Frances McCrodden

When Frances (Fran) McCrodden enrolled her children in judo at the Tora Martial Arts Clubin Brampton in 1972, she started her many years of dedication and service to the club and tothe sport. She began volunteering by organizing transportation to tournaments for programparticipants and fundraising for the club. This evolved to a variety of positions within both the cluband the judo community. In 1980 Fran was elected as the fi rst female director of the Tora MartialArts Club. Fran was the tournament director for the Tora Invitational Tournament from 1979 - 2000and has been credited with the tournament’s overwhelming success. In 1985 the City of Bramptonrecognized Fran’s efforts with an outstanding service to the community award.

Fran has provided endless support to Judo Ontario, including hosting training camps with specialvisiting dignitaries from all around the world. She attended referee seminars, arranged and attended “fi ght offs”and acted as a “Joseki” at club tournaments. In 1993 she was the co-ordinator for the Sports InjuryClinic for Judo Ontario. Fran’s duties also included the Pan American Games held in Hamilton in 1992,where she was the volunteer staff leader for registration, accreditation and accommodation. 1993 alsosaw her extensively involved in the World Championship Tournament as Organizing Committee leaderfor Registration and Photo I.D.

Fran was the Regional Secretary and Treasurer for the Central West Judo Region from 1990 until 1996. Shewas voted in as a councillor to Judo Ontario in 1996. Fran was the manager of the Ontario Judo team, theOntario Winter Games Judo team, the Canada Winter Games Judo team and the Commonwealth Games Judoteam from 1991 until 1998, and was instrumental in ensuring smooth operations. She has traveled extensivelythroughout North America to provincial, national and international tournaments. In fact, Fran has volunteered atmore tournaments during the past 29 years than any other member of Judo Ontario.

Today Fran is the Regional Director for the Central West Region, and she has held that position since1996. Fran has been an integral part of promoting and managing Judo in Brampton and Ontario. Hercontributions have been extensive, and she has been and continues to be an outstanding ambassadorfor the sport of Judo.

Inducted November 21, 2000