BC Sports Hall of Fame inductees for 2026 include five athletes, three builder-coaches, one team, pioneer, media member and winner of the W.A.C. Bennett Award.<\/p>\n
Names were revealed at a ceremony in Vancouver on Wednesday morning, April 15.<\/p>\n
Welcomed to the Hall of Champions are athletes Doug Brown (football), Silvana Burtini (soccer), Justin Kripps (bobsleigh), Georgia Simmerling (cycling\/skiing) and Les Wilson (soccer), along with builders-coaches Ossie Chavarria (baseball), Jim Clive (beach volleyball) and Barb Harris (field hockey).<\/p>\n
The 2006 Vancouver Whitecaps women\u2019s soccer team is also inducted, along with Dr. Bruce Forster (pioneer, sports medicine), John McKeachie (media) and John Mills (W.A.C. Bennett Award).<\/p>\n
An induction gala is planned this fall.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Class of 2026 reflects the very best of what sport in British Columbia can be,\u201d said Tom Mayenknecht, chair of the BC Sports Hall of Fame.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese individuals and teams have achieved greatness in their fields while inspiring others through their passion, perseverance and commitment to excellence. We are proud to celebrate their stories and to honour the lasting legacy they have built across generations of sport in our province.\u201d<\/p>\n
Since 1966, BC Sports Hall of Fame has inducted 462 individuals and 71 teams to its Hall of Champions, at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver.<\/p>\n
Bios of the 2026 inductees, as submitted by Hall operators, are posted below:<\/p>\n
Athlete category<\/p>\n
Doug Brown \u2013 Football<\/p>\n
One of the greatest defensive linemen in CFL history. Played 11 CFL seasons from 2001-11, all with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, appearing in 188 regular season games and recording 426 tackles and 52 sacks, the latter third most in Blue Bombers club history. Seven-time CFL All-Star (second most in CFL history among defensive tackles) and an eight-time divisional All-Star. Winner of the CFL\u2019s Most Outstanding Canadian Player Award, 2001, and later twice finished as a finalist. Finalist for CFL\u2019s Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award, 2008. Helped Winnipeg to three Grey Cup finals (2001, 2007, 2011). Named the Blue Bombers\u2019 Most Outstanding Player once, Most Outstanding Canadian eight times, and Most Outstanding Defensive Player three times. As the first SFU graduate to sign with an NFL team, he played two seasons in the NFL with the Washington Redskins, 1998-99, appearing in 20 games and recording 22 tackles. Inductee in the Canadian Football Hall of Fame (2016), BC Football Hall of Fame (2022), Winnipeg Football Club Hall of Fame (2012), and SFU Athletics Hall of Fame (2012).<\/p>\n
Born in New Westminster, BC.<\/p>\n
Raised in Port Moody, BC.<\/p>\n
Currently resides in Oak Bluff, Manitoba.<\/p>\n
Silvana Burtini \u2013 Soccer<\/p>\n
One of Canada\u2019s greatest soccer players during 17 years on the Canadian women\u2019s national team from 1987-2003. Earned 77 career international caps for Canada and scored 38 goals, which still ranks fourth all-time among Canadian women. Led Canada to the 1998 CONCACAF Women\u2019s Championship where she scored eight goals, won the tournament\u2019s golden boot as leading scorer, and was named tournament MVP. Helped Canada to three other CONCACAF medal finishes: silver in 1994 and 2002, and bronze in 1993. Represented Canada at three FIFA Women\u2019s World Cups (1995, 1999, 2003) making nine match appearances and helping Canada to its best-ever World Cup result, a 4th place finish in 2003. Twice set the Canadian national record for most goals scored in a single match: scoring five goals versus Mexico in 1994 and then breaking her own record by scoring eight goals versus Puerto Rico in 1998. On the club side, helped the Raleigh Wings win the 1999 USL W-League championship. Drafted by the Carolina Courage for the inaugural WUSA season in 2001 and scored four goals in 17 matches. Named Canada Soccer\u2019s Women\u2019s Player of the Year in 1998. Named one of Canada Soccer\u2019s Top 30 Female Players of the Past Century in 2012. Inductee in the Canada Soccer Hall of Fame (2010) and BC Soccer Hall of Fame (2019).<\/p>\n
