In 1981, Michel Le Goaix decided he was going to introduce first time riders and encourage competitive cycling with the creation of the Collingwood Cycling Club – CCC.
From May through October, Michel would coordinate 3 weekly rides including a Tuesday short ride, Thursday criterium, and a 80-100km route on Saturdays. He would map and organize the rides, track the results and always rode with the last person on Saturday to ensure they made it home! When contacted, many riders commented on Michel’s unselfishness as he would ride in front of new riders to block the wind.
As president, he organized the first ever cycling race in 1982 as part of Summerfest. This event was held annually for the next 5 years attracting cyclists from across the province. As President, he led the CCC as host of the Ontario Hill Climbing Senior Championships. These events established the CCC and allowed Michel to work alongside other clubs to hold interclub races.
Many locals credit Michel with introducing cycling to their healthy lifestyle. One particular local, two-time Olympian, Sue Palmer credits Michel in sharing his infectious passion. Working her way up from local to interclub to provincial to National Champion, Sue has participated in 13 Road World Championships.
Outside of cycling, Michel coached Minor Soccer throughout 1970 & 80, marshalled ski races at Duntroon Highlands Cross Country and volunteered for the 1997 World Special Olympics hosted in our region.
As a competitor, Michel was an accomplished cyclist. In his age group, he competed in a 45km race finishing 6th in the 1985 World Masters Games.
Currently, there is a very healthy cycling scene in Collingwood. Unquestionably, Michel’s early efforts can be attributed to its burgeoning success.
On Sarturday, October 27, 2018, the Collingwood Sports Hall of Fame welcomes Michel Le Goaix as an enshrined member of Collingwood’s sporting history.
hockey and baseball/fastball in both Collingwood Minor Sports Associations. He was widely acknowledged as an ‘above average’ athlete. Harold was drafted by the Kitchener Rangers in 1970, playing with their farm team, the Guelph CMC’s, Welland Sabres and Streetsville Derbys. During the offseason, Harold played 7 seasons with the Collingwood Cavemen and 3 seasons in Stayner winning the 1986 Ontario Senior B Championship.
In every community, there are personalities that can be counted to get it done! In Collingwood, throughout the 1960’s & 70’s, Don Pollard was a familiar sight at the Eddie Bush Arena or baseball diamonds as a coach, sponsor and proud father.
Collingwood’s Ron Westlake was a prolific ski racer carving the hills on the heels of Crazy Canucks Ken Read and Steve Podborski in the 1970s during the Canadian championships. At one national competition, Westlake finished third, right behind Read and Podborski, who finished first and second, respectively.
John Stephenson was a familiar sight behind the players’ bench and on the ice during the 1960’s, 70’s and 80’s, at the regal Eddie Bush Memorial Arena on Hurontario Street. 
Peter Kemp’s ‘field of dreams’ was built in the 1970s with the formation of the upstart Georgian Bay and District Slo Pitch League, one of the province’s oldest and most established slo-pitch organizations. Along with Collingwood Sports Hall of Famer Ron Ralph, he helped construct the foundation for slo pitch in the community and served as an early and dedicated president of the league.
