Announcement Day: BC Sports Hall of Fame Reveals Class of 2021 Selections

October 7, 2021

Vancouver, B.C. – The BC Sports Hall of Fame revealed its 2021 Induction Class during a press conference co-hosted by the City of Surrey at the Surrey Arts Centre this morning. Joining the honoured member ranks in June of 2022 are five athletes, three builder-coaches, one team, one pioneer, one media member and the winner of the prestigious W.A.C. Bennett Award.

The 2021 Induction Class being welcomed into the Hall of Champions includes:

Athletes

  • Jason Delesalle – Para Athletics
  • Gerry Gilmore – Field Hockey/Basketball/Softball
  • Dale Mitchell – Soccer
  • Gino Odjick – Ice Hockey
  • Eli Pasquale – Basketball

 

Builders-Coaches

  • Judy Broom – Field Hockey
  • David Cox – Sport Psychology
  • Kelly Mann – Multi-Sport

 

Team

  • 1961-62 Vancouver Firefighters Men’s Soccer

Team Members: Eddie Bak, Art Bennett, Jim Blundell, Ernie Durante, Doug Greig, Art Hughes, Daryl Hughes (manager), Dave Hutton, Gordie Ion, Jim McGuckin (trainer), Bob McKay, Terry McKibbon, Norm McLeod, Bob Mills, Al Lenfesty, Gordy Nordby, Ken Pears, Dave Sullivan (coach), Gary Stevens, Louis Trischuk, Bud Walton.

Pioneer

  • Gene Kiniski – Wrestling

 

Media

  • Karin Larsen

 

W.A.C. Bennett Award

  • Ron Jones

 

“After months of anticipation, we’re energized to begin telling the stories and marking the outstanding achievements of our Class of 2021,” said Tom Mayenknecht, Chair of the BC Sports Hall of Fame. “Honouring the past – and inspiring the future – is at the very heart of the mission of the BC Sports Hall of Fame and this year’s honourees truly exemplify the best of sport in this province and beyond. On behalf of our Board of Trustees, Selection Committee chaired by Wendy Pattenden and management team led by Chief Executive Nicholas Cartmell, we congratulate our deserving inductees and look forward to coming together again in person to fully honour the Class of 2021 at our BC Sports Hall of Fame Induction Gala next year.”

Induction into the BC Sports Hall of Fame is the highest sporting honour in British Columbia, celebrating the extraordinary individuals and moments that make up the fabric of B.C.’s diverse sport history.

Since 1966, the BC Sports Hall of Fame has inducted 416 individuals and 64 teams to its Hall of Champions, ensuring their legacies will continue to inspire future generations.  The formal Induction Gala for the Class of 2021 is scheduled to be held on June 9, 2022, with details to be announced in the coming months.

For access to the Class of 2021 photo gallery, please visit: https://bit.ly/3lp3k93

To view the Class of 2021 webcast in its entirety, please visit: https://vimeo.com/624951878

About the BC Sports Hall of Fame:

The BC Sports Hall of Fame celebrates extraordinary achievement in B.C. sport history and inspires future generations to make their dreams come true.  As a non-profit charitable organization, the Hall curates an astounding collection of 27,000 heritage artifacts and 100,000 archival documents representing 150-years of sport history in British Columbia. Through Hero in You Youth Education Programs, the BC Sports Hall of Fame reaches over 6,500 young learners each year across the province, advancing a mission of building outstanding community legacies by honouring the past and inspiring the future.

For more information, please visit bcsportshall.com or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram @bcsportshall.

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Media Contact

Josh Kilner
BC Sports Hall of Fame
778-989-1469
jkilner@lbmg.ca