Born in Williams Lake, BC.<\/p>\n
Raised in and currently resides in North Vancouver, BC.<\/p>\n
Justin Kripps \u2013 Bobsleigh<\/p>\n
One of Canada\u2019s most decorated athletes ever in the sport of bobsleigh during his 16 years (2006-22) on the Canadian national team. The first and to date only Canadian to win Olympic medals in both the two and four-man bobsleigh events. Piloted Canada\u2019s two-man bobsleigh to gold at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics and piloted Canada\u2019s four-man bobsleigh to bronze at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. Represented Canada at four Winter Olympics: Vancouver 2010, Sochi 2014, Pyeongchang 2018, Beijing 2022. Won two Large Crystal Globes during his career as overall season champion on the IBSF World Cup Tour. Also won eight other runner-up Crystal Globes finishing second and third overall on the World Cup Tour four times each. Accumulated 44 career IBSF World Cup medals in Tour events: seven gold, 14 silver, 23 bronze. Won five career IBSF world championship medals: two silvers (2017 Konigssee and 2019 Whistler in two-man) and three bronzes (2012 Lake Placid and 2015 Winterberg in mixed team, and 2019 Whistler in four-man). Recently, he was in Milano-Cortina for the 2026 Winter Olympics as a team coach for Canada\u2019s bobsleigh athletes.<\/p>\n
Born in Na\u2019alehu, Hawaii, USA.<\/p>\n
Raised in Summerland, BC.<\/p>\n
Currently resides in Calgary, Alberta.<\/p>\n
Georgia Simmerling \u2013 Cycling\/Skiing<\/p>\n
The first Canadian athlete ever to compete at three Olympics in three different sports. Bronze medalist in team pursuit cycling at the 2016 Olympics in Rio in just her fourth-ever team pursuit race. Also represented Canada in cycling at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, helping Canada to fourth in team pursuit. Earlier, competed for Canada at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics finishing 27th in super giant slalom skiing, and at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics finishing 14th in ski cross. Likely would have competed in a fifth Olympics in 2018 if not for catastrophic leg and knee injuries suffered just weeks before the Games while ranked third in the world and considered a medal contender. Recovered from multiple surgeries to return to international competition just 14 months later. Silver medalist in team pursuit at 2016 UCI World Cycling Championships in London. Three other top-ten finishes at UCI World Championships in 2019-20. Won two gold medals at 2019 Pan American Track Cycling Championships in Cochabamba, Bolivia. Finished 7th in ski cross at the 2017 FIS World Skiing Championships. Accumulated nine career podium finishes (five silver, four bronze) in ski cross on the FIS World Cup tour. Member of three different Canadian national teams during her career: Canadian national alpine skiing (2007-11), Canadian national ski cross (2011-18), and Canadian national cycling (2014-21).<\/p>\n
Born in Vancouver, BC.<\/p>\n
Raised in West Vancouver and resided in West Vancouver previously.<\/p>\n
Currently resides in Calgary, Alberta.<\/p>\n
Les Wilson \u2013 Soccer<\/p>\n
The first North American developed player to play in the top division of English professional soccer. During his ten-season professional career from 1964-74 in the English First and Second Divisions (equivalent of the English Premier League and English Football League Championship today), scored eight goals in 144 match appearances with Wolverhampton Wanderers, Norwich City, and Bristol City. Helped Wolverhampton earn promotion to the English First Division in 1967 and finish runner-up in the 1972 UEFA Cup (known today as the UEFA Europa League). Selected to the BC All-Star team in 1963 as a 16-year-old and became the youngest Canadian ever at the time to score in an international match, versus Yugoslavia champions Red Star Belgrade. Played four seasons with hometown Vancouver Whitecaps, 1974-77. After retiring as a player, served a distinguished career as an administrator, coach, and manager with the Whitecaps, Canada Soccer, and BC Soccer. Helped Whitecaps to the 1979 NASL Soccer Bowl championship and Canada\u2019s men\u2019s national team to qualification to the 1986 World Cup and the 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup championship. One of three founding directors of the Vancouver 86ers in 1986. Named to Canada Soccer\u2019s Team of the Half Century in 2012. Inductee in Canada Soccer Hall of Fame (multiple times), BC Soccer Hall of Fame (2019), and Coquitlam Sports Hall of Fame (2015).<\/p>\n
