Those who shaped sporting culture in Richmond and put the city on the map with great achievements will soon have a place to be remembered.
The Richmond Sports Wall of Fame will be unveiled next year at the Richmond Olympic Experience, an interactive centre and Olympic museum, at the Richmond Olympic Oval.
And, you can have a say whose plaques will adorn said wall at the inaugural induction ceremony in the spring of 2015.
There is no limit to how many people you can nominate and, to date, the city has no fixed number as to how many people will go on the wall.
Residents of Richmond, past and present, as well as anyone else who may share an interest in the wall, can nominate their favourite athletes, teams, builders and officials of sport who achieved greatness in the community and beyond.
For instance, an athlete such as three-time (2002-2008) Olympic swimmer Brian Johns may be a potential candidate.
A coach such as Bill Disbrow, who is in the BC Basketball Hall of Fame for his multiple provincial basketball titles with the Richmond Colts, may be a solid choice as well.
The recent 2013 Keystone Cup champion Richmond Sockeyes may be an inaugural induction in the team category.
Sockeyes owner Doug Paterson may be considered as a builder inductee.
"I think celebrating our past is about driving our future. Looking at how we got to where we are is important," said Coun. Alexa Loo.
Sports Council members Donna Marsland, Bob Jackson, Stuart Corrigal and Coun Bill McNulty will oversee the selection process.
Loo will act as council liaison for the selection process.
Ironically, Loo herself may be a future member of the wall, having competed in the Winter Olympics in snowboarding.
"I could be. It would be very cool," chuckled Loo.
"But I don't expect I'll be one of the inaugural members at all. I would expect people who have been (selected) in the BC Sports Hall of Fame to be elected first and those who medalled at major international competitions," said Loo.
She said that a mix of past and present-day sports figures would be nice to see, as it would lend nostalgia to older residents while keeping the wall relevant and inspiring for younger athletes.
Loo noted Dr. Doug Clement would be a perfect example of a builder who could be an initial inductee. Clement co-founded the Richmond Kajaks in 1962, hence the Clement Track at Minoru Park. He's also a member of the BC Sports Hall of Fame.
Olympic wrestler Arjan Bhullar as an athlete candidate and the Bhullar family for its dedication to training athletes were also mentioned by Loo.
"We've got some really good athletes. How did they get to that? It's because we have some great facilities like the Oval and the rowing club," said Loo.
In a video shown to the public last Monday, the Richmond Olympic Experience is said to have cost $10 million. It will host interactive games and Olympic memorabilia, and guests will be charged an admission fee.
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