Three-time Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association All-Canadian Julieth Lewis was inducted into the CCAA Hall of Fame in the Athlete Category.
Lewis led Dawson to CCAA Women’s Basketball National Championship final appearances in each of her three seasons with the Blues. Dawson earned CCAA silver in 1984 before winning back-to-back National titles in 1985 and 1986.
In addition to being named a CCAA All-Canadian in each of her three seasons at Dawson, Lewis was named a first team All-Star at CCAA Nationals in 1984 and 1986. She was also named tournament most valuable player in 1986.
The CCAA National Championship victories in Moose Jaw, SK, and Kamloops, BC, remain the only two National titles for Dawson in CCAA Women’s Basketball.
“Julieth was a fierce competitor who, upon joining the Dawson College women’s basketball team, quickly gained a reputation within the province of Quebec and in Canada as an incredible player,” said Dan Boyer, Coordinator of Student Services & Athletics at Dawson College. “She contributed greatly to the success of the Dawson Blues at national competitions.”
For Lewis, there was no better feeling than showing up at Dawson’s jam-packed home gym – the Showmart – for a 6 p.m. game on a Friday night in Westmount, QC.
“We had so much support, great fans and we were a part of a team that felt like family,” said Lewis. “There was no place like the Showmart, it was like a home away from home.”
Lewis recalls an extraordinary conversation she had with a fan at a road game one night in Montreal.
“After a Friday night game at Vanier, I had a high school player walk up to me and introduce herself,” said Lewis.
The athlete told Lewis that she was invited to the game by the Vanier coach because she was considering going to play there. The student-athlete was told to watch No. 12 from Dawson and “the way she gets rebounds and controls the boards.”
“She said that she really enjoyed watching me play and admired me,” said Lewis. “That made me feel so good.”
And little did she know at the time, the sport she loved to play was preparing Lewis for her future career.
“I work in the healthcare system and believe it or not, playing basketball and working in the healthcare system requires the same mental skills,” she said.
Competing at the highest collegiate level possible allowed Lewis to develop patience and enabled her to work under pressure while enhancing her individual and teamwork skills.
Lewis also learned to show compassion, be supportive and most of all, be a leader.
“I have carried all that over from playing in the CCAA into my career today."