Born in Manchester, England, United Kingdom.<\/p>\n
Raised in Vancouver, BC.<\/p>\n
Currently resides in Port Moody, BC.<\/p>\n
Builder-Coach category<\/p>\n
Ossie Chavarria \u2013 Baseball<\/p>\n
Highly respected umpire for 40 years from international to local levels while also serving as a coach, manager, and scout. This after a successful 15-season pro career as an infielder that included two Major League seasons with the Kansas City Athletics (1966-67) and three seasons with the Vancouver Mounties (1965, 1967-68). Umpired men\u2019s baseball at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, 1983 and 1999 Pan American Games in Caracas and Winnipeg respectively, as well as many other international tournaments and events. Served as an umpire for Canada Baseball and BC Baseball for 40 years, 1977-2017, working key tournaments all over BC and Canada for decades like the Kamloops and Grand Forks international tournaments. Even filled in occasionally at umpire for Vancouver Canadians Pacific Coast League games until 1999. Served as an assistant coach for Canada\u2019s men\u2019s national baseball team at the 1987 Pan American Games in Indianapolis and 1988 Olympics in Seoul. Coached at the Vancouver-based National Baseball Institute from 1986-90. Served as a scout for the Toronto Blue Jays, 1984. Inductee in Burnaby Sports Hall of Fame (2004) and BC Baseball Umpires Association Hall of Fame (2015).<\/p>\n
Born and raised in Colon, Panama.<\/p>\n
First lived in Vancouver while playing for the Vancouver Mounties in the mid-1960s.<\/p>\n
Later resided for decades in Burnaby, BC where he currently lives.<\/p>\n
Jim Clive \u2013 Beach Volleyball<\/p>\n
Considered the \u2018godfather\u2019 of beach volleyball in BC, introducing, playing, and promoting beach volleyball for over 50 years. Started beach volleyball in Vancouver at Kitsilano Beach in 1978. Famously played beach volleyball with basketball legend Wilt Chamberlain for several summers at Kits Beach. Installed the first permanent volleyball posts at Kits Beach in 1980. Credited with leading the acceptance and installation of beach volleyball courts on all major Vancouver beaches including the current 16 Kits Beach courts. Founded the Kits Beach Volleyball Association (KBVA) in 1997 and incorporated the KBVA as a non-profit society. Served as the KBVA\u2019s executive director from 1997-2020, growing the organization to over 600 active members and staging over 125 full-day tournaments. Served as president of the Greater Vancouver Senior B Volleyball Association from 1975-78. Got his start administering and delivering indoor volleyball programs for New Westminster Parks and Recreation from 1966-81. Inductee in Volleyball BC Hall of Fame (2015).<\/p>\n
Born and raised in New Westminster, BC.<\/p>\n
Currently resides in Vancouver, BC.<\/p>\n
Barb Harris \u2013 Field Hockey<\/p>\n
Key figure in BC field hockey for over 40 years as an athlete, tournament coordinator, judge, and organizer. Served as tournament coordinator and vice-chair of the board for the 1979 International Federation of Women\u2019s Hockey Associations (IFWHA) world championships held in Vancouver. Eighteen national teams participated and delegates from 35 countries attended, at the time one of the largest women\u2019s sports events ever held in Canada. Served as tournament coordinator for the 1978 CWHFA Senior national tournament held in Vancouver, an event used as a \u2018dry run\u2019 for hosting the world championships the next year. Served as a judge on the technical committee for a Canada-Mexico Women\u2019s Hockey World Cup qualifying match held at UBC in 1978. Served as a judge on the technical committee of the 1978, 1980, and 1982 CWFHA senior national tournaments. Also served the same