Then and Now # 1: Don Norton and Annika Bell
All our honoured members in the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame leave a legacy. It’s easier to understand the impact of a legacy, however, when you can see the success of those people it touches. “Then and Now” highlights young athletes and New Brunswickers who have benefited directly from the legacy of our honoured members.
Then: Don Norton
For many of our honoured members, sports accomplishments are just one piece of a legacy. When someone makes the ultimate sacrifice in war or risks their life to save others from a burning building, they reveal a depth of character that few possess. Don Norton did both.
In addition to these acts of heroism, Don set numerous provincial records in track and field and was a formidable presence on the baseball diamond. His records in track and field were unmatched for decades, and his courage during a fire at Mount Allison University saved many lives. His service as an air force navigator in World War II, where he ultimately lost his life, further exemplifies his commitment to others. His was a life of engagement, of enthusiasm and involvement, of altruism and selflessness.
The Don Norton Memorial Award, established by his classmates from the Class of 1942, honors his memory and the sacrifices of all Mount Allison students who served in the war.
Now: Annika Bell
Annika Bell is one of the most recent recipients of the Don Norton Memorial Award. She has not only been active on the ringette and field hockey club teams but has also made a significant impact behind the scenes, volunteering for the athletics department to produce content for all the varsity teams.
For her thesis, she undertook the daunting challenge of completely redesigning of the Athletics Department website. One of her goals was increasing recognition and inclusion of club teams, who can feel left out when all the emphasis is on varsity. In the new site, club teams are honoured with their own roster webpages and headshots. To top it off, the site actually looks great: Mount Allison Athletics (mountiepride.ca)
Annika also took a leading role in organizing one of the first club team banquets at Mount Allison in over five years: which gave many students meaningful recognition of their achievements and many great memories they may otherwise not have had.
The sum of her activity with the Athletics department has been to create a closer-knit athletic community at Mt. Allison. It’s no wonder she qualified for the Don Norton award.
This September, Annika moves on to Durham College where she will be studying Sport Business Management. Congratulations Annika on the award, and the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame wishes you the best of luck at Durham College and beyond.
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