?”
Jo-Jo replied, “Sure, would you like to meet him.”
Out came Candy, he sat in the cashier’s seat told the woman stories and even rang up a couple of sales. All due to Jo-Jo’s kindness.
It was Jo-Jo’s hard work that managed to secure the Nepean Sportsplex as host of the OBA senior final … giving Windsor a year off from hosting.
* * *
Writing was Donald’s profession coaching ball was his passion.
He started in 1980 at 20, with ...
Jeff Fitch, Shawn Kilroy (tended goal for Peterborough Petes for three years and spent three years in the minors), Carleton Ravens Tom Timlin (four times all-time conference, two-time MVP and the only player to have his number retired), former Oshawa General American Hockey League Hall of Famer Mitch Lamoureux (three seasons in the NHL, 16 in the minors) and a smooth fielding baseman in Bruce Cassidy (67’s, five years with the Chicago Blackhawks and coaches the Vegas Golden Knights).
Then it was the likes of Jeff Chychrun, Dwayne Cowick, slugger Chris Jelley, Queen’s Hall of Famer, Tom Langford, Shawn O’Connor (Ottawa-Nepean Canadians, Hall of Famer, who often competed at nationals as a pick up with Windsor) and catcher Peter Chiarelli (Harvard, GM Boston Bruins and Edmonton Oilers).
Next came youngsters Mike Kusiewicz (eighth-round pick of the Colorado Rockies, who won the ERA title in the class-A South Atlantic League as a teenager, played nine more years in the minors and four in Indy ball), Trevor Mosley (with independent Johnstown, Pace University and Mohawk Valley) and Cam Pelton (LeMoyne College).
Besides Kusiewicz, three others were selected in the first eight rounds: Demi Orimoloye was a fourth rounder who went to the Milwaukee Brewers in 2015, Chris Bisson, also a fourth round pick, who went to the San Diego Padres in 2010 and Sebastien Boucher a seventh-round selection of the Seattle Mariners in 2004.
Donald thanked Jo-Jo -- as he so often does -- for “opening our house to players ... I felt like some even lived there.”
“I don’t know how many times I went to plate to hand in our lineup and an umpire would ask which kid was mine?” Donald said. “I told the ump to check the stands for two young girls. Sara and Krista never complained about road trips all spring and summer of destination hot spots, like Oneonta or Binghamton, NY.
* * *
When the festivities were done, someone was asked to pose for a picture with many of Donald’s players.
“Great speech,” the friend said, “but just so you know … your wife kicked your butt.”
Replied Donald: “Well, yes … she should, she’s a professional.”
* * *
The other inductees besides the Ottawa Fury, Erica Wiebe Jo-Jo and Donald were
_ The Barrett family, of hockey fame. Patriarch Fred formed the Cradle League at the Old Aud (parents might want to sit down, it cost $1 to register) in 1957. As first Reeve and then mayor of Gloucester, helped build the Earl Armstrong Arena, Lois Kemp (Blackburn) Arena, Dennis Potvin Arena in (part of Richcraft Sensplex) and the Bob MacQuarrie (Orléans) Recreational Complex.
His wife Joan Johnston (née Barrett) had sons Kennedy and Marty Johnston skate: Kennedy for the Ottawa Jr. Senators and University of Ottawa Gee-Gees, while Marty played junior hockey for the Hull Olympiques for three seasons, winning the Memorial Cup Championship in 1996-97, then headed to Dalhousie University and the pros.
Fred Barrett, Jr. played for the Toronto Marlies and the Minnesota North Stars (13 years) and the Los Angeles Kings (one season) playing 745 NHL games, winning Minnesota’s top defenceman award four times.
Goalie George Barrett was with the Central League champion Rockland Nationals in the Centennial Cup playdowns winners of the Junior “A” Tier II title. He then headed to St. Francis Xavier University and joined Canadian Olympic program competing at the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics.
_ Billiard player Ervin Budge. He won the 1978 U.S. Open championship and many International Snooker League tournaments in the U.S., England and around the globe, including 12 world amateur team gold or silver medals.
_ Jacques Martin, former NHL coach. He played goal at St. Lawrence University (NY), coached Guelph in the OHL, was head coach for 18 seasons with the St. Louis Blues, Ottawa Senators, Florida Panthers and the Montreal Canadiens, plus 12 seasons as an assistant.
_ Pat Stoqua, two-sport stud. Stoqua helped Lisgar High to a 44-0 record and an Ontario championship. He played hoops and football for the Carleton Ravens and then helped Ottawa win a Grey Cup despite being down 13-10 deep in the fourth quarter and pinned deep in its own end. Quarterback J.C. Watts found Stoqua for a short pass and the slotback went all the way for a 102-yard, game-winning touchdown. It was voted Panasonic CFL Play of the Year.
The gang’s all here: Matt, left, and his wife Krista, Donald’s daughter, inductees Donald and Jo-Jo, daughter Sara and husband Matt.
* * *
Also on hand were Jo-Jo’s sister Susan Walsh and Doug Smith, the Toronto Raptors hoops expert, as well as Mike, April and Lindsay Polak
Mike was an Argos fan who took Jo-Jo to her first CFL game, April and Mike were there when Jo-Jo was offered the GM job at the Grey Cup dinner in 1988.
“One person who isn’t here tonight, is Jenny Polak, and she should be,” said Jo-Jo, who lost her niece at the unfair age of 45 on March 30, 2024 in Ajax.
“Jenny this is for you.”
By now, Gordon would be weeping.
Like a lot of us ... especially Gordon.