Hall of Fame 2019 Inductees

ATHLETES

Christian Farstad (Bobsled)
Christian Farstad was at the forefront of Canada’s trailblazing bobsled team of the 1990s, in the afterglow of the 1988 Calgary Olympics. He came into the sport from a powerlifting background, with little sprinting experience. Rigorous training and discipline earned him a position on the team, building on his sprinting skills and utilizing his sled pushing abilities to maximum effect. As a member of both the 2-man and 4-man Canadian national bobsleigh team from 1990 to 1997, Farstad piloted the 2-man sleigh to a fourth place finish at the 1991 World championships in Germany. Two years later, the 4-man bobsled scored silver at the World championships in Austria. At the age of 22, Farstad competed at the 1992 Albertville Olympics, where he and partner Dennis Marineau finished ninth in the 2-man event. At the 1994 Lillehammer Olympics, Farstad was in the 4-man sleigh with Sheridon Baptiste, Glenroy Gilbert and Chris Lori that placed 11th overall. Upon his retirement the longtime Coquitlam resident moved to the administrative side of the sport and served as a founding member of the Federal, Territorial and Provincial Task Force for High Performance and on the Canadian Olympic Committee. He was also president of Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton.

Glen Jackson (Football)
Glen Jackson was a defensive standout for the B.C. Lions for 12 seasons, from 1976 until 1987. A Vancouver native, Jackson starred at Simon Fraser University then ambled over to Empire Stadium after the Lions selected him as a territorial exemption. He carved out a 12-year career as an unyielding force at linebacker, with his famous Fu Manchu moustache one of the last sights opposing ball carriers glimpsed before being knocked to the turf. Jackson played 192 games and appeared in two Grey Cup finals, in 1983 and 1985, the latter resulting in a championship for the Leos. Jackson’s domination on defense drew accolades from the league, as he was selected to six Western all-star teams. Stats weren’t kept for defensive players until late in his career, but even as a 30-something veteran, the longtime Coquitlam resident piled up his share of sacks, tackles and fumble recoveries. Despite no sack totals kept for the first five years of his career, Jackson was credited with 36 career sacks over his final seven seasons, and he posted 71 tackles in his final year. He pulled down 23 interceptions and scooped up 23 fumble recoveries to boot. When the Lions 50th anniversary All-Time Team was announced, Jackson was among the chosen. He is also a member of the BC Lions Wall of Fame.

Kate Richardson (Gymnastics)
Coquitlam’s Kate Richardson took to gymnastics at the age of three and parlayed her passion for the sport to the highest levels. She made her national championship debut at the age of 11 as a novice, and emerged from that experience with all all-around gold. Richardson made her international senior division debut in Taipei in 1998, placing second overall. A strong individual performance at the 1999 World championships in Tianjin, China – including a breakthrough on uneven bars – paved the way for her and the Canadian team to the 2000 Sydney Olympics. In Sydney the Canadians placed ninth, while Richardson, 16, established a Canadian Olympic gymnastics first by qualifying for the all-around finals, finishing 15th all around. In 2002 a serious back injury required her to have two vertebrae fused together, casting her position as Canada’s top gymnast in doubt. But Richardson’s iron-cast work ethic saw her recover fully and compete that year in the 2002 Commonwealth Games, winning the all-around gold. A scholarship to UCLA in hand, Richardson split her time between university and Canadian Olympic goals. At the 2004 Athens Olympics, Richardson placed 7th place in floor exercise — the first Canadian woman to qualify for an event final at a fully-contested Olympic Games. At UCLA, she led her school to back-to-back NCAA titles, and finished her four-year college career with 13 All-American honours.

Tara (Perry) Self (Track and Field)
Tara Self’s (nee Perry) passage into the world of track and field came naturally, as the Coquitlam native is the daughter of Coquitlam Sports Hall of Fame member Percy Perry (deceased) and Wilma Perry. In a span of 10 years, Self-competed for Canada in every major sprinting championship, including the 1996 Atlanta and 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. As well as representing Canada in relay, she raced the women’s 200m in Atlanta, posting a 23.46 time. Prior to her Olympic debut, she advanced to the quarterfinals of the IAAF World Junior championships in Korea in 1992 in the 100-metre dash. At the 1999 world championships she was a key member of Canada’s 6th place finish in the 4×100 relay, finished 4th at the World University Games in the women’s 100m, and was the Canadian junior and Canada Games champion, while placing top-three 10 times at the senior national championships. Her route to the Sydney Olympics saw the 5-foot-7 sprinter place second overall nationally in the 100m and fourth in 200m. Self-established her 100m personal best of 11.38 seconds in 2000, months after establishing her 200m best time of 23.42.She has shared her passion for track and field by coaching athletes – many who have gone on to chart national and international achievements – at the Coquitlam Cheetahs Track and Field Club at Town Centre.

BUILDERS

Chris Bennett (Soccer)
As a builder, Bennett An accomplished player who was among one of the first Vancouver Whitecaps, Bennett made a smooth transition to the coaching side and skippered the national under-20 men’s team to the CONCACAF title in 1996, which saw Canada shock Mexico in Mexico City. That team would advance out of the group stage at the FIFA world championships the next year before falling to Spain in the playoffs. Bennett took on the Vancouver women’s Whitecaps coaching duties in 2004 and directed them to a North American title. He has also played an instrumental role in his adopted hometown of Coquitlam, working with various club teams and programs over the years to spread his love for the game. Bennett was inducted into the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame in 2014.

Ernie “Punch” McLean (Hockey)
In hockey circles, the name Ernie ‘Punch’ McLean is legendary. A prospector, business owner and talent scout – McLean’s reputation as a true character of the game has been forged through a lengthy resume of accomplishments. One of the founders of the Western Hockey League, McLean survived a plane crash in 1971 and within a year moved his hockey club from Estevan to New Westminster, settling himself in Coquitlam. His hockey teams soon took on a reputation of their own by carving out a fierce record during the rough-and-tumble 1970s. McLean’s Bruins would set a record in qualifying for four straight Memorial Cup championships, capturing the lofty junior title in 1977 and 1978. Among the players he prepared for future fame in the NHL were Brad Maxwell, Stan Smyl and Ron Greschner. He also coached the Canadian squad to a bronze medal at the 1978 world junior championships, picking up a scrawny teenager named Wayne Gretzky.