Bobby Orr was born on March 20th, 1948, to Doug and Arva Orr. Growing up with a dad who loved the game, Bobby was exposed to hockey at a young age. As he grew, he would go on to develop into one of the greatest players the sport had ever seen.
He singlehandedly changed the game of hockey as we know it today. Hockey fans across the continent would mark Parry Sound as a pit stop on their summer vacation route just to see the hometown of Bobby Orr. Parry Sound locals were constantly asked questions like “Where does Doug Orr live?” or “Where can we see some of Bobby’s old gear or trophies?” Citizens wanted to help, but had no answer. The only memories of Bobby Orr were in the minds of the community and the few pieces of memorabilia left behind at the community centre that carried his name. Parry Sound needed a space for locals and tourists alike, to uphold the legacy of one of hockey’s greatest icons.
In the winter of 1996, Mayor Wilf Sabourin contacted George Green, an avid Bobby Orr fan with a reputation for making things happen. Green jumped on board the project without hesitation. Immediately the wheels started to turn. The first task was to put together a committee of dedicated people who shared the vision and enthusiasm. After developing a strategy and taking a proposal to the community, Doug Orr, Brian Bannerman, Bill Painter, Hugh Bracken, Judy Campbell, Phil Harrison, Jon Green and Gord MacIntyre joined George to form the Bobby Orr Hall of Fame Organizing Committee. Judy Campbell and Jon Green were given the role of co-Chairs.
Under capable leadership, the committee got to work fundraising with events such as the Bobby Orr Celebrity Golf Classic. The tournament was not only profitable economically, but also brought awareness to the project itself. This event has gone on to become a central feature of the Hall of Fame.
In its early stages, the goal of the committee was to build a stand-alone museum to honour Bobby Orr. The committee initially looked at renovating the old train station, later known as Station Gallery. They decided it wasn’t a good fit, so they continued to brainstorm.
The team considered several pieces of real estate, but each was missing something. Eventually, the committee decided that a brand-new building located next to the local Bobby Orr Community Centre would be the goal. The Northern Ontario Heritage Fund was the Bobby Orr Hall of Fame Organizing Committee’s best chance at receiving government funding for the project. During the application process, the committee discovered that other organizations were also seeking project funding. Recognizing the importance of all projects to the economic development of Parry Sound, NOHFC advisors suggested that the Bobby Orr Museum and the Festival of the Sound’s performing arts center be put under one roof, with the backdrop canvas being Georgian Bay.
Being contained in the same building not only made financial sense but also gave the Hall of Fame the opportunity to nestle itself on the shoreline of Georgian Bay. The unique location of the BOHF, was circumstantial, but today, contributes to the overall elegance, charm and functionality associated with the facility.
Word quickly got out in the community that a home for the treasured artifacts was finally being built and long-time friends, family and Orr fans began to donate their cherished memorabilia. As the collection began to accumulate, the community spirit and enthusiasm grew.
A group of sports history fans tackled the task of organizing and cataloging hundreds of artifacts, photographs, newspaper clippings, hockey jerseys and sports memorabilia. This difficult chore was made easier by the support of the staff at The Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. These generous people were more than happy to lend their experience and guidance to the organizing committee.
On July 18th, 2003 the Bobby Orr Hall of Fame and Charles W. Stockey Centre celebrated their grand opening. With ‘Bobby’s Trophies’ and the Stanley Cup on display, a crowd of over 3000 gathered to celebrate Parry Sound’s new Performance Hall and the Bobby Orr Hall of Fame.
Bobby Orr was an integral part of this project. A major priory of Bobby’s was to ensure the museum celebrated all contribution of sport in Parry Sound
After attending an Induction event in Saskatchewan, Ray Pavlove and a team of committed individuals laid the foundation for The Bobby Orr Hall of Fame Inductions.
The Bobby Orr Hall of Fame Induction has become one of the community’s most treasured events, and a personal favourite of Bobby Orr.
As of 2025, 51 athletes, 6 teams, and 3 honorary contributors have been inducted alongside Bobby Orr. This honour reflects their own excellence and contribution to sport in Parry Sound.
In 2022, the Bobby Orr Hall of Fame received a $494,250 Tourism Recovery Grant from FedNor. This grant funded a complete renovation and re-design of the museum. This project focused on bringing new interpretation to the story of Bobby Orr and broadening the reach of the museums core mission. The new space is open, modern, and exciting for individuals of all ages.
The Bobby Orr Hall of Fame now welcomes visitors year-round who come to share the history and their own memories of the greatest defenseman in hockey history.
