Rod & Joan Shoveller

Rod Shoveller, a former special events coordinator at Dalhousie University who was well known for his more than 30 years of service to basketball officiating, passed away on November 12, 1991, at age 59. A member of the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame (NSSHF), Rod died of cancer after an upbeat and ultimately inspiring battle against the disease.

Born in Sudbury, Ontario, he was a twenty-two year veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces. After leaving the service, he graduated from Dalhousie with a degree in Physical Education. Shoveller was the Athletic Director at the University of King’s College from 1965-80, coaching men’s basketball for nine years and women’s volleyball for two.

During those years he also worked as a special events coordinator at Dalhousie. He spent his last decade as the Athletic Director at the Technical University of Nova Scotia. He won a long list of awards, including the National Association of Basketball Coaches of Canada Merit Award in 1977; the Nova Scotia School Athletic Federation Certificate of Merit Award in 1985; and the J.A. Wink Wilcox Award, annually given to a Canadian referee for outstanding contribution.

Throughout his many years of involvement with sport in our province, Rod exemplified the kind of passionate commitment to people and strength in the face of challenge, which characterizes sport at its very best.

In 1991, the men’s basketball team named their annual basketball tournament in his honour that still runs today.

Rod’s wife Joan, like many moms, spent a lot of time shuttling her three children (Bruce, Tim and Lynda) to their sporting events, all while managing a full time career. She divided her time between tennis, volleyball and basketball games, happy to support the efforts of her husband and children.

Born in Halifax and raised in Woodside, Joan was a graduate of the Dartmouth Ladies Business College. Throughout her working career, Joan was a consummate civil servant, exemplifying qualities of respect, confidentiality, team work and always with a smile. She retired from the civil service in 1994, where she had been an employment counselor for Employment Canada.

Joan started volunteering at the NSSHF following Rod’s induction and passing in 1991. She spent many hours as a host at the Hall of Fame and in recruiting others to volunteer their time.

She also assisted with many of the NSSHF’s annual fundraising events including their luncheon series, golf tournament, Gold Club events and the Hall of fame Induction Awards Night.

In 1998, Joan was named the NSSHF volunteer of the year for all of her hard work and dedication over the years.

A long-time Black and Gold member, Joan was a regular fixture at many of the Dal Tigers games and was always present for the ceremonial tip-off of the annual Rod Shoveller Memorial Basketball Tournament with her family in tow, until the 2014 event.

Sadly, Joan passed away suddenly during the 2014 Shoveller tournament, at the age of 80. In 2015, the tournament was re-named to the Rod & Joan Shoveller Memorial Men’s Basketball Tournament.

They are survived by sons Tim and Bruce, daughter Lynda and their families in addition to a lengthy list of dear friends.