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Calgary Herald
5 days ago
- Business
- Calgary Herald
New book unravels the story of B.C. sports mogul and Australian fugitive Con Jones
Article content Article content When the authorities tried to put a stop to all the gambling going on, Jones hired the best lawyers. Article content 'He managed to keep himself on the right side of the law through high-powered legal muscle,' said Fuller, who is selling his book online through Amazon and Chapters/Indigo. Article content 'His little trick was he never participated ever in the stakes of any game. He would have a little slot on the side of the table, (and) before each hand got dealt, you had to drop a penny in the slot. Article content 'It's amazing, (his) wealth was built up sort of a penny at a time.' Article content Jones spent a fortune enticing star lacrosse players to play for a team he began in Vancouver. Some were also hockey stars. Jones paid Newsy Lalonde $5,000 to play for his lacrosse team, at a time when Lalonde made $1,300 per season to play for the Montreal Canadiens. Article content It worked. Jones' lacrosse team won the Minto Cup over the archrival New Westminster Salmonbellies in 1911. His finances also grew with the Don't Argue chain, which included 20 East Hastings St., longtime home of The Only seafood restaurant. Article content Article content Article content In Australia, Shortel/Jones also left behind an illegitimate daughter, Victoria Johnson, who reconnected with him when she was 17 and was constantly causing a kerfuffle. Victoria had a knack for conning wealthy men out of their money, which eventually landed her in an Australian jail. Article content –OPTIONAL TRIM FOR PRINT– Article content 'She was a real talent, in a criminal sense,' said Fuller. Article content 'It was breathtaking, the scope of it. She would pretend to be someone really wealthy who had this huge inheritance coming, and then once she got to know somebody, she would borrow money from them, usually quite a big sum. And then disappear.' Article content –END OPTIONAL TRIM– Article content Jones and his family still managed to remain quite respectable in the public eye, building a handsome mansion in Shaughnessy in 1922 that was adorned with the latest rage, a King Tut-themed chandelier. Article content Article content Jones also put a $1,000 down payment on a site in east Vancouver to build Con Jones park in 1920, which was a major venue for lacrosse, soccer and baseball for decades. It's now known as Callister Park, after the man who had sold it to Jones, who had never paid off the mortgage on the land. Article content Fuller discovered all this through his grandmother Margaret, whose second marriage was to one of Con Jones' sons, Dill. Article content When his grandmother died in 2002, she left behind boxes of the Jones archive, including diaries, metal token/coins that were used at the Don't Argue, and a couple of dazzling scrapbooks featuring newspaper clippings, photos and illustrations. Article content Sadly, the health of Jones declined in the 1920s after decades of alcoholism. He died on June 3, 1929, at only 59 years old. Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content
Hamilton Spectator
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Squamish and Musqueam Nation youth athletes win provincial sport awards
A group of young athletes will soon have their name and photo shine in the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame. Three athletes from the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) and one from xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nation are among the 10 recipients of the 2024 Premier's Award for Indigenous Youth Excellence in Sport announced Tuesday. The Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity and Recreation Council (I-SPARC) announced the awards, which has been running since 2015. Athletes 25 and under are recognized for their outstanding achievements in sport but also demonstrating a commitment to education, culture and promoting a healthy lifestyle. Box lacrosse player Logan Mellish from Squamish Nation, softball and volleyball athlete Sophie Campo and hockey star Wyatt Blace from Squamish Nation and synchronized figure skater Summer Cannell from Musqueam Nation are on this year's list. 'Thank you so much for selecting me as one of the top 10 recipients for the primary provincial awards for Indigenous Youth Excellence in Sports,' Mellish said in a video recognizing this year's winners . 'I want to thank my coaches for their belief in me and sharing their dedication and knowledge to help me become a better athlete.' Mellish led the Coquitlam Junior Adanacs to a first-place finish last season, taking home the Minto Cup in 2024 . He is also a role model in his community, the video said, volunteering with a non-profit helping children with disabilities learn lacrosse while also taking Indigenous youth out fishing and teaching harvesting traditions. Campo's team achieved gold at the BC Softball Championship and placed fifth at the Western Canadian Softball Championship. On top of her pitching and batting talents, she also led her school's volleyball team to gold at the South Vancouver Island Championship. 'This award is such an honour, and I would like to thank my loved ones, coaches, teammates and everyone who has supported me and helping me reach my goals,' Campo said. The award is also a high tribute for Blace, who has achieved a lot in his hockey career already. Blace plays on the Alberni Valley Bulldogs, has made BCHL's top prospects game and will soon shoot pucks for ivy league Dartmouth College in the U.S. Figure skater Cannell also holds an impressive record on the ice. The Musqueam Nation member is the captain of the BC Junior Synchronized Skating Team, leading the squad to a win at the West Coast Challenge and top prize at the Mountain Regionals. She also landed seventh place in the Canadian National Skating Championships where she competed against some of the best skaters across the country. 'As a proud Musqueam figure skater, it's an honour to share my journey and celebrate this special moment with all of you,' Cannell said, adding thanks to her family, coaches, teammates and her community for their encouragement and guidance. 'I'm excited for what the future brings, not only for myself, but for the growing presence of Indigenous athletes in all world competition,' she said. 'Thank you I-SPARC for this honour, it's a milestone in my athletic career.' In March, I-SPARC announced the 32 regional finalists for the awards . The awards have created a legacy for outstanding athletes, a press release from I-SPARC said, with many past recipients earning university scholarships, playing on professional sports leagues, and competing with Canadian national teams and at the Olympics. All 10 provincial recipients will receive a $500 bursary and a framed limited-edition print of the award from First Nations artist Carey Newman, plus their photo and biography will be on display inside the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame in downtown Vancouver. 'Congratulations to the 10 exceptional athletes and leaders who are taking home a Premier's Award for Indigenous Youth Excellence in Sport,' said B.C. Premier David Eby in a press release. 'Your commitment to your sport, your studies and your culture is truly inspiring. I wish each of you every success as you continue to pursue your goals on and off the field of play while proudly representing your community.' To see the full list and video ceremony honouring the recipients, check out I-SPARC's website . Abby Luciano is the Indigenous and civic affairs reporter for the North Shore News. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative .
