Bedford's Val Bechard to be inducted into Sackville Sports Hall of Fame

Lawn Bowls Nova Scotia is excited to announce that longtime provincial representative Val Bechard (Bedford LBC) has been named as one of this year's inductees into the Sackville Sports Heritage Hall of Fame.

Having started lawn bowling in 1998, Val has represented Nova Scotia on 22 occasions- including winning the 2012 Canadian Senior Triples Championship alongside Debbie Foster (Bridgetown LBC) and Anita Knox (St. Mary's LBC). Val's impact on the sport in Nova Scotia reaches far beyond just her on green achievements- having served in a wide range of capacities including as an umpire at the provincial and national levels and as an executive member of the Bedford Lawn Bowls Club and Lawn Bowls Nova Scotia.
Val's induction will be held alongside the 5 other inductees to this year's class at an event hosted by the Hall of Fame on Wednesday October 2nd at 7pm.

Congratulations Val!

Here is the full citation followed by a few pictures from Val's time in lawn bowls:

Valerie Bechard- 2024 -Athlete - Slo-Pitch, Lawn Bowling
Valerie grew up in a large family of eighteen, where her early years taught her important values—hard work, dedication, and an unstoppable competitive spirit. These values would guide her path in future years.

Valerie was in in mid-thirties when she joined her first competitive sports team in 1980. She played on Sackville’s famous “Electric Orange” women’s Slo-Pitch team and her skills on the field earned her 13 MVP awards during her career. She proudly represented Nova Scotia at the Slo-Pitch Nationals in 1985.

In 1998, Valerie switched to lawn bowling and within a brief time, she was competing at the international level. Representing Nova Scotia, Valerie took part in the national Lawn Bowls championships an amazing twenty-two times, winning one gold, two silver, and one bronze medal. Her accuracy and focus made her a strong competitor on the greens.

As a member of the Canadian National Squad, she trained with fellow athletes in Arizona and played against Team USA in the North American Challenge. Her team also won the US Open Women’s Fours in 2016.

Valerie’s impact goes beyond her personal achievements. She has been a key player in promoting lawn bowling at various levels, serving on the executive of the Bedford Lawn Bowls Club and Lawn Bowls Nova Scotia. She obtained her umpire certification and has officiated at both provincial and national levels. Valerie has always been active and together with her late husband Cal, they’ve walked over 15,000 kilometers, hiking through every Canadian province, every state in the US, and several European countries. Their most impressive feat? Finishing the Coast to Coast Walk in 2007—a 300-kilometer journey through northern England. Valerie Bechard’s story is one of success, mentorship, and a love for life. Her legacy will forever inspire future generations of lawn bowlers, reminding them that the journey is as important as the destination.