About

The BC Swimming Hall of Fame is where we celebrate the best and brightest members of our swimming community. While swimmers are a big part of the Hall of Fame roster, coaches are also eligible for induction, as are builders – community members who have significantly contributed to the growth and popularity of our sport.

Nominations to the BC Swimming Hall of Fame are accepted at any time and can be submitted by any individual or group. Successful nominees are inducted at the “Team Aquatic Supplies” BC Swimming Awards and Hall of Fame Banquet, typically held at the end of September. Nominations must be received no later than April 1 to be considered for induction in the same year. The BC Swimming Hall of Fame Committee is able to make nominations where individuals are known to satisfy the induction criteria.

Our History

The BC Sports Hall of Fame was founded in 1997 by Ken Radford and Chris Hindmarch-Watson. The goal was to establish a permanent tribute honouring BC’s outstanding swimmers, coaches, and builders of our sport. Since that time, 45 swimmers, 9 coaches, and 9 builders have been inducted into the Hall. The BC Swimming Hall of Fame strives to capture BC’s rich history of the sport of competitive swimming to educate and entertain by telling stories of outstanding achievements of British Columbians. It showcases the accomplishments of individual elite athletes and coaches, as well as those who have contributed to the development of the sport in the province. Through our online displays and video outreach, the Hall advances the legacies of the BC swimming community by honouring the past and inspiring the future.

Operations

Oversight of the BC Swimming Hall of Fame is provided by the BC Swimming Hall of Fame Committee, struck in 2021 to ensure “member” oversight of the Hall. The operations of the Hall are administered by Swim BC whose staff ensure support for the Committee and the advancement of the nomination and inductee process. Existing inductees of the Hall are encouraged to participate as Committee members and are invited to reach out to a member of Swim BC staff for more information.

The BC Swimming Hall of Fame Committee

Brian Johns, Chair, 2015 Inductee
Doug Perks, 2010 Inductee
Chris Hindmarch-Watson
Ken Radford, Executive Director
Tracy Gardner, Swim BC Contact

Committee Terms of Reference

Mandate
The BC Swimming Hall of Fame Committee is a semi-autonomous Operations Committee of Swim BC working on behalf of the Swim BC Executive Director and the BC Swimming Community.

Purpose
The Committee is responsible for receiving, reviewing, and advising Swim BC and the BC Swimming Community on annual nominations and criteria review and where applicable, advocate for inductions to external association Hall of Fames (BC Sports Hall of Fame; Swimming Canada Circle of Excellence, etc.). The Committee is also responsible for the maintenance, review, and revision of the BC Swimming Hall of Fame induction criteria.

Key Duties

Curate the current BC Swimming Hall of Fame including biography review and photographic content;
Review, edit where necessary and maintain BC Swimming Hall of Fame induction criterion;
Maintain a list of pending candidates and a strategy for induction timing;
Individual committee members receive and/or provide nominations for review and ratification of the BC Swimming Hall of Fame
Provide nominations for the BC Sport Hall of Fame as determined (submission deadline July 1)

Induction Criteria

Nominations

All Nominations for Induction are received and vetted by Swim BC staff according to these criteria. Nominees are presented to the BC Swimming Hall of Fame Committee for approval. All nominees must be permanent residents of British Columbia as defined by the Government of BC.

Able-Body Swimmer Eligibility

A British Columbian who has competed under adherence to the Canadian Anti-Doping Program, the Swim BC Code of Conduct and Ethics, and who has:

Retired for a minimum of two years (may be active as a Master swimmer)
Automatic induction – World Record holder (long course or short course)
Automatic Induction – Olympic and/or FINA World Championship medallist
Consideration – medallist at two or more of the following competitions (performances will be reviewed according to depth of competitive field):
- Commonwealth Games
- Pan Pacific Championships
- FINA World Swimming Championships (25m)
- Pan American Games

Para Swimmer Eligibility

A British Columbian who has competed under adherence to the Canadian Anti-Doping Program, the Swim BC Code of Conduct and Ethics, and who has:

Retired for a minimum of two years (may be active as a Master swimmer)
Automatic induction – Para World Record holder (long course)
Automatic Induction – Paralympic medallist
Consideration – World Para Swimming Championships medallist (performances will be reviewed according to depth of competitive field)

Coach Eligibility

A British Columbian who has contributed to the betterment of BC swimming over a significant number of years in a manner that upholds the values of safe sport and adherence to ethical conduct determined by the Swim BC Code of Conduct and Ethics, in one or more of the following areas:

Automatic induction – coach of record of a FINA World or Para World Record holder
Automatic induction – coach of record of one or more swimmers selected to the Canadian Olympic Games Team, and /or Canadian Paralympic Games Team, AND coach of record of one or more selected swimmer(s) to two or more of the following competitions:
- FINA World Championships
- World Para Swimming Championships
- Pan Pacific Championships
- Commonwealth Games
- FINA World Swimming Championships (25m)
- Pan American Games

Builder Eligibility

A British Columbian who has contributed to the betterment of BC swimming over a significant number of years in a manner that upholds the values of safe sport and ethical conduct in one or more of the following areas:

Volunteer club administrator
Level 5 Swimming official with at least one FINA list nomination.
A Donor, Supporter or Benefactor who has provided significant and long-lasting organizational impact at any level and who has enhanced the delivery, access, and practice of the sport of swimming in British Columbia to British Columbians
A Coach who has contributed in an exceptional and long-lasting manner over a significant period to the swimming and/or swim coaching community through measurable and enduring enhancements to a club, a community, regionally or provincially.

Procedure

Nominations may be submitted at any time using the form available on this website
Nominees must accept their nomination
Inductees are be recognized at the annual BC Swimming Awards and Hall of Fame Induction Banquet

Please Note the BC Swimming Hall of Fame Committee reserves the right to recognize accomplishments that may not strictly adhere to the criteria.

fill out nomination form