By Rosalind Russell – A world-renowned athlete who originally hails from Espanola has been inducted into the Western University’s Hall of Fame.
Former Espanola High School coach to Caroline Ehrhardt, Dave Gallant, says he was thrilled to be part of Ehrhardt’s induction into the Western Mustangs Sports Hall of Fame last Friday.
He says in her first year of eligibility, Ehrhardt has been inducted as an athlete/builder for her coaching contributions and numerous award she received competing as a Western Mustang.
Gallant adds she is now the Head Coach of both the Women’s and Men’s Track and field team at the University.
He says some of her accomplishments include, from her years at Western 2010 – 2015, 11 Ontario University Athletics medals, seven golds, six Canadian InterUniversity Sport medals including four goals and establishing both Ontario University and Canadian InterUniversity triple jump records in her final year.
At 31 years and four months of age, Ehrhardt was also the oldest woman to have ever broken the 14 meter triple jump barrier for the first time when she established her (still-standing) Canadian Record.
Other Ehrhardt accomplishments including: five-time OUA All-Star; four-time First team All-Canadian Western’s Purple Blanket; the FWP Jones Award recipient as Mustangs Graduating Athlete of the Year; the Howard G. Ferguson Award for her Academic and Community Service contributions; and the Governor General CIS TOP 8 Academic All-Canadian – a prestigious national honour.
She began coaching at Western in 2021.
Named OUA and USPORTS (Canadian Universities) Assistant Coach of the Year in 2025, Head Coach of Western Track and Field last year and in her first year was named USPORTS Men’s Coach of the Year – leading the Men’s team to their third straight national championship.
Photo of Dave Gallant and Caroline Ehrhardt at her induction into the Western Mustangs Sports Hall of Fame. Provided by Dave Gallant
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