Every year we are fortunate to enjoy participation from our deep list of celebrity supporters. 

This year we are thrilled to welcome the following special guests for our 41st Anniversary celebration:

2025 Celebrities

Peter Anthony

Peter is a Canadian Comedy Award winning comedian (Breakout Artist) and nominee (Best Male Standup) originally from the small town of Pictou, Nova Scotia. Peter's credits include Montreal's Just for Laughs Festival, CBC's Halifax ComedyFest, Toronto's North by Northeast (NXNE) Festival, CBC Radio's The Debaters, and television appearances on CBC, CTV Comedy, MuchMusic, and MTV.  Outside of the club and festival circuit, Peter performs as the studio warm-up act and writes for CBC's long-running, hit comedy program "This Hour Has 22 Minutes."

JAck ARmstrong

Jack’s vast knowledge and passion is well known - and respected - throughout the basketball world, where he has spent his entire broadcast career as the colourful voice of the Toronto Raptors, earning multiple screen awards. Over the course of his  27 years in broadcasting, Armstrong has become one of the most recognizable faces - and voices - in Canadian sports.  Jack began coaching when he was 19 years old. He became the youngest head coach in NCAA Division 1 history, and was an NCAA Division Coach for 14 years. He coached at Niagara University for 10 years, where he ranks 4th for all-time wins as head coach, and then at Fordham University for 4 years. He spent two years as a High School Coach at Nazareth High School in Brooklyn. In 1993, Armstrong was  named the NCAA New York State Division Coach of the Year and the MAAC Conference Coach of the Year.

TERRY BAKER 

Terry had a 16-year career - (278 Games) in the Canadian Football League (CFL) that included two Grey Cup wins and a pair of scoring titles. After playing at Mount Allison University from 1982-84 and Acadia University in 1986, Baker began his professional career with the Montreal Alouettes in 1987, however the team folded and he ended up starting the 1987 season with Saskatchewan. Throughout his CFL career he played with Saskatchewan, Ottawa, Toronto and ended his career back in Montreal. He won his first Grey Cup with Saskatchewan in 1989 and his second with Montreal in 2002. In 1996, Terry was named Eastern Division All-Star. In 1998 and 2000 he led the league in scoring. He is 10th all time in the CFL with 2125 Points.

RICK BOWNESS

Born in Moncton and raised in Nova Scotia, Rick was drafted 26th overall in the second round of the 1975 NHL Draft by the Atlanta Flames.  He played six NHL seasons between the Atlanta (later Calgary) Flames, Detroit Red Wings,  St. Louis Blues and Winnipeg Jets.

Rick had a long and distinguished coaching career, and was head coach of the Winnipeg Jets, the Dallas Stars, Phoenix Coyotes, New York Islanders, Ottawa Senators, and Boston Bruins.  He  went to the Stanley Cup Final as an associate coach with the Canucks in 2011, a Tampa Bay Lightning Assistant in 2015 and Stars coach in 2020. Rick was a 2024 finalist for the Jack Adams Award, given to the NHL coach of the year, and his 2726 games as an NHL head or assistant coach are the most by anyone in league history. Rick was  inducted into the Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame in 1997, and the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame in May, 2025.

GORD DWYER

Born in Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia, Dwyer began playing hockey with the Sackville Flyers and went on to play Junior B with the Sackville Blazers and Junior A with the Halifax Oland Exports before retiring at 20 to focus on officiating. He started refereeing at 14 while still playing, then officiated at all levels in Sackville before advancing to Junior and University games. A few years later, he joined the QMJHL as a linesman, later transitioning to referee. A Saint Mary’s University graduate in Psychology and Criminology, Dwyer’s passion led him to Amarillo, Texas in 2001 to referee full-time in the Central Hockey League. After two seasons, including a finals appearance, he was offered a minor league referee contract by the NHL in 2003 and promoted to full-time NHL referee in 2006 at just 29 years old.

KAREN FURNEAUX

Karen was born December 23, 1976. She is a 2 x World Champion and 3 x Olympian (Sydney, 2000; Athens, 2004 and Beijing 2008). Karen also was a sport analyst with CBC Olympics in 2016 and 2020.  She won 9 career World Championship medals in K1, K2 and K4 events.  Karen was inducted into the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame in 2016 and was voted 11th in the Top 15 Athletes in Nova Scotia Sport History.

MATTHEW HIGHMORE

Matthew is a proud Haligonian and who is coming off a successful season with Ottawa Senators. Matthew was drafted into the QMJHL 8th overall 2012 to the Saint John Sea Dogs. He was named alternate captain of the club in 2014. After leading the team in points and assists in 2017, Matthew signed a contract with the Blackhawks. He was an AHL all-star in 2018. In 2020, Matthew played 36 games with Chicago before the Covid-19 shutdown. Matthew rejoined the club in the Edmonton bubble for that year’s unique and challenging NHL post-season. He has since spent time with the Vancouver Canucks and St. Louis Blues franchise before his move to Ottawa. Matthew is a rising star in the league and we are very pleased he is returning to the Gallivan this year.

