The Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame and Museum and Basketball Manitoba congratulates Ross Wedlake who has been formally recognized with the 2025 Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Historical Preservation and Promotion! The award, presented by The Honourable Anita R. Neville, P.C., O.M., Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, honours individuals who have rendered prolonged, meritorious service in the preservation and promotion of Manitoba’s history and heritage. The award was presented in partnership with the Manitoba Historical Society during a ceremony held at Government House on May 8, 2025.
Often referred to as “Manitoba’s Basketball Historian,” Wedlake has spent a lifetime immersed in the sport—as a player, coach, official, and administrator. He competed at every level in Canada, played internationally for Team Canada in 1972, and was a member of the St. Andrews Super Saints, winning three national senior men’s championships.
His most enduring legacy, however, is the Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame and Museum (MBHOFM), located at the University of Winnipeg Duckworth Centre. Under his leadership since 2006 and formal designation of the site as a museum in 2012, Ross transformed what began as a Hall of Fame into a full-fledged museum that showcases over 100 years of basketball history in Manitoba. It is the only museum of its kind in Canada with a dedicated physical space and digital collection available through the Musetoba public portal.
Wedlake led the development of the museum’s collections management policy, accessioning system, display infrastructure, and online presence. He has secured significant grants, led a $100,000 endowment fundraising campaign through the Winnipeg Foundation, and actively oversees the digitization and expansion of the collection.
Ross ensures inclusivity across Manitoba’s basketball story—featuring high school, university, provincial, professional, Indigenous, and wheelchair basketball histories. He also led a special research initiative and curated a display highlighting Indigenous contributions to basketball, aligning with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s recommendations.
He continues to organize biennial induction dinners, acts as Master of Ceremonies, curates rotating exhibits, and frequently consults with institutions and media as the go-to expert on basketball history in Manitoba. His impact has been recognized with numerous honours, including induction into both the Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame and Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame.
The Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame and Museum stands as a testament to his tireless volunteerism, passion for history, and commitment to preserving the legacy of the sport he loves.
Pictured with Ross (back row, left to right) at the award presentation was his brother Bill, wife Brenda, daughter Heather, MBHOFM Committee Members Vic Pruden and Ted Stoesz and nephew Adam.
To learn more about the museum and access its growing online archives, visit www.mbhof.com.
Source: https://www.mbhof.com/2025/05/ross-wedlake-honoured-with-lieutenant.html