The 2019 Softball BC Development Conference (including the Annual General Meeting) will be held at the Grand Villa Casino Hotel & Conference Centre. The address is 4331 Dominion Street in Burnaby.

Download the Development Conference and AGM Notice Package here:

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All Delegates (funded and non-funded) – Link to Book your Accommodation:

Last day to book: 9/17/19

Marriott hotel(s) offering your special group rate:

  • Delta Hotels Burnaby Conference Centre  for 155.00 CAD  per night

Book your group rate for Softball BC

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Appendices:

Softball BC Announces the 2019 Hall of Fame Inductees

Langley, BC – Softball BC is pleased to announce the seven inductees to the Hall of Fame.  These individuals will be recognized at the Annual Awards Banquet in October.

Greg Timm (Surrey) and Jackie Dugger (Surrey) will be inducted into the Builder Category.  Chuck Westgard (Surrey) and Jerry Dugger (Surrey) will be inducted into the Coach Category.  Gail Archibald (Victoria) and Joan Firkins (Brentwood Bay) will be recognized for their achievements in the Athlete Category. Rounding out the Hall of Fame Class of 2019 are the White Rock Renegades 1991 who will be inducted into the Team Category.

The lists of accomplishments for Greg Timm are long. His influence and contribution to the development and promotion of softball reaches around the world. From his earliest involvement as a coach with the Richmond Islanders to chairing the world championship for women in 2016, and soon, the historic Olympic qualifier this summer, Greg’s focus has always been promoting excellence through softball. Greg was instrumental in the creation of Softball City and for the past twenty five years has been associated with the prestigious International Softball Tournament, Canada Cup, as vice chair, and for the past 11 years as the chair of the host committee. He is a worthy addition to the Softball BC Hall of Fame.

Mrs. Jackie Dugger has been actively involved with the softball community for 33 years.  Starting out as a scheduler in Burnaby she has worn many different hats including, Burnaby Minor Softball Executive, Softball BC Minor Coordinator (District 6), and Softball BC Minor Director from 1999 to 2008, Softball BC President (2013) and currently she is serving her third term on the Softball Canada Board of Directors.  As well, Jackie served as the Technical Director for the 2016 Women’s World Championship and is the Technical Director for Canada Cup.

Mr. Chuck Westgard was the Head Coach of the White Rock Renegades 1991 and 1995 teams.  Competing at numerous Provincial and Canadian Championships with both teams he secured 7 National titles and five Provincial titles in nine years. Chuck was award the Softball BC Coach of the Year Award in 2010 and his teams were awarded Team of the Year recognitions in 2009 (Renegades ’91) and in 2011 (Renegades ’95).

Mr. Jerry Dugger began coaching in 1985, in Burnaby, and created the Burnaby Oakeys.  The Oakeys name was synonymous with excellence for more than two decades. Gerry secured three national titles in in 2000, 2001 and 2003.  He was the Head Coach of Team BC in 1995, 2007 for the Western Canada Summer Games and in 1997 he coach Team BC at the Canada Summer Games.  As well as being a coach, Jerry has also been President of Burnaby Minor Softball and a Softball BC District Coordinator.  Under Jerry’s supervision the Burnaby Association grew to over 1000 members in the late 1990’s.

Ms. Gail Archibald began her softball career at 17 in 1958, as a member of the Victoria Polyettes.  She was a young power hitting center fielder and during her rookie year she toyed with the idea of becoming a pitcher.  Her hard work and natural ability paid off and the following year she became the starting pitcher for the Vicettes.  Gail guided the Vicettes to five Senior B Championships from 1958-1963 and to the Senior A finals in 1965.  Gail was inducted into the Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame in 2011.

Ms. Joan Firkins began pitching for the Dunbar Merchants in 1961 at the age of 17.  From there she was scouted by the Texaco Starettes at South Memorial Park and she played Senior A Ladies with the Starettes from 1963-1967.  She attended the Canadian National Championship in each of those years. Joan played with the Vancouver Merchants from 1968-1972 when she was picked up by Coach Adrian Lavigne in the summer of 1972 as a starting pitcher and went onto win the gold medals in 1972, 1973 and 1974.  Joan and her team travelled to Hawaii for five games where she was the winning pitcher in all five games.  In 1974, as Team Canada, Joan and her team travelled to Australia on a 34 day tour playing countless games all over the country. Joan retired from playing at the end of the 1977 season after a softball career spanning 16 years.

The White Rock Renegades 1991 was a team for the ages during their years of competition.  The team had a core group of six ladies that remained with the team through their tenure which consisted of winning three Provincial titles and four Canadian Championship titles between the years 2005-2010.  They are the only team in Canada to have won four National Championships at each level of competition, they won every National Championship they attended and they won four National titles in a period of six years (three in a period of 4 years). The Renegades ’91 was selected as the Softball BC Team of the Year in 2009.

“On behalf of the Board of Directors for Softball BC, I am honoured to introduce the 2019 inductees to the Softball BC Hall of Fame. British Columbia has a long, proud, history in softball across the country and the world. The class of 2019 are further proof that, through the contributions of the newest members of our Hall of Fame, that legacy is being preserved. We have a diverse group of inductees, from pioneers in the sport such as Gail Archibald and Joan Firkins, to coaches Jerry Dugger and Chuck Westgard, builders of our sport in Greg Timm and Jackie Dugger and a team for the ages in the Renegades 91. Congratulations to all the newest members of the Hall of Fame, I look forward to joining in celebrating your achievements in October at the Hall of Fame ceremony.”

Jake Dewitt, President, Softball BC 

 The Softball BC Hall of Fame and Annual Awards Banquet will take place in Burnaby, BC on Saturday October 19, 2019.  To purchase tickets please CLICK HERE.