role at the 1981 Canada Games and 1980, 1981, and 1984 CIAU tournaments. Served as sport chair and acting technical advisor for the field hockey tournament at the 1973 Canada Summer Games in Burnaby. Played for Canada at both the 1959 and 1963 IFWHA world championships held in Amsterdam and Baltimore respectively, serving as captain in the latter. Founder and organizer of the first BC High School girls provincial basketball tournament in 1957-58 while serving as chair of UBC\u2019s Women\u2019s Athletic Directorate and president of UBC\u2019s Women\u2019s Athletic Association. Inductee in Field Hockey Canada Hall of Fame (2020) and Burnaby Sports Hall of Fame (2024).<\/p>\n
Born, raised, and currently resides in Burnaby, BC.<\/p>\n
Team category<\/p>\n
2006 Vancouver Whitecaps Women\u2019s Soccer<\/p>\n
2006 W-League champions, the club\u2019s second championship in three seasons, finishing atop a North America-wide league featuring 37 teams across Canada and the USA. Considered one of the most influential women\u2019s club teams in Canadian history, featuring a remarkable roster of Canadian international talent. Defeated Ottawa Fury 3-0 in the championship final at Swangard Stadium after earlier defeating Western Conference rival Seattle Sounders 5-0 in the semifinals. Finished the W-League season undefeated with a 13-0-1 win-loss-tie record, scoring 46 goals while conceding only 7. A young Christine Sinclair scored three goals over the two playoff matches and a team-leading 12 goals in 10 games during the regular season. Eight players on the roster later went on to win Olympic medals playing for Canada and formed the core of a golden generation that changed Canadian women\u2019s soccer forever.<\/p>\n
Team Members: Paige Adams, Dave Adolph (athletic therapist), Amber Allen, Sasha Andrews, Amy Apps, Sian Bagshawe, Taryne Boudreau, Kirsteen Buchan, Candace Chapman, Jaclyn Dunnet, Martina Franko, Natalie Groenewoud, Carey Gustafson, Randee Hermus, Eden Hingwing, Natalie Hirayama, Selenia Iacchelli, Kaylyn Kyle, Kara Lang, Bob Lenarduzzi (director of soccer operations), Ciara McCormack, Ashley McGhee, Erin McLeod, Amelie Mercier, Tiffany Milbrett, Andrea Neil (captain & assistant coach), Jan Peace (team doctor), Sari Raber, Erin Ramsay, Jodi Ann Robinson, Lindsay Rohla, Pat Rohla (assistant coach), Sophie Schmidt, Desiree Scott, Steve Simonson (assistant coach), Christine Sinclair, Rheanne Sleiman, Stephanie Smith, Katie Thorlakson, Brittany Timko, Diane Voice (manager), Stephanie Weston, Darren Woloshen (goalkeeper coach), Emily Zurrer.<\/p>\n
Pioneer category<\/p>\n
Dr. Bruce Forster \u2013 Sports Medicine<\/p>\n
A global pioneer in the radiology field for his work in sports imaging over a 30+ year career. Developed the first portable field-of-play ultrasound imaging program for the Olympics, used at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and at more recent Olympics since. Served as imaging director for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Assisted in the planning and execution of imaging clinics at the Tokyo 2020, Beijing 2022, and Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Currently the only radiologist member of the International Olympic Commission Scientific and Medical Games Group, which oversees all medical care at the Olympics. Served as the only radiologist affiliate at UBC\u2019s Allan McGavin Sports Medicine Centre for over 30 years. Over 25 years providing imaging care for a wide range of BC-based amateur and professional athletes from UBC (football, baseball, and hockey), Vancouver Canucks, NBA (Vancouver Grizzlies, New Jersey Nets), Vancouver Canadians baseball, and Canadian Olympic athletes (various sports). Founded the UBC Comprehensive MRI Fellowship (specialist training) in 1996 and the UBC Sports Medicine Radiology Rounds in 2001, a program still continuing today that sees sports medicine professionals gather and discuss the management of athletes with challenging injuries. Served as associate editor of the British Journal of Sports Medicine, the highest-ranking journal in sports medicine. Recipient of the Haughton Medal as an Honorary Member of the Faculty of Radiologists of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, one of only three practicing radiologists in BC to receive this honour.<\/p>\n
