Dr. Grant cements cross-border legacy with hall of fame induction
In the 2023 Builders category, Field Hockey Canada proudly inducts Dr. Christine Grant, a pioneering figure whose contributions to the sport transcend borders and exemplify dedication. Her impact on field hockey is unmatched, and her inclusion in the Canadian Hall of Fame is well-deserved.
Dr. Grant was instrumental in the creation of the Canadian Women’s Field Hockey Association (CWFHA) and played a crucial role in establishing the first Canadian National Championship for women. Her extensive involvement as a coach, umpire, and builder of the sport earned her high regard in both Canada and the United States.
Dr. Grant’s field hockey journey began at the age of 12. She captained her senior school team and participated in three national tournaments while playing for Dunfermline College of Physical Education in Scotland. Though she was selected for the Scottish National Reserve team, an arm injury led her to shift her focus to coaching, umpiring, and organizing within the sport. She even organized the first Scottish Junior Girls summer camp during her tenure as president of the Central District Hockey Association.
Dr. Grant’s interest in Canada and its budding presence on the global stage led her to outline a strategic plan for the sport. She identified six key areas of focus: building a solid foundation for rules and umpiring, forming a National Association, developing a national team with full provincial representation, appointing a female national coach, organizing tournaments and camps for juniors, and using national tournaments to select teams for international competitions.
She arrived in Vancouver in 1961, just in time to umpire the league playoffs. She found that a solid foundation for rules and umpiring was already in place and quickly became one of only nine national umpires. By 1962, she was a strong advocate for establishing the CWFHA and its national team, which was selected from across Canada and competed in the world tournament in the USA. Christine herself served as the national coach for this team.
In 1964, Christine was the CWFHA’s publicity and promotions chair, where she promoted and secured funding for the first Ontario Hockey Summer Camp for junior girls. She continued her contributions by coaching two Ontario teams that became the backbone of the East team. Christine led these teams at the first Canadian National Tournament in Vancouver in 1965 and again at the national tournament in Toronto in 1966. The team members selected during these tournaments went on to compete in the World Tournament in Germany.
Looking back on her legacy, those who knew Christine Grant believe she should be remembered for laying the foundation of what Field Hockey Canada is today. She is seen as the cornerstone of the sport’s development in Canada, championing women’s rights and advocating for a national association, team, coach, tournament, and selection process.
Dr. Christine Grant’s remarkable accomplishments and unwavering dedication have secured her place in the Hall of Fame, and her contributions continue to inspire the field hockey community.
1977 Named to the World Who’s Who of Women in Education
1989 Selected as Ethics Fellow, International Institute for Sport
1993 Named to the World Who’s Who of Women
2007 Named one of the 100 Most Influential Sports Educators, International Institute for Sport
Hall of Fame Inductions
1994 Hall of Fame of the Women’s Institute on Sport & Education
2008 National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics’ Hall of Fame
2013 National Field Hockey Coaches’ Association Hall of Fame
2017 Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame
2023 Field Hockey Canada Hall of Fame, Builder
2024 USA Field Hockey Hall of Fame, first named in new category, “Contributor”
“The legendary Dr. Christine Grant was the first inductee in the newly created Contributor category, honoring her
decades-long impact on field hockey and her tireless work promoting women’s participation in sports.”
National Honours and Other Prestigious Awards
1970 For Outstanding Contributions to Canadian Amateur Sport, Ontario Sports Award
1988 National Association for Girls and Women in Sport, (NAGWS), Presidential Award
1988 Outstanding Achievement in Women’s Intercollegiate Athletics, NCAA Honda Award of Merit
1992 Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Association, National Administrator of the Year Award
1993 National Association of Collegiate Women’s Athletic Administrators, National Administrator of the Year
1995 Billie Jean King Contribution Award, presented by the Women’s Sports Foundation
1996 National Association of Girls and Women in Sports Honors Award
2000 American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, R. Tait McKenzie Award
2006 NCAA President Gerald R. Ford Award for Outstanding Leadership in Higher Education
2023 WeCOACH Lifetime Achievement Award, for pioneering leadership in women’s athletics
DR. GRANT’S FIELD HOCKEY LEGACY FROM SCOTLAND, CANADA, AND THE USA
Looking back on her legacy, those who knew Christine Grant believe she should be remembered for laying the foundation of what Field Hockey Canada is today. She is seen as the cornerstone of field hockey’s development in Canada.
1963 Selector, Coach, Manager, for first truly Canadian national Team, World Tournament, Baltimore, USA
65-71 Member, Canadian Women’s Field Hockey Association Umpires’ Senior Advisory Board
1971 Canada’s Delegate to the World Tournament and Conference in Auckland, New Zealand
1975 Selector for the Canadian Team for the World Tournament in Edinburgh, Scotland
1973 Founding Member, Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women, (AIAW)
1975 Selector for the USA Team participating in the IFWHA Tournament in Edinburgh, Scotland
79-82 President-Elect, President, and Past President, AIAW, (960 member institutions)
84-89 Director, then President, (87-89), National Association of Collegiate Women’s Athletic Administrators
04-09 Member, Board of Directors, USA Field Hockey
International Achievements
1971 IFWHA Tournament Umpire at the World Tournament in Auckland, New Zealand
1980 Field Hockey Judge for the 1980 Olympic Games, in Moscow, USSR
1983 IFWHA Representative elected to first FIH Coaching Committee following the dissolution of the IFWHA
Dr. Christine Grant’s remarkable accomplishments and unwavering dedication have secured her place in the Hall of Fame, and her contributions continue to inspire the field hockey community.
