Softball builder enters Hall of Fame

By Lethbridge Herald on October 21, 2025.

Herald photo by Justin Seward Gloria Gouthreau was inducted into the Softball Alberta Hall of Fame on Saturday.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

Gloria Gouthreau  has made a significant impact both in the local and provincial softball scene for 39 years  as a Softball Alberta member and for that was inducted into the Softball Alberta Hall of Fame under the Sport Builder category on Saturday in Edmonton.

“It was a great honour,” said Gouthreau.

Being inducted alongside Blaine Borys was a highlight for her.

Borys is a part of the executive that runs minor softball in Elkford, B.C.

“Elkford joined us 30 years ago to become part of Softball Alberta,” said Gouthreau.

“Blaine does a lot for our zone and so it’s a buddy over the years, so that was super.”

Gouthreau was enthused being inducted alongside Taber’s Oilmen Softball Club.

“So, knowing all those boys and following them up through the ranks and seeing them win the provincials, and then go for the Canadians, and then to be there seeing them  win their first Canadians, that was a great honour, said Gouthreau.

Her journey began when she found herself  holding titles such as key organizer and  coach in the then new Lethbridge Minor Softball Association in 1976.

Gouthreau then was a co-founder of the Lethbridge Softball Association where she held various executive roles in 1983.

In that, Gouthreau helped start up Softball Valley, in which she is a lifetime board member of and still puts in volunteer time at 40 years later.

“It’s a legacy that will carry on with our family or not just even our family (but) for anybody that’s worked down there,” said Gouthreau.

“It’s like a creating a child I guess and seeing it grow and flourish.”

Gouthreau has been involved in Softball Alberta since 1967, where she has been the Zone 1 District Organizer ever since.

“ You do it because you love doing it (and) you love working with the people,” Gouthreau.

“You want to help other board members out if they’re doing something in Softball Canada.”

Other provincial accolades include her involvement in the coordination of Zone playoffs, Summer Games, provincial, Canadian and Western championships.

Softball Alberta had also brought on international opportunities for Gouthreau including  a softball exchange with a team based in Hokkaido, Japan in 1998 here in Alberta and in Japan in 2018 and a trip to Australia.

Gouthreau was inducted into the Lethbridge Sports Hall of Fame in 1997 and the Broomball Canada Hall of Fame in 2014.

Gouthreau has also been involved in broomball,  hockey, curling and multisport events across the province.