Honours

While the BC Football Hall of Fame represents the highest honour in the category of football for the province, there are many other honours that have been bestowed upon deserving individuals in football. This page provides a listing of those who have been honoured by other football organizations, as well as lists BC Football Hall of Fame members who have been honoured by other sporting bodies including the BC Sports Hall of Fame, the Canadian Football Hall of Fame, and the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame. Also included are a list of our Executive Emeritus, as well as those from our Hall whom we have lost in the years since their induction.

Joe-Kapp-1960s
Joe Kapp 1960’s
Orange Helmet Pioneer Award Recipients

The BC Lions Pioneer Award celebrates the achievement of individuals who have been instrumental in the development and promotion of amateur football in BC. The recipients are committed to ensuring the prosperity of football in their communities by winning championships, building strong relationships, and building long-standing football clubs and programs. They have opened up opportunities for football in BC that would not be accessible to today’s youth without their tireless efforts.

YearRecipients
2006Eric Hames, Frank Hindle, Grant “Digger” MacLeod
2007Harvey Sedgwick, Ken Smith
2008Vancouver Blue Bombers 1947 Canadian Junior Football Champions
2009Dan Doyle, Rob Mountford, Maury Van Vliet
2010Don Berger, Greg Kabat, Ken McKinnon, Denny Veitch
2011Ron Docherty, Brant French, Arnold Nesdoly, Matt Phillips
20121982 Renfrew Trojans, Roy Gardiner, Roy Vollinger
2013Hans Finken, John Hocking, Ed Murray
2014Dave Easley, Terry Kehoe, Ranji Mattu, Peter Ohler
2015Bill Cole, Brian Prentice, Paul Shortt
2016Joe Connelly, Bill Kushnir, Bill Vance
2017John Henry, Maury Mulhern, Jack Taska
2018Tom Kudaba, Bill Quinter, Yeera Sami
2019Wayne Bjorge, Jack Schriber, Dan Smith
2020Chel Sanghera, Doug Staveley
Orange Helmet – Bob Ackles Lifetime Achievement Winners

The Bob Ackles Lifetime Achievement Award, presented at the annual Orange Helmet Awards Dinner, honours an individual who has been a trailblazer in advancing the sport of amateur football in BC and whose impact on the sport leaves a legacy that will be felt for generations.

YearRecipient
2004Larry Reda
2005Lorne Davies
2006Lorne Cullen
2007Ron White
2008Frank Smith
2009Bob Ackles
2010Cal Murphy
2011George Oswald
2012Jack Armour
2013Dr. Bill MacGregor
2014Jerry Mulliss
2015Joe Gluska
2016Brian Olthuis
2017Chris Beaton
2018Denis Kelly
2019Nick Kawaza
2020Walter Becker
British Columbia Sports Hall of Fame

The BC Lions Pioneer Award celebrates the achievement of individuals who have been instrumental in the development and promotion of amateur football in BC. The recipients are committed to ensuring the prosperity of football in their communities by winning championships, building strong relationships, and building long-standing football clubs and programs. They have opened up opportunities for football in BC that would not be accessible to today’s youth without their tireless efforts.

YearInductee
1970Norm Fieldgate
1975By Bailey
19861964 B.C. Lions
1987Tom Brown
1992W.T. “Tom” Hinton
1994Jim Young
1996Jack Farley
1997Al Wilson
1998Willie FlemingAnnis StukusTed Reynolds
1999Joe KappJim Kearney
20001985 B.C. Lions
2001Lui Passaglia
2002Bill Good Sr.
2004Bob AcklesJim Cox
2005Jim Taylor
2007Herb Capozzi
2008Gordon Shrum
20101994 B.C. LionsLorne Davies
2011Tom Larscheid
2015J. Paul McConnell
2016Wally BuonoDave Cutler
2017Geroy Simon, Frank Smith
2018Glen Jackson
2019Ralph “Hunk” Henderson
2020Brent Johnson
2021Ron Jones
2023Mitch Berger
Canadian Sports Hall of Fame
Executive Emeritus

Honouring former members of the Board and former Trustees for their service to the BC Football Hall of Fame.

Years ServedName
2013 – 2015David Podmore
2013 – 2018Jack Farley
2013 – 2021John MacNichol
In Memoriam

Since 2011, the BC Football Hall of Fame has seen a number of our honoured inductees pass on. While they are no longer with us, their legacy will live on forever enshrined in the BC Football Hall of Fame.

InducteeYear passed
Bob AcklesCreator and Founder of the BC Football Hall of Fame, passed away on July 6, 2008.
Lorne DaviesInducted into the Builder Category as part of the Class of 2011, passed away on February, 27, 2015.
Vic SpencerRecipient of the 2011 CFL Bob Ackles Award, passed away on August 20, 2015.
Dal RichardsRecipient of the 2013 BCFHOF Special Award, passed away on December 31, 2015.
Don BarkerInducted into the Builder Category as part of the Class of 2015, passed away on November 22, 2016.
Don MatthewsInducted into the Builder Category as part of the Class of 2013, passed away on June 14, 2017.
James ParkerInducted into the Athlete Category as part of the Class of 2014, passed away on March 27, 2018.
Lorne CullenInducted into the Builder Category as part of the Class of 2011, passed away on August 8, 2018.
Matt PhillipsInducted into the Builder Category as part of the Class of 2016, passed away on September 22, 2018.
Jim TaylorInducted into the Media Category as part of the Class of 2011, passed away on January 7, 2019.
Ken “Kato” KasuyaInducted into the Builder Category as part of the Class of 2014, passed away on July 31, 2019.
Ed MurrayInducted into the Builder Category as part of the Class of 2014, passed away on July 31, 2019.
Norm FieldgateInducted into the Athlete Category as part of the Class of 2011, passed away on March 6, 2020.
Don BergerInducted into the Builder Category in 2018, passed away on July 19, 2020.
David BraleyRecipient of the 2011 BCFHOF Special Award, passed away on October 26, 2020.
Jack FarleyRecipient of the 2012 CFL Bob Ackles Award, passed away on March 26, 2021.
Kent GilchristInducted into the Media Category in 2017, passed away on July 14, 2021.
Steve CotterInducted into the Athlete Category in 2016, passed away on February 10, 2022.
Doug MitchellRecipient of the 2015 CFL Bob Ackles Award, passed away on July 20, 2022.
Joe KappInducted into the Athlete Category in 2012, passed away on May 8, 2023.

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