In a statement made available on January 17th, the BC Sports Hall of Fame announced it’s inductees for 2012, inducting nine individuals and one team.  As listed in the press release:

“Induction recognizes excellence in sport, contribution to sport and the impact on sport in British Columbia, in the categories of athlete, team, builder, media, pioneer, and W.A.C. Bennett.  A selection committee, comprised of members of the BC Sports Hall of Fame Board of Trustees, the media and the sport community made the final decision.”

Unfortunately, former Canadian FIFA Referee and BCSRA founding and Life Member Werner Winsemann was not one of those listed. There was only one inductee from the sport of soccer: former Canadian Women’s international and Vancouver Whitecaps Women member Andrea Neil who becomes the first female inducted in the athlete category in the sport of soccer.

Werner Winsemann is the only Canadian FIFA referee to have been appointed to be the center referee in World Cup match (1974: Holland v Sweden). He was on the FIFA list from 1971 to 1980, was appointed to the 1974 and 1978 World Cup, 1972 and 1976 Olympic Games, refereed 13 international matches and was on the line for 10 more. In 1999 he was inducted into the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame as an inaugural inductee. He is a Founding and Life Member of the BCSRA, a Life Member of the BCSRA’s Vancouver Area branch, a past member of the CSA Referees Committee, a retired National Assessor and a former Director of the BC Soccer Assocation Commission (forerunner to BC Soccer).

The nomination, which has been re-submitted six times since 1993, has now completed the third year of its tenure and, per Hall of Fame regulations, must stand down for one year before it can be re-submitted. The earliest opportunity will be in 2013.

As listed on the CSA’s website, newly retired Canadian FIFA Assistant Referee Hector Vergara has been appointed to FIFA’s Referees Committee, one of seven Canadians to be appointed to various FIFA standing committees including CSA President Dominique Maestracci. The full story is here:

http://www.canadasoccer.com/fifa-appoints-seven-canadians-to-standing-committees-p148796

The Annual General Meeting of the Vancouver Area Branch (VASRA) will be held on Monday, January 30th at 7pm in the South Burnaby Metro Club room of the Bonsor Community Center (located beside Bonsor Park beside Metrotown Centre). The positions up for election are as follows 9all positions are 2 year terms):

• 1st Vice-President
• Treasurer
• Director

Elvio Chies is the chair of the Nominating Committee. Those inquiring about the positions can contact him at 604-266-0741 or Lvo@direct.ca