Batley named to OCAA hall

Retired Fleming College athletics co-ordinator Fred Batley is among the 2023 inductees to the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association Hall of Fame. Batley was recognized this week in the builder category for his tireless effort, influence, commitment, dedication and passion for collegiate sports. An employee in Fleming’s athletics department for 42 years, Batley was committed to ensuring the student-athlete experience was a priority and front of mind, often noting the importance of doing whatever it takes to get the job done. He was always open to taking on new challenges and roles to enhance the student-athlete experience at Fleming, according to a news release from the college. During his lengthy career, he also took on numerous roles with the OCAA and Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association executive committees. His career included serving as OCAA president for two separate terms (1993-95 and 2011-13), serving as past president (1995-97) and sitting on the selection committee for numerous sports including men’s hockey, men’s basketball, men’s and women’s soccer and men’s and women’s volleyball. He was the also OCAA men's rugby convener (2017) and women’s rugby sevens convener (2018). His work with the OCAA included roles on the constitution committee, eligibility committee, finance committee and the safety and risk management committee, as well. Batley served as a CCAA convener for a total of eight seasons, from 2008 to 2010 and again from 2014 to 2020. Prior to that, he was a member of the CCAA executive for nine years. He was the vice-president of governance (1999-2002), the CCAA president 2002-2006) and past president (2006-2008). Before retiring in 2019, Batley closed out his duties working not only as athletic co-ordinator at Fleming but as the women’s volleyball convener for the CCAA.