A new wall of distinction will honour coaches at the Langley Events Centre.
The inaugural class of inductees includes D.W. Poppy’s Greg Leino, Brookswood’s Ivan Adrian and Walnut Grove’s Grant Inkster.
The trio were announced last month (May 27) as the Langley School District held Building a Lasting Legacy, a night designed to honour coaches in the school district for their years of service.
It was held at Newlands Golf and Country Club.
The wall, which is expected to be unveiled sometime in the fall, will be located inside gate one.
The district administration decided earlier in the school year that they wanted to focus on coaches and create a district vision and mission for core values in athletics, explained Jonathan Harris, a vice-principal at Langley Secondary.
In addition to announcing the three inductees — Leino was the only one able to attend — the night was about honouring teachers for their years of service, as those with 10 to 20 years experience, and those with 20 to 30 years experience were recognized.
“The night was about community building, it was about the legacy in bringing people back from the past and showing appreciation for our coaches and honouring them for their years of service and extra time they put in,” Harris said.
It will be an annual event.
And in addition to honouring the coaches, the district has created the Jim Ehman Memorial Difference Maker Award.
Ehman was a Langley Fundamental teacher who coached for 41 years in the district at the elementary and middle school levels.
He passed away from cancer in November.
Ehman was given the inaugural award posthumously, with his family on hand to accept the award that evening.
Walnut Grove’s Grant Inkster (below, top,) and Brookswood’s Ivan Adrian.
