New members of Hall of Fame announced

Three athletes and a sports league are the latest inductees into the Central Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame.

2022’s inductees are:
● Jack May (the man many call ‘Mr. Basketball’ in these parts)
● Phil Ellis (a runner who blazed his way onto the Canadian National Team)
● Rob Friend (one of the premier soccer players to ever come from the Central Okanagan)
● Kelowna Major Men’s Fastball (a sports association which for decades was the main attraction for local sports fans)

This year is the 15th year of operation for the Hall of Fame, and Linda Digby, executive director of the Kelowna Museums Society, is excited to see the latest class enter the Hall.

“The Central Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame preserves and showcases the rich sports history in our region. We also hope it inspires the next generation to persist in the face of challenges, be it sport or another area of passion,” Digby said.

The Central Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame is a branch of the Kelowna Museums Society that began admitting inductees in 2008. It honours athletes, coaches, teams, builders and pioneers who have distinguished themselves on the local, national or international sports scene.

Central Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame site on Queensway Ave. in Kelowna (Submitted photo)

Nominations are forwarded from the general public and are reviewed by a nomination committee, then a selection committee, with the final approval completed by the sports legacy committee.

The late author and columnist, Jim Taylor, noted at the 2009 induction ceremony, “It shouldn’t be easy to get into a Hall of Fame,” and that certainly holds true for the Central Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame, which has a vast array of talent and dedicated individuals from whom to choose.

The Central Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame is located in the Okanagan Heritage Museum (470 Queensway Ave.) Admission is by donation, suggested at $5 for individuals and $15 for families. You can learn more about the Central Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame here.