Just as much applause as kind words were given for George Arcand on Friday as he was officially inducted into Softball Canada's Hall of Fame.

Arcand, who is currently the executive director for Softball Yukon, was inducted for his excellence as a builder at the 2007 Salute to Excellence Hall of Fame Reception, hosted at the Westmark Whitehorse.

'Some of George's successes can be attributed to the old philosophy that states, Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you, as the attitude you bring towards life, not so much as by what happens to you, as by the way your mind looks at what happens,'' said Kevin Quinn, president of Softball Canada, in a speech at the event. 'It is that very success that we want to recognize here this evening. You are a very deserving inductee and we are proud to place you in our hall of fame and we are pleased that your commitment to our sport will be forever recognized.'

Arcand is recognized by many as the face of softball in the Yukon and has lived in Whitehorse since 1969. He got involved with Softball Yukon in an attempt to improve the facilities offered in Whitehorse as well as to increase the exposure for the game itself.

Since then, Arcand has led several initiatives in both fast pitch and slow pitch. Among his successes include the development of the Pepsi Softball Centre, located at 28 Evergreen Crescent. The Pepsi Centre has attracted a number of prominent softball events since its creation and will host the 2008 ISF Junior Men's World Championships next summer.

Over the years, Arcand's involvement with Softball Yukon has included, among other things, chairing and being a member of several committees as well as helping to raise funds for local clubs and leagues.

Before he even gave his speech, Arcand received two lengthy standing ovations, each lasting more than a minute.

Arcand joked to the audience about them regretting this honour because it meant they now had to listen to his speech. He later commented there was more than one page to his speech, adding 'It's my twenty minutes,' which got a lot of laughs.

He said he liked being thought of as a builder.

'If you were offering me an MVP or a batting award I would doubt your sincerity and your sanity, but builder I like to think of myself as that.'

Arcand said that everyone involved with the game of softball, in any capacity, can be classified as a builder of the sport.

'We aren't building the game of softball though we are building the idea of softball and we are sharing it, so we are all builders and I am honoured to be counted amongst you,' he said. 'The builders of softball in Whitehorse are all my friends and like the good friends they are they have helped me every step of the way. I thank them for that and I am very aware of this honour that you give me today belongs to them very much if it belongs to me at all.'

Arcand's speech was well received and got a great deal of applause, laughs as well as a few affectionate boos after he made a joke about being the only one-year shortstop in Canada. He added after a pause 'One year old I was.' He ended his speech by thanking his family, saying that without their support this honour would not have been possible. Arcand also thanked Softball Canada for the award and the audience for coming out to share it with him.

Craig Tuton has been friends with Arcand since the day George moved to Whitehorse. He said that Arcand has done a lot for Softball Yukon.

'When we were first playing ball back in the 70s, we were playing on gravel fields and George had a dream that because there were so many people involved we should be looking at some better facilities,' he said. 'He went to work to find the money, the way and the people to get involved and he did it.'

Tuton also added that Arcand helped put the Yukon on the map for softball with the new diamonds.

'He started to bring in national competitions here in Whitehorse and he's responsible for bringing in, next year, the world junior fast pitch,' he said. 'That's big and he has done that consistently over the years.'

George White met Arcand through softball over thirty years ago. He said Arcand was one of the people who saw the need and benefits of building the Pepsi Centre.

'It (the Pepsi Centre) brought an awful lot of people to the Yukon,' he said 'We started hosting events, tournaments all those kinds of things. It definitely made Softball Yukon a stronger organization and gave us a national profile. It was one of the best ballparks in the country and still is one of the best ballparks to play in.'

White, who is a former president of Softball Yukon, said it was appropriate to honour Arcand with this award.

'We (Softball Yukon) wouldn't have the organization that we have now, we wouldn't have the ballparks, and we wouldn't have any of that stuff without him. There is no question,' he said. 'I think he is deserving and I am really pleased to see the number of people that came out tonight to support him. I think that is really indicative of how well he is thought of in the community.'

Arcand said, in an interview the following day, it was special to be honoured as a builder.

'It's recognition that you have spent a good part of your life helping build the sport,' he said. 'You're not creating it, but you certainly had a hand in keeping it alive and well and that kind of thing, so as a builder that's sort of what that means to me.'

He said being inducted was really overwhelming.

'It's a tremendous honour to be recognized by your peers and for all the people here from Whitehorse It was great to see them all come out and have them there with me,' Arcand said. 'It is part of my life and it is a great honour to know that your life has meant something to others.'

So what's next for Arcand?

'The worlds (the 2008 ISF Junior Men's World Championships), we will work on that and then at the end of next summer I am also still playing, so we have a senior team that is going to go to the Canada Senior Games in Moncton, so we'll work towards that,' he said. 'Back to business as usual, the fundraising that we normally do, even though it is winter time Softball Yukon does not stop. We continue all year long raising money and now of course with the project coming we will be concentrating on that.'

Being a part of Softball Yukon is truly a 12-month commitment and George Arcand wouldn't have it any other way.