Born, raised, and currently resides in Vancouver, BC.<\/p>\n
Media category<\/p>\n
John McKeachie<\/p>\n
One of BC\u2019s most popular sports media personalities over 40-year career working in TV, radio, and print media. Known for his North America-wide contacts in the sports world, for breaking big stories first in the Vancouver market, and for his quirky sense of humour. Worked 27 years (1973-99) as a sports anchor on BCTV, while also serving as an on-air host and colour commentator for Vancouver Canucks and Vancouver Whitecaps broadcasts on the station. Hosted CBC Vancouver\u2019s Hockey Night in Canada post-game show, \u2018McKeachie\u2019s Hockey Talk\u2019, from 1998-2000 during which the show went nationwide and later became the long-running \u2018After Hours\u2019 show. Covered two Olympic Games for CTV: the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona and the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer. Wrote a weekly sports column for The Province newspaper, 1997-2000. Numerous sports radio positions over the years including: CDKA Victoria (1970-72), CKNW hosting Canucks and BC Lions broadcasts (1972-75, 1997-98), TEAM 1040 including the \u2018McKeachie in the Morning\u2019 show (2001-03), and MOJO Sports Radio (2003-05). Narrator on the Outdoor Life Network TV show \u2018Road Hockey Rumble\u2019 (2007-08). Three times voted TV Week Magazine\u2019s \u2018BC Sportscaster of the Year\u2019 (1987-89). A celebrated and in-demand dinner emcee for countless fundraisers and events around BC over several decades, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for various charities. Inductee in Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame (2012).<\/p>\n
Born and raised in Victoria, BC.<\/p>\n
Worked for decades in Vancouver, BC, where he currently resides.<\/p>\n
W.A.C. Bennett Award<\/p>\n
John Mills<\/p>\n
For nearly 50 years a key leader in sport development in BC and Canada. Served on the board of Canada Basketball for over a decade, including as chair from 2011-18. Served as executive director and president of Sport BC from 1988-97, during which he helped create the Kidsport Fund, which has raised over $10 million for youth sport and expanded across the country. Oversaw two of the country\u2019s most important sports legacy facilities: first as president from 1998-2006 of the Calgary Olympic Development Association (CODA, and now know as Winsport Canada) that managed and redeveloped Calgary Olympic Park, and later as chief operating officer of the Richmond Olympic Oval Corporation from 2008-19. Served as a board member for Own The Podium (2004-06), the Gold Medal Plates fundraising program (2006-09), the Vancouver 2010 Olympic & Paralympic Bid Committee (2000-03), the 1994 Commonwealth Games Legacy Fund (2006-08), and Kidsport Alberta (2001-05). Also served as assistant deputy minister for sport and ActNow BC (2006-08) and as executive director of Basketball BC (1979-88). Authored two technical books on basketball including one for the BC Ministry of Education.<\/p>\n
Born, raised, and currently resides in Vancouver, BC.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"BC Sports Hall of Fame inductees for 2026 include five athletes, three builder-coaches, one team, pioneer, media member…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":606537,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[437],"tags":[49,48,521,522,520,82],"class_list":{"0":"post-607116","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-cfl","8":"tag-ca","9":"tag-canada","10":"tag-canadian-football-league","11":"tag-canadianfootballleague","12":"tag-cfl","13":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/607116","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=607116"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/607116\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/606537"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=607116"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=607116"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=607116"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}