Central Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame

To honour and inspire

The Central Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame celebrates the athletes, coaches, and builders whose accomplishments have made them a part of history in the Central Okanagan. Kelowna, West Kelowna, Peachland, and Lake Country have produced some exciting competitions and outstanding athletes. The Inductees inspire us to strive for excellence in sports – and in whatever our calling might be.

Hours

Monday 10:00am – 5:00pm
Tuesday Closed
Wednesday Closed
Thursday 10:00am – 5:00pm
Friday 10:00am – 5:00pm
Saturday 10:00am – 5:00pm
Sunday 11:00am – 4:00pm

Special Hours

Monday, November 11 11:00am – 4:00pm
Thursday, December 26 Closed

 

Location

470 Queensway Avenue
Kelowna, BC, V1Y 6S7

(250) 763-2417

Google maps link

ADMISSION

Adult - $10
Student/Senior - $8
Youth (5-17) - $7
Family - $25
5 & Under - Free

Those who self-identify as Indigenous visit the Okanagan Heritage Museum free of charge.

 

The new members of the Central Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame will be inducted during the 2024 Induction Ceremony, held 21 November 2024 at Manteo at the Eldorado Resort, from 7am to 9am. Early bird tickets are $100/ea. Tickets purchased after 1 November are $120/ea.

To purchase please contact Maria Garcia at [email protected] or (250) 763-2417

The 2024 COSHOF Inductees are:

Athlete Category

Jason Crumb played six seasons with the BC Lions as a defensive back. He played in the 2000 and 2004 Grey Cup final, with the Lions winning the 88th Grey Cup in 2000. Jason began his football career playing with the Okanagan Sun junior football team from 1991-1993 and was named the BC Football Conference’s Outstanding Quarterback of the 1993 season.

Mike Crumb played eight seasons (157 games) in the CFL with the BC Lions and the Toronto Argonauts as a safety, winning the Grey Cup with the Lions in 2000 and with the Argonauts in 2004. Mike began his football career with the Okanagan Sun, where he was named an all star.

Builder Category

Dan Martell conducted the first curling clinics in the Okanagan Valley in the 1980s, receiving the Award of Merit from the Canadian Curling Association in 1985 for his contributions to the game. In 1998, he coached the Julie Sutton team to Provincial, National, and World Junior titles in 1988. Dan has officiated Provincial, Canadian, and World championship events and has coached visually impaired curling teams for over ten years, winning seven national titles.

Jack Hoy played basketball on the UBC Thunderbirds, for which he was inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame. Jack also played for Canada at the World Unviersity Games in 1970. He coached the KSS Owls boys basketball team from 1976-1982, finishing the in BC top four twice. Jack served as the director of the Western Canada Basketball Tournament for 25 years, adding innovative competitions such as the slam dunk and 3- point content. The tournament remains one of the premier secondary school athletic events in Western Canada and arguable the country.

Builder/Coach Category

Joni Frei has been coaching softball for more than 20 years. In 2014 and 2023, Joni coached Team BC to gold at the North American Indigenous Games in Regina. In 2021, in just the third year of the program, she coached the UBCO Heat women’s softball team to become Canadian Collegiate champions. Joni led the Langford Lightning to the Canadian Championships in 2022 and 2023. She also founded the East Africa-Canada Exhibition Series, which provides player, coach and umpire clinics. 

The Central Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame is located inside the Okanagan Heritage Museum. Learn more about Kelowna Museum’s flagship museum and visit us today!

Hall of Fame Inductees

Central Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame

 

Since 2008, the Central Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame has been inducting Athletes, Builders, and Pioneers. Learn more by visiting the display at the Okanagan Heritage Museum.

On Tuesday, June 18th, COSHOF announced the 2024 Inductees. They are:

  1. Jack Hoy, Director of the Western Canada Basketball Tournament for 25 years
  2. Jason Crumb, Grey Cup winner with the 2000 BC Lions (photo credit Grant Scott)
  3. Mike Crumb, Grey Cup winner with the 2000 BC Lions and 2004 Toronto Argonauts
  4. Joni Frei, UBCO Heat women’s softball Canadian Collegiate champion coach
  5. Dan Martell, seven-time national title coach of visually impaired curling teams

The 17th annual COSHOF Inductee Breakfast will be held on Thursday, November 21 from 7am to 9am at Manteo at the Eldorado Resort. Information regarding tickets will be available in October 2024 – please check back

Each year in mid-June, the COSHoF Selection Committee hosts a media event to announce the year’s inductees.

Keep an eye on this page to see who will be next to receive the honour!

If you have questions, please contact:

Patrick Kennedy
Hall of Fame Manager
250-215-7986
[email protected]

2008

1958 Kelowna Packers

2009

Joanne Ritchie

Rick Folk Curling Team

Jack Brow

Athans Family

2010

Jay Christensen

Don Arnold

Teddy Bears Basketball Team

Mervyn Andrews

Henry Tostenson

2011

Lawrence Nagy

Eric Tasker

Joan Campbell

Dan Bertoia and Aundrea Bertoia

2012

Alex Recsky

Dr. Barry Urness

1988 Okanagan Sun Junior Football Team

Glenn Ennis

Erminia Russo

2013

Blair Chapman

Wayne North

Brock Aynsley

Julie Sutton Jr. Women’s Curling Team

2014

Gillian Thomson

Glen Mervyn

Mike & Brenda Van Tighem

2004 Kelowna Rockets Hockey Team

2015

Christie Van Hees

Sarah Charles

Rod Belinski

Wayne Hicks

John & Jennifer Hindle

2016

2007 Kelly Scott Curling Team

Blair Horn

Ron Rubadeau

Conny Stamhuis

Bob Giordano

2017

Conrad Leinemann

Chris Taneda

Garrett Hickling

Malindi Elmore

Kelowna Buckaroos Organisation

2018

Allan Simpson

Chad Folk

Tracey Melesko

Rob Dirk

Hugh Wong

Heather Mandoli Alschuler

2019

Kelsey Serwa

Robyn Buna

Tanya Jones

Duncan McNaughton

Daphne Richard

Roger LaFontaine

2020

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we took a time-out from inducting folks in 2020.

2021

Kelowna Spartans 1993 Hockey Team

Scott Frandsen

Dorothy (Schwaiger) Jantzen

Edward Allan Horning

Sharon Leveque

Rolli Cacchioni

2022

Phil Ellis

Rob Friend

Kelowna Major Men’s Fastball

Jack May

2023

Clayton Miller

David Bingham

Jim & Karen Bates

Team Canada Wheelchair Curling

Cliff Serwa & Doug Mervyn

The Induction Process

The Sports Legacy Committee accepts nominations from the community in the categories of Athlete, Team, and Builder. Applications are screened and juried by the Selection Committee, who consider levels of participation, accomplishment, and contributions in each of the nomination categories.

Every year, successful inductees are recognized at an inspiring induction gala. If you know someone whom you would like to nominate for induction into the Central Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame, please download the Criteria and Nomination forms. Mail them in, or drop them off at:

Central Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame Nominations Committee
c/o Okanagan Heritage Museum
470 Queensway Avenue
Kelowna, BC
V1Y 6S7