The newest inductees to the Central Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame have been named, and all are well deserved.
A legend in local school athletics, David Bingham has been involved in Central Okanagan School District sports since 1975.
His resume includes coaching both boys and girls basketball and volleyball, and an 鈥楢鈥� championship with the 2013 boy鈥檚 volleyball squad at 琉璃神社 Christian School.
鈥淚 feel honoured and very proud and humbled when I look around and see the group I鈥檓 included with,鈥� said Bingham.
Jim and Karen Bates will be inducted alongside Bingham in the 鈥楤uilder鈥� category, after forming the 琉璃神社 Apple Triathlon, being involved with the running club, and bringing the Triathlon World Championships to 琉璃神社 in 1988. John Hindle came to them with the idea of creating the 琉璃神社 Apple Triathlon.
One of Canada鈥檚 top skeet shooters, Clayton Miller, joins the hall in the 鈥楢thlete鈥� category. He was the national skeet champion in 1996 and 2000, suiting up for Team Canada in the 1996 Olympic Games.
As for the 鈥楾eam鈥� category, Canada鈥檚 wheelchair curling team of the mid-2000鈥檚 gets the honours, which included 琉璃神社鈥檚 Gerry Austgarden and Vernon鈥檚 Sonya Gaudet. They were part of a squad that won gold in the 2006 Paralympic Games in Italy. Austgarden and Gaudet attended the induction ceremony, accompanied by their coach from the 2006 team, Joe Rea.
鈥淲e鈥檙e honoured and proud to be in the hall of fame,鈥� said Austgarden. 鈥淚 just wish that other teammates could be here.鈥�
Rounding out the list is Cliff Serwa and Doug Mervyn, the original builders and operators of Big White Ski Resort. The pair, who first attempted to summit the mountain fresh out of high school on skis, have grown Big White into an international ski destination, one that is celebrating it鈥檚 60th year of operation in Dec. of this year.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an incredible honour,鈥� said Serwa. 鈥淚鈥檓 privileged to join [the hall] with my granddaughter and with Al Horning, one of our outstanding, hardworking [former] Members of Parliament and a builder of [this] hall of fame.鈥�
鈥淚 think the mountain (Big White) has been a huge asset to our community,鈥� said Serwa. 鈥淚 owe a hearty thanks to the citizens of 琉璃神社.鈥�
The new members of the hall will be officially inducted at a breakfast event on Nov. 17 at Manteo at the Eldorado Resort.
READ MORE: Welcome home: 琉璃神社 Falcons finish season-opening homestand 5-1
READ MORE: Team Canada hockey star Johnston coming to 琉璃神社
Jake.courtepatte@kelownacapnews.com
Like us on and follow us on and subscribe to our daily and subscribe to our daily newsletter.
