A beloved coach, accomplished golfer, and staunch supporter of Oakville athletics, Bud Corbett was nothing short of a cornerstone in the town’s history.
Corbett’s love of sports began during his distinguished service in the Royal Canadian Air Force; from 1941 to 1946, he coached his unit’s hockey and softball teams, honing the leadership skills he would later bring to Oakville. In the late forties, his move to Oakville resulted in the opening of Corbett’s Sports, a small sporting goods store on Lakeshore Road. At the time, Corbett’s stock was stuffed into two small rooms in this small storefront, but it didn’t take long for business to take off.
Within the next two decades, Corbett’s Sports saw three relocations, taking residence on Thomas Street, Kerr Street, and, finally, its present-day location on Speers Road. In 1964, Corbett sold the business to Ken Brown, providing him the time to further explore his love for sports.
In 1963, Corbett had purchased the Shelburne Golf Course. There, he oversaw every aspect of its operations, knew each of its regulars by name, and even made the club’s first hole-in-one. Golf had long been a passion for Corbett, who remains the only athlete to win the Men’s Championship at both the Oakville Golf Club and the Trafalgar Golf Club in the same year. Further, he won the Ontario Senior Men’s Championship, and became a Lifetime Member of the Canadian Professional Golfer’s Association.
However, Corbett’s own athletic successes aren’t his only achievements; while growing his business in the forties and fifties, he was also growing sports teams in Oakville. He coached baseball and hockey at all levels; set up a curling program for the Oakville Ice Centre; and inspired a generation of young players with his kindness, respect, and love for the game.
While Corbett passed away on December 11, 1999, his memory lives on in those who were touched by his generous spirit. His real legacy lies in his actions off the field and out of the arena; after one of his players was hospitalized for life, Bud spent many hours with him, out of the spotlight. He always arrived with a pack of lifesavers, which was accompanied by his lifesaving encouragement.
Corbett’s players weren’t the only individuals to receive his compassion. One hockey season, Bud noticed a teenaged boy showing up to each of the games. Every match, Bud watched the kid shiver in a thin jacket and sneakers. Bud was impressed, but felt badly that he nearly froze. The treasured coach soon made some calls, and the next time the boy showed up, he was dressed in warm boots and a winter jacket. Never a word was said, but there was no doubt that Mr. Oakville’s faithful altruism was behind the change.
