The Delta Sports Hall of Fame is proud to present its class of 2016. Inductees and sports champions will be recognized at the hall of fame’s gala banquet on Oct. 16 at the Coast Tsawwassen Inn. A “Rio Olympics” panel comprised of Delta athletes Brendan Hodge and Maxwell Lattimer (Rowing), Mark Pearson (Field Hockey), and Markus Thormeyer (Swimming) will be sharing their experiences represent- ing Canada this past summer. Family, friends and the public are invited to join the DSHOF committee and the award winners at the banquet. Tickets are $60 and can be purchased until Oct. 14 by calling the Delta Gymnastics Society at 604-943-0460.

The Delta Sports Hall of Fame was founded in 2005 “to celebrate Delta sport achievement, recognize excellence and honour past, present and future role models.” All past nom- inees and sports champions are welcome to attend and help celebrate. For more information on the Delta Sports Hall of Fame, please visit their website at deltasportshalloffame.ca.

Meet this year’s inductees:

Builder: Don Sangster (Softball)

A tireless community volunteer, Tsawwassen’s Don Sangster epitomizes the meaning of “builder”. His history of service is impressive, serving as president of Tsawwassen Minor Softball, Rep B South Delta Invaders and Rep A Delta Heat (both of which he had an important role in forming); co-chairing two Canadian national softball championships; organizing a Delta tour of the 1996 Olympic softball teams from Canada and Chinese Taipei; and serving as Softball BC’s minor coordinator for five years and vice-president for two years. He was the driving force behind the effort to create the Delta Sports Hall of Fame in 2004 in order to recognize the accomplishments of Delta athletes, and he served as chair for a decade. Don continues to serve Delta and its residents on the Delta Parks, Recreation, and Culture Commission and with the Delta Hospital Foundation, where he serves as chair of both the Hospital Gala and the Hospital Foundation Golf tournament. (Photo submitted)

Pioneer: Carole Gair (Swimming)

For more than 60 years, Carole Gair has dedicated herself to swimming. In 1962, Carole moved to North Delta and the community has been the beneficiary of her work ever since. Carole has coached the North Delta Sunfish (1974-84 and 1990-93), the Ladner Stingrays (1985-89), the Delta Sungod and Pacific SeaWolves (1990’s), the Winskill Dolphins Masters (1993-96) and Winskill Otters (1993-2001). Carole has coached and taught swimming to over 3,000 swimmers, sharing her life-long love of and passion for the sport. Some of her master swimmers, coached by her at age five, are now in their 60s. Her swimmers have achieved recognition at the highest levels, winning medals at the Olympics, Pan American and Commonwealth Games. Carole was inducted into the BC Summer Swimming Association Hall of Fame as a builder in 2001. (Photo submitted)

Athlete: Davis Sanchez (Football)

A 1993 graduate of North Delta Senior Secondary, Davis was a gifted athlete who excelled in basketball, baseball and football. After playing at the University of Oregon, Davis was drafted 6th overall by the Montreal Alouettes in 1999. After two years in Montreal he signed with the NFL’s San Diego Chargers, playing there for two seasons before returning to the CFL. Davis went on to play for the Calgary Stampeders (2003), the Edmonton Eskimos (2005), the Montreal Alouettes (2004, 2006-09) and the B.C. Lions (2010- 2011). In 2000, he won the Lew Heyman trophy as the best Canadian in the East Division, was a CFL East All-Star and a first-team CFL All-Star, leading the league in interceptions. Davis was an East Division All-Star again in 2004 and 2008, and a CFL All-Star in 2008. He played on three Grey Cup winning teams: the 2005 Edmonton Eskimos, the 2009 Montreal Alouettes and the 2011 B.C. Lions. He currently works as a commentator for TSN radio and is a co-host of the CFL podcast “The Waggle”. (Photo credit: Nick Procaylo/PNG)

Andrew played minor box lacrosse with the Delta Islanders before signing a Junior A contract with the New Westminster Salmonbellies, where he played from 2000 to 2003. In 2002, he was drafted by the Calgary Roughnecks of the National Lacrosse League, playing for 13 years and serving as an assistant captain and captain from 2010 to 2015. With the Roughnecks, Andrew won NLL championships in 2004 and 2009 and was a runner up in 2014. He was an NLL West Division All-Star in 2008 and 2011. (Photo credit: Arlen Redekop/PNG)

Few have given more to wheelchair basketball internationally, nationally, provincially and locally than Joe Higgins. He’s had a distinguished career with Canada’s national men’s and women’s wheelchair basketball teams as both head and assistant coach. In 1992, he led the women to Canada’s first Paralympic wheelchair basketball gold in Barcelona. His teams also won America’s gold in 1993, World Cup bronze in 1994, and competed at the Paralympics in 1996, 2000 and 2004. Concurrently, Joe also led the junior national programs, earning gold in 1997. While continuing with the men’s national program until 2015, Joe was instrumental in developing wheelchair basketball throughout B.C., organizing clubs, teams and leagues. A former Paralympian himself, Joe competed as a swimmer in 1984 and 1988. Joe’s courage and determination have inspired countless athletes over his 30 years of coaching. (Photo submitted)

Team: SurDel Rustlers (Soccer)

Coached by Jack Leckey, the SurDel Rustlers was an accomplished team. They were together as a group for a decade, from 1978 to 1988. Provincial champions in 1980, the Rustlers competed all over the world: the Gothia Cup in Sweden, the Dana Cup in Denmark, the Calgary Cup (where they were champions) and the Colorado Cup. They are remembered not only for their accomplishments, but also for their teamwork and love of the game. (Photo submitted)

Sponsor: Wayne Hobbis and Cap’s South Shore Cycle

South Shore Cycle has been a fixture in the Delta biking community since December 2002. As a local bike shop, they have supported the development of cycling as a pastime and a sport within our community. Since 2004, South Shore Cycle has supported the Team Coastal cycling team. They have also supported the Ride2Survive benefiting the Canadian Cancer Society and our own Tour de Delta since the early 2000’s. Photo submitted)

Meet this year’s Delta Sport Champions:

Recognized alongside the inductees will be this year’s Delta Sport Champions, eight individuals and one team who the nominating committee considered as having had an outstanding 2016.

The 2016 Delta Sport Champions are:

• Youth Athlete of the Year: Olivia Sheppard (Soccer)

• Athlete of the Year: Brendan Hodge (Rowing)

• Athlete of the Year: Maxwell Lattimer (Rowing)

• Athlete of the Year: Pricilla Westlake (Bowls)

• Master Athlete of the Year: Matt Yole (Bowls)

• Volunteer of the Year: Chris Roper (Softball)

• Team of the Year: Midget A1 Delta Islanders (Lacrosse)

• Coach of the Year: Cory Philpot (Football)

• Coach of the Year: Brent Calvert (Football)

To see bios and photos of this year’s sport champions, as well as past inductees and sport champions, visit deltasportshalloffame.ca.