Cathy Over can’t remember life without the sport of ringette. She started playing at the age of seven in her jeans, with only a helmet, skates and a stick, and at the time, a two-page rulebook. She contributed in the development of the sport across the country and internationally, and supported its progress into a high speed, high skill game for athletes. As part of the Player Development Committee with the Ontario Ringette Association in the 1970s-80s, she would travel the province to tell all who would listen about this incredible sport. She has played, officiated and coached right through to the Canadian Ringette Championship level. “I am lucky to be involved at so many levels and truly proud to have been involved in so many capacities. Many of my lifelong friendships have come from my ringette experience, including a special relationship with Agnes Jacks.”
Cathy loved to play the sport and was fortunate to enjoy 18 years mainly in the AA program in Gloucester, Ontario as a goaltender, but eventually officiating got her full attention. Cathy is a strong proponent of the Officiating Evaluation Program and giving as much time as possible back as a mentor and evaluator to all developing officials. She traveled extensively across Canada to tournaments, games and clinics throughout 20 years of service. Cathy, along with ringette’s late friend Steve Iacovelli (1970 – 2001), created and delivered a number of officiating camps in Eastern Canada in the 1990s to encourage recruitment and development of ringette officials.
Cathy is honoured to have worked with such a strong and committed community of ringette leaders across the country during her ringette career, many of whom are now in the Ringette Canada Hall of Fame and some who we have now lost but not forgotten. “I admire and respect these builders of our sport and my colleagues in officiating and coaching who dedicate so much of their personal time and passion. My daughter, with so many other ringette athletes, will benefit with friendship, competition and life building skills because of the gift of our wonderful ringette volunteers and families that make this sport truly one of a kind. Thank you to Ringette Canada and my friends and family with the honour of a place in Ringette Canada’s Hall of Fame.”