2021 PDSHOF Bursary Recipients announced the Hall of Fame

The Peterborough & District Sports Hall of Fame is pleased to announce the recipients of the PDSHOF Bursary.  The bursary is awarded annually to graduating students who are pursuing post secondary education. Each of the 4 recipients – Brett Bjorgan, Robin French, Taylor McArthur and Molly Strain – is receiving a $2000.00 bursary. 

A short biography of each student athlete follows:

Brett Bjorgan

Brett is a graduate of Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School with specialization in the Sports Excellence and Athletic Leadership (SEAL) Program.

He captained his Junior Rugby and Football teams for 2 years was an active member of the senior football team for 1 year, was a member of the schools track and field team for 1 year  and a member of the ice hockey team for 3 years.

Brett was MVP of his junior football team and rugby team and was named Junior Athlete of the Year in 2018. His coach describes him as a “student of the game” – he has a tremendous work ethic, solid organizational skills, excellent leadership, high personal standard of morals and ethics and a sincere interest in constantly improving. He has developed his leadership skills by running several school athletic events including – feeder school tournaments, Terry Fox fundraising, OFSAA Covid challenges and activities for Special Olympic Athletes.  

In the community he has played AA Petes hockey, 2 years of Wolverines football and been involved with Kawartha Combat –  Muay Thai training for 3 years.    He has been a counsellor/instructor at the Kinsmen summer football camp and has assisted with PMHC AAA tryouts. 

According to Brett – his most significant achievement thus far has been his development into a successful student athlete as a result of the establishment of a solid peer group, his ability to set goals and the opportunities provided through athletics in both the community and high school. 

Brett will be attending the University of Windsor studying Bachelor of Human Kinetics with Movement Science major and he has been recruited and plans to play football for the Lancers.  

Robin French

Robin is a graduate of Thomas A Stewart Secondary School.

In high school Robin played 4 years of football, 3 years of rugby, 3 years of hockey and 1 year of basketball.  He was the captain on several of his school teams and has earned many MVP honours as well as being named Junior Athlete of the Year in 2018. He is a 4 time COSSA champion in football.  In 2019 Robin’s senior rugby team went on tour to 6 European countries – defeating teams from Scotland, Wales and France as well as being undefeated in their high school season winning the city’s first OFSAA AAA Rugby gold medal. 

Robin’s coach says that he possesses all the traits that we look for in student athletes; outstanding leader who motivated others around him and led by example. He has a solid work ethic and level of commitment and continually displayed honesty, loyalty and integrity both on and off the field. 

In the community he has been a member of the Douro Dukes hockey team for 4 years, Peterborough Pagans Rugby team for 3 years, Peterborough Tigers baseball team for 3 years and Ontario Blue Jays for 3 years. As with his high school teams, Robin was captain on many of these community teams as well. 

In addition to playing many sports – Robin has been an umpire, volunteered at the Toronto Blue Jays day camps and has been a volunteer at the Peterborough Pagans ultimate sports camp.

According to Robin – his most significant achievement was being an honour student and balancing his academics with his athletics in both high school and community. 

Robin will be attending Brock University this fall in the Bachelor of Concurrent Education – Physical Education program and he plans to play rugby for the Brock Badgers.

Taylor McArthur

Taylor is a graduate of Adam Scott Collegiate.

In high school Taylor played basketball, volleyball, 3 years of ice hockey and 2 years of lacrosse.  She was the captain of her ice hockey and lacrosse teams. She received the hardest working player award in basketball and was awarded the coaches award in lacrosse twice. 

Taylor’s coach says she is not only highly skilled and extremely capable as a multi-sport athlete but she also possesses all the attributes which make her a great team leader. She is able to collaborate with others, encourage her teammates, confer with officials and lead by example. She is a coach’s dream!

In the community Taylor has played hockey for the Peterborough Ice Kats for the past 4 years, been a member of the Kawartha Lacrosse team for 3 years and a member of the Evolve U19 lacrosse team. She was not only the captain but a major contributor in the U19 Kawartha lacrosse teams 2019 Provincial Championship. 

She has given back to her sport by officiating in the Kawartha women’s field lacrosse league for the past 3 years. As well as officiating, she has volunteered: at the 2019 Women’s World lacrosse championships, at the Peterborough Physiotherapy and Sports Injury Clinic, with the Ennismore Eagles goalie training sessions, with Canadian Hockey Enterprises and with the PGHA!

According to Taylor her most significant achievement was the adversity she faced after 2 major knee surgeries, overcoming the physical pain and mental fear of re-injury. She has achieved her goal – to make a full recovery and earn the opportunity to play NCAA Division 1 lacrosse. 

Taylor is headed to Canisius College in the fall to study Mathematics and she will be playing  lacrosse for the Golden Griff’s.

Molly Strain

Molly is a graduate of Adam Scott Collegiate with specialization in the Leadership Excellence through Athletic Development and Sport (LEADS)program.

In high school Molly was an active participant on the cross country running team for 3 years, cross country skiing team for 4 years , track and field team for 2 years and the soccer team for 2 years. She received several school awards for track and field and cross country running and has won multiple Kawartha and COSSA championships. She has earned OFSAA gold in the 2000 meter steeplechase as well as setting a new provincial record. She was named junior athlete of the year in both grade 9 and 10. Earlier this summer she was one of 6 provincial recipients of the prestigious OFSAA Brian Maxwell scholarship for her outstanding high school running career. 

Molly’s coach says she has developed into an elite runner who trains in all conditions and displays the kind of intestinal fortitude and drive that is rarely seen in a teenage athlete.  This, coupled with her kindness, inner drive and perseverance, will allow her to be very successful in the future. 

In the community she has played Peterborough U15, U16 and U17 soccer, and been an active member of the Peterborough Legion Track and Field club competing locally, provincially and nationally. She was also a member of Team Ontario cross country team and competed at the 2019 National Championships.

In addition to her athletic pursuits Molly has been a volunteer cross country official at local elementary meets, a counsellor and volunteer with Peterborough City Soccer, a volunteer at the Peterborough Humane Society, an essential worker at Farmboy and a volunteer at  Peterborough Legion Track Club meets. 

According to Molly, her most significant achievement was placing 5th at the Canadian Cross Country Nationals held in British Columbia in 2019. She was forced to reach out of her comfort zone and push herself to run faster than she had ever run before.  She says “it was an incredible honour to represent Peterborough and Ontario in this race”.

Molly is extremely excited to attend University of British Columbia – studying Kinesiology in the fall. She will be running with the Thunderbird Cross Country team and her ultimate goal is to one day wear the Maple Leaf and run for Team Canada!