Gus Fahey never needed verbal encouragement, a kick in the pants, or some other incentive to give his all, whether on the ice, the ball diamond or in the gym.

From the time he was old enough to walk, the drive to succeed in sports was all around Gus Fahey in the family’s home in Stellarton. His dad, Leo, had come from Cape Breton to play senior baseball and hockey in Pictou Country, and remained in the organizational end of sports for six decades. He was inducted into the builders’ category in the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame in 2003. His older brother, Trevor, became good enough in hockey to play a game with the New York Rangers in the old six-team NHL and, to this day, continues working in hockey in Florida. It was only natural that Gus wanted to be like dad, and big brother. He had four great hockey years with St. Francis Xavier X-Men, and could have gone further, but he wanted to be in the teaching end of sports, so earned arts and physical education degrees at X.

After one year of teaching, he became the physical education teacher at Westville High School – just a five minute drive from his Stellarton home. He held that job for 28 years. Now, six years after his dad, he enters the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame, also in the builders’ section. It’s impossible to mention everything Gus achieved in his career, which still hasn’t ended. Here’s one list of his school achievements: 12 years in boys junior and senior volleyball, three years in girls junior and senior volleyball, 11 years in boys junior and senior basketball, five years in girls junior and senior basketball, eight years in boys junior and senior soccer, one year in senior boys hockey, seven years in junior and senior high track and field, seven years in junior and senior cross country, one year in boys softball, six years in co-ed golf, 28 years running junior and senior intramural programs, 16 years serving as starter of elementary track and field meets, and the winner of several Nova Scotia School Athletic Federation district, regional and provincial championships.

Then there’s his community involvement: founding the Westville Minor Baseball Association, serving as regional skills instructor for baseball Nova Scotia, co-founding the Pictou Country Ladies Recreational Softball League, forming the Westville boys volleyball club, forming the Pictou County Red Hawks Female Volleyball Club, helping form the Westville Minor Hockey Association, starting the country’s first hockey school, and forming the Pictou County recreational hockey league.

Of the comments I’ve read about Gus Fahey, the one I liked most came from Bob Piers, a rival of his in volleyball, himself a Hall of Fame inductee. Said Bob: “(Gus) showed the utmost respect for his players, opposing coaches, the officials and the sport of volleyball itself. I have never come in contact with anyone who was more of a gentleman than Gus Fahey. He is a real class act.”

It was easy, as a member of the selection committee for the provincial hall, to wholeheartedly support his induction. He has, in my mind, easily earned his place there—alongside his dad.

Bio Courtesy of Hugh Townsend