William “Bill” Kiely was born in Antigonish on May 4th, 1942. A community like Antigonish was extremely fortunate to have numerous community leaders who instilled numerous values in the youth and also championed the camaraderie that came with being part of a sports team. Lending his voice to various sporting events, Kiely’s greatest achievements are involved in improving the lives of the people in the Antigonish area, this can be seen today with the continuation of the StFX Football Team, the Pictou and Antigonish Recreation, and the community spirit that Kiely has instilled in so many people.
Bill Kiely: The Voice of Antigonish
Growing up in a small community in the 50s, Kiely places emphasis on the community leaders that led the youth to be involved in athletics, education, social activities, and music. Beginning school in 1948 at a boys-only school, Kiely’s time was filled with music and sports. Kiely was a member of the Marian Boy’s Choir for eleven years, which travelled the province and sang for many major holy events. A lover of sport, and influenced by the leaders in Antigonish, Kiely was involved in baseball, football, track and field, hockey, basketball, volleyball, golf, and bowling. Joining Minor Baseball in the early 50s, with four Antigonish-based teams, he went on to play Bantam baseball, and his team, coached by Frank McGibbon, would go on to win the Provincial Championship in Halifax.
During his senior year of high school, Kiely was approached by a representative from StFX and offered one of the university’s first student recruitment positions. As part of the role, he led campus tours for prospective students, assisting with recruitment efforts. When Kiely officially began attending StFX, his previous experience working with the university made him a natural fit for a position in the press box during Varsity football games. This opportunity eventually led to his recruitment as a colour commentator for the radio broadcasts in 1965. Kiely eventually assumed the role for both home and away games, and began to develop a deep involvement with both players and coaches. Kiely could now share his passion for the sports he had loved in his youth while passing on the knowledge and values that had once been instilled in him by the leaders of Antigonish. Kiely graduated with an education degree from StFX in 1967.
During his time as a student, Kiely continued to spread his love of sports throughout the community in a variety of ways. He continued his sports media jobs, co-hosting a sports program and commenting on varsity basketball games. He further practiced his value of community involvement, by becoming the chair Antigonish Recreational Committee, and helping organise the Highland Games. Kiely even became an International Fishing Champion on a team led by Gus Fahey! After graduating, Kiely began teaching (for which he would be named President of the Teachers Union and retired teachers of Antigonish), while coaching basketball and softball. His involvement with StFX basketball remained significant, and whenever the StFX basketball team would make it all the way to the national championships, Kiely would immediately be contacted to provide the broadcasting for the tournament. He continued to broadcast for the radio until 1983 when the radio station cut the live play-by-play.
In 1981, after many years of involvement announcing and on the board, Kiely was named the President of the Highland Games. That same year, Kiely joined the board of the Antigonish Golf Course and worked with federal officials in Ottawa to secure funding for the construction of a full 18-hole golf course in Antigonish. Still an avid golfer today, Kiely shot a hole-in-one in 2008.
Bill Kiely (Right) and Don Loney (Left)
Kiely was also involved with the StFX Alumni Association. Notably, on November 30th, 1990, he received a phone call from Packy McFarland, informing him that the StFX football program had been cut, and would no longer operate. Among the uproars in the community, Kiely was asked to chair a committee dedicated to saving the program. According to Kiely, through perhaps one of humanity’s greatest ever feats, StFX university would eventually change its mind. Following a meeting with the university president and executive on January 12, the Board of Governors reversed its decision and reinstated the football program. The reinstatement of the program paved the way for future success, including a Loney Bowl championship in 1996 and six of the eight Loney Bowl titles contested between 2015 and 2023. Kiely also represented the Atlantic University Sport (AUS) conference as a broadcaster for the Uteck Bowl, a role he held for 25 years. In addition, he served on the event’s organizing committee, helping oversee its planning and operation. Kiely would later be named president of the Association, and in 2000 had the opportunity to go on television with Eastlink as the play-by-play, and would do commentary work for an NCAA game in Halifax.
Bill Kiely (Left) – Chamber of Commerce
Kiely retired from his involvement with the Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame in 2024, in which he was involved for 32 years and served on the selection committee. Kiely and his wife Bernice raised two daughters, and still reside in Antigonish. Kiely himself describes his life as one filled with athletics, education, music, volunteering, leadership, and a love of community, province, and country, and feels that his teachers, priests, and coaches led him to give back in return for those who gave us so much. Kiely is not only the voice of StFX, he is also the embodiment of the community spirit that makes Antigonish such a great town, and is a tremendous individual for the volunteering he has done, and the ways he has influenced many of those who have come and gone, and still currently reside in Antigonish.
Submitted by Jared Snell, HIST 229, 2024