CODY JAMIESON

Cody is a star member of the Halifax pro lacrosse team, the Thunderbirds.  Originally from Six Nations, Ontario, Cody played university lacrosse in the NCAA at Syracuse University, where in 2009, he scored the winning goal to secure the school’s second consecutive national title. Cody was selected first overall in the National Lacrosse League draft in 2010. He won the NLL championship with the Rochester Knighthawks in 2012. In 2013, Cody won the NLL scoring title with 108 points and 78 assists. He was league MVP in 2014. Cody has been a Thunderbirds player since the inaugural season in 2019, and was the  2025 recipient of the Vera Styres award, as voted on by players and staff, for his outstanding commitment, leadership and dedication to the Thunderbirds organization.

LORIE KANE

Hailing from Prince Edward Island, Lorie Kane is one of the most well-known names in Canadian golf. After turning professional in 1993, Lorie went on to have an impressive career, winning six championships in two years and a further four Legends Tour Championships between 2011 and 2016. Lorie won four LPGA championships and two team events within a year from 2000-2001, the second ever Canadian to win multiple tour events in a calendar year. She also represented Canada in the World Cup in 2005, 2006, and 2008. Lorie holds eight top-10 finishes in LPGA majors, including three in the top-5. In 2000 following her incredible stretch, Lorie was awarded the Bobbie Rosenfeld Award as Canada’s top female athlete of the year. She was awarded a member of the Order of Canada in 2006. 

DOUG MACLEAN

Doug is a successful former head coach and executive in the NHL. He is a proud Maritimer originally from Summerside, PEI. Doug was behind the bench in 1996 for Florida when the upstart Panthers made a run to the Stanley Cup Final. He later moved into a number of executive and coaching roles with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Doug then went into broadcasting and appeared on television and radio with Sportsnet. You can now catch him on Fridays on the Real Kyper and Bourne show for his segment “Off the Rails with Doug MacLean”. In 2023, he became a best selling author with the release of his first book, “Draft Day”, which goes behind the scenes on team preparation for draft day and the use of analytics in hockey. 

PAUL MACLEAN

Born in Grostenquin, France, while his father was serving with the Canadian Armed Forces, Paul moved to Canada at the age of two and grew up in Antigonish. He played his college hockey at Dalhousie University, leading the team to a conference title in 1979. Paul was drafted in the NHL in 1980 by the St. Louis Blues. He enjoyed a successful decade-long career in the NHL where he was a prolific point scorer, including a 101 point season for the Winnipeg Jets in 1985. Paul then went into coaching and has served in a number of coaching and executive roles, including head coach of the Ottawa Senators from 2011 to 2014. He was named NHL coach of the year in 2013. 

MIKE McPHEE

A proud native of Cape Breton, Mike is a former NHLer. He began his professional career with the Nova Scotia Voyageurs of the American Hockey League, after being selected in the sixth-round of the 1980 NHL Entry Draft by the Montreal Canadiens. He began his NHL career with Montreal in 1984. McPhee was a member of Montreal's Stanley Cup winning team in 1986. His best NHL season came in 1987-88, with linemates Guy Carbonneau and Russ Courtnall, when he scored 23 goals and 43 points. The following season, he took part in the NHL All-Star Game. He was also a three-time winner of the Jacques Beauchamp Trophy as the Montreal Canadiens’ unsung hero. Now based in Halifax, Mike is a successful investment advisor and volunteers with numerous organizations around the city. 

JOHN REARDON

John  is well known for his portrayal of Detective Charlie Hudson on the hit series Hudson and Rex - as well as previous projects like Tron Legacy, Disrepair and the Killing. John studied theater at the Lir in Dublin Ireland and his future projects consist of leading roles on the feature films Again and Bounty - both slated to film in 2025.  John is also preparing to return to the stage in an upcoming production of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing.

KEN REID

You can catch Ken alongside co-anchor, Evanka Osmak, weeknights on the Prime Time Edition of Sportsnet Central. Ken has covered just about everything during his  20 plus years in television, from the Olympics to the Stanley Cup finals, Grey Cups and the Super Bowl. Ken started his broadcasting career at Access Cable in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, followed by stops in Calgary, Ottawa, Edmonton and finally Toronto. Ken is also a bestselling author of Hockey Card Stories: True Tales from your Favorite Player, as well as five other books including his latest one, “Hometown Hockey Heroes”. Ken is a proud native of Pictou, Nova Scotia.

CAM RUSSELL

Cam has been the General Manager of the Mooseheads since 2008. Formerly the Head Coach, he moved his attention solely to the role of General Manager early in the 2010-11 season and was the architect of the Memorial Cup winning team in 2012-2013. It was during the 2012 Gallivan Golf Tournament that while playing in the event that Cam successfully concluded negotiations to acquire Nathan MacKinnon for the Halifax Mooseheads.  The Cole Harbour native enjoyed a successful playing career in the QMJHL with the Hull Olympiques where he won two President Cup championships under coaches Alain Vigneault and the late Pat Burns. He was drafted by Chicago in the 3rd round (50th overall) in 1987 and spent 10 seasons in the NHL as a rugged Defenseman with the Blackhawks and Colorado Avalanche. Russell was inducted into the Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame in 2011.

