Garth Gariepy – Athlete/Builder
Garth Gariepy was a legend in Saskatchewan boxing, winning 12 consecutive provincial championships from 1968-79. He often would fight up in weight classes for more competition, with the biggest differential taking on boxers 70 pounds heavier, and winning!
He also won gold medals at the Saskatchewan Winter Games, Canada Winter Games, Northwest Boxing Championships in Whitehorse and Winnipeg, Western Canada Summer Games, Western Canadian Golden Gloves and at an Exchange with Newfoundland.
One of the more noteworthy fights for Gariepy was at the Provincial Championships in 1977 in Meadow Lake when he took on Dennis Lays from Weyburn, who weighed in 70 pounds greater. Gariepy knocked him out in the third round!
When his days as a competitor in the ring were complete, Gariepy would start the Tut Coombs Boxing Club in Prince Albert, named after his longtime coach who is also a member of the Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame.
Gariepy’s biggest contribution back to boxing came as an official as he started refereeing in 1990. He would officiate at many prestigious events including: Western Canadians in Lloydminster (1994), Western Canadians in Kelowna (2002), North American Indigenous Games (2002), Western Canadians in Edmonton (2003), Head Official at Western Canadians in North Battleford (2004), National Senior Championships in Regina (2004), National Junior Championships in Brantford, Ontario (2005), Western Canadians in Whitehorse, Yukon (2006), National Juniors/Cadets in Edmonton (2008), Nationals in Windsor, Ontario (2008) and National Juniors in Edmonton (2009).
