Shining Star Wall of Recognition
To mark the 25th Anniversary of Coal Bowl in 2006, the Coal Bowl Board of Directors established a Wall of Recognition to honour those who, over the years, had made an outstanding contribution to the New Waterford Coal Bowl Classic.
This Shining Star Wall of Recognition is located in the gymnasia entrance and is designed to house the prestigious "Shining Star Awards", one of which has been awarded each year, beginning with Coal Bowl 2006.
To mark the 25th Anniversary of Coal Bowl in 2006, the Coal Bowl Board of Directors established a Wall of Recognition to honor those who, over the years, have made an outstanding contribution to the New Waterford Coal Bowl Classic.
This wall is designed to showcase the prestigious Shining Star Awards and will eventually be relocated to its new home within the new Breton Education Centre building.
This year’s recipient has left a lasting legacy on the community of New Waterford through his steadfast leadership; from coaching school and community sports team for five decades to being the driving force behind the development of the highest quality sports and wellness facilities within the town. His dedication was so great that he even sacrificed the street named after him to ensure the construction of the new school and community hub.
Founding both the New Waterford Minor Baseball and Basketball associations along with the New Waterford Wellness Society and of course the New Waterford Coal Bowl Classic, it is no surprise to learn that volunteering has always played a significant role in his life.
To recognize his outstanding contributions to the sports community he was inducted into the Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame along with St. F.X.'s Hall of Honor in 2015 and the Cape Breton Sports Hall of Fame in 2016, and was awarded the Frank Baldwin Award in 2010, the Hugh Nobel Award in 2012 and the Ricoh Sport Nova Scotia Chair Award in 2013 as well as King Charles III’s Coronation Medal in 2024.
Both past and present members of the Coal Bowl Board of Directors, along with former and current tournament participants, know that without his unwavering support and commitment we would not be here today celebrating the 41st anniversary of this one-of-a-kind national basketball tournament.
It is with the utmost honor and respect that the Coal Bowl Board of Directors award Lowell Cormier the 2025 Shining Star Award.
The following are the recipients to date:
2006 - Saint Anthony Daniel Council 3209 Knights of Columbus
2007 - New Waterford Credit Union
2008 - Nova Scotia Power
2009 - Gerard Ferguson and Manulife Financial
2010 - Cape Breton-Victoria Regional School Board
2011 - New Waterford Coal Bowl Classic Volunteers
2012 - Lorraine Sheppard
2013 - Lloyd MacLeod and CBRM East Division Parks and Grounds New Waterford
2014 - New Waterford Coal Bowl Classic Referees
2015 - Ray J. MacLellan-Crew Productions
2016 - The Community of New Waterford
2018 - Bell Aliant
2019 - Rotary Club of New Waterford
2020 - Jacqueline Poirier
2023 - Guy Langlois
2024 - Adam MacLean
2025 - Lowell Cormier