LIISA SAVIJARVI

A long standing celebrity at the The Gallivan, Liisa is a World Cup championship skier. With numerous podium finishes, her career is highlighted with a victory in the Super G in Furano, Japan in 1986. In 1987 she also won the Canadian Downhill Championship in Rossland B.C. and placed second in the giant slalom. The 1984 Olympian had over 20 top finishes however her career officially came to an end in 1988 following serious injuries sustained in Vail, Colorado. In 1997, Liisa was inducted into the Canadian Ski Hall of Fame and she now devotes her energy and skiing talents to helping others enjoy the sport. In 2006, Liisa, Karen Stemmle and Laurie Graham were named co-recipients of the Rob Thompson Memorial Award for long-time dedication to this tournament and the battle against CF.

JOHN SHANNON

Born in Oliver, BC, John began working with CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada in 1978, producing NHL games across the continent. In 1980, he moved to Calgary to become the show’s western producer during what was to be an outstanding period for the Flames. As a result, he was able to produce the Stanley Cup Final every year that decade. Some career highlights include working the 1994 Olympic Winter Games in Lillehammer, Norway; producing Wayne Gretzky’s last NHL game in Canada on April 15, 1999; experiencing Canada’s first Olympic hockey gold in 50 years at the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City, Utah, and launching both Leafs TV and Raptors NBA TV. 

John remains a proud Canadian hockey storyteller, and you can hear him every Monday, Wednesday and Friday on his podcast ‘100% Hockey with Millard and Shannon’.

JON SIM

Jon made his NHL debut in 1998-99. He was a member of the 1999 Stanley Cup -winning Dallas Stars.  Over his 17 year professional hockey career in the NHL and Europe, Jon was known for his speed, versatility and tenacity, contributing both offensively and defensively.

Jon played for Canada's 2002 Deutschland Cup winning team, captured the Calder Cup with the AHL Philadelphia Phantoms in the 2005 NHL lockout season and won the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) Championship with Berlin Polar Bears in 2012.

Jon was inducted into the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame in 2022 and the inaugural Sarnia Sting Hall of Fame in 2023.

Through “Jon Sim Hockey” programs, Jon has become a leader in youth hockey development in Nova Scotia. He coaches the Pictou County Wearwell Major Bantam Bombers and works as an amateur scout for the NHL St. Louis Blues.

RYAN SOMMER

Ryan is a Canadian bobsledder from White Rock, British Columbia. He began his athletic career in track and field at the University of Lethbridge, specializing in shot put and discus, and represented Team BC at the 2013 Canada Summer Games. In 2016, while working as a forest firefighter in Northern Alberta, Ryan was inspired to pursue bobsleigh after watching the Rio Olympics. He joined the national team in 2018 and competed in the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, winning a bronze medal in the four-man event with pilot Justin Kripps. Ryan retired from competitive bobsleigh in August 2022

KAREN STEMMLE

Karen is a world-class alpine skier and former Olympian, having represented Canada at the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo. Karen was always an excellent athlete, participating in provincial figure skating competitions in her youth, but found her calling in Alpine Skiing at the age of seventeen. In 1982, new to the Downhill racing scene, Karen finished 4th at the Canadian Championships in Lake Louise where she was also awarded Junior Canadian Champion. The Canadian Alpine Ski Team invited Karen to join them on the World Cup Ski Circuit and within a year, she finished 6th at a World Cup race in Mt. Tremblant. In 1984, a 4th place World Cup Downhill finish in Verbier, Switzerland qualified Karen for the Canadian Olympic team and she went on to march in the Opening Ceremonies at the 1984 Games. Since retiring as an athlete in 1988, Karen has continued to make a valued contribution to her most-loved sport by instructing at the Georgian peaks Club, where she learned to ski with her parents, and on other ski hills across North America – dedicated to helping skiers improve their skills and techniques. Karen is a motivational speaker, volunteer and fundraiser whose talent, hard work and passion for her sport have inspired many others.

BLAYRE TURNBULL

Blayre is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward and captain for the Toronto Sceptres in the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL). Born on July 15, 1993, in Stellarton, Nova Scotia, she began her hockey journey at Shattuck-St. Mary's before joining the University of Wisconsin Badgers, where she captained the team and led them to a WCHA Championship in 2015. Blayre played for the Calgary Inferno in the CWHL, winning two Clarkson Cups (2016, 2019), and later joined the Professional Women's Hockey Players Association (PWHPA). She debuted for Team Canada in 2014 and contributed to their gold medal at the 2022 Beijing Olympics. In 2023, she signed with the Toronto Sceptres, continuing her professional career.

MURRAY WILSON

Murray Wilson has been a popular guest at the Gallivan for many years. A former Montreal Canadiens and Los Angeles Kings forward, Wilson became familiar to local fans with the AHL Nova Scotia Voyageurs in 1971-72, helping the Halifax-based club to a Calder Cup and later, becoming a member of Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame with that team. In his six years with Montreal, Wilson won four Stanley Cups. He retired from the NHL in 1979 with 181 points to his credit, including 94 goals and 95 assists in  386 games.