The Dalhousie Tigers - Dalhousie University

Elite athletes train to meet the highest standards of their sport and when looking back to Joan (Selig) Langley’s athletic career she surpassed all expectations. During her time at Dalhousie with the field hockey and basketball teams Joan exuded athletic ability, competitive spirit, charm and a warm, outgoing personality. She pushed herself to a higher level each time she stepped on the field or court, catching the eyes of many and created a legacy for herself.

Joan began her career with the Tigers in 1971 when she entered Dalhousie’s physical education program and joined the varsity field hockey and basketball teams. During her first season with the basketball team she was selected to the Canadian junior all-star team at the end of the CIAU national championships. She was also selected as  tournament MVP at the Loyola Invitational basketball in Montreal. As well, she helped lead both her field hockey and basketball teams to win the intercollegiate championships that year.

Over the summer of 1972 Joan was selected to represent Nova Scotia in a group of young, high-level athletes from across Canada to witness the Olympics in Munich. She received the opportunity to interact with young athletes from other countries and watch some of the Olympic events.

In 1973 she was a member of the Nova Scotia ladies field hockey team that attended the Canada Games in British Columbia. Noticed for her talent on the field, Joan was selected to the Canadian field hockey team that same year.

During the fall of 1972 Joan was honoured by Jack Gray, president of the Nova Scotia Softball Association, with a special dinner award presentation for her dedication and excellence in sport. It was at this dinner that Jack Gray was quoted as naming Joan to be ‘the finest female amateur athlete he had ever seen in local, provincial and national competition.’

Although she was quite busy with her athletic achievements, Joan found time for the Opportunities For Youth projects throughout her time at Dalhousie. The OFY projects were outreach initiatives to bring recreational activities to local communities. Joan was also a fan favourite of the student body demonstrated with the selection by her peers as the Gazette Athlete of the Week on numerous occasions.

Joan’s leadership on the field hockey team helped them to win four consecutive AUAA Championships (1971-75). The basketball team captured the AUAA Championship title during the 1971-72 and 1972-73 seasons. At the women’s basketball Loyola Invitational Tournament during the winter of 1972-73 Joan won the tournament MVP award and was also named to the all-star team.

Joan was honoured as the recipient of the Class of ’55 award as Dalhousie’s Female Athlete of the Year in 1974 and again in 1975. She was also recognized as MVP for basketball in 1972-73 and for field hockey twice in 1972-73 and 1973-74. 

Although 1975 marked the end of Joan’s career as a Dalhousie athlete, it also brought her to another level of competition. She was a member of Nova Scotia’s provincial field hockey team that captured the Canadian championship and also played in the Field Hockey World Cup in Edinburgh, Scotland. For their efforts, Joan’s 1975 NS provincial team was inducted in 1995 to the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame.

Throughout her career Joan displayed incredible athletic talent and radiated leadership, a competitive spirit and was an inspiration to her teammates. For this reason, as well as her exemplary contribution to the Dalhousie varsity field hockey and basketball teams, we honour Joan Selig by inducting her to the Dalhousie Sport Hall of Fame.