The BC Football Hall of Fame's class of 2024 includes a pair of retired players who grew up playing the game in Surrey.
Kicker Paul McCallum and quarterback Shawn Olson are among inductees to be honoured Oct. 19 before BC Lions host Montreal Alouettes at BC Place Stadium.
They'll be joined by fellow inductees Mike Emery, Glen Suitor, Farhan Lalji, Giulio Caravatta, Dave Hawkshaw, Doug Staveley, the 1984-1996 North Delta Razorbacks flag football team and Brian MacKay, to be given the Bob Ackles Award posthumously.
The virtual hall of fame is featured on bcfootballhalloffame.com.
The Class of 2024 is highlighted by McCallum, among the most celebrated kickers in CFL history. He'd already kicked his way into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame two years ago.
McCallum's career in the CFL stretched 23 years, including 11 seasons with the Surrey-based BC Lions, with whom he won two Grey Cup championships. Prior to pro football, McCallum went to school at Queen Elizabeth Secondary in the 1980s and played for the Surrey Rams junior team.
McCallum holds the CFL record for longest field goal (63 yards), ranks second for most field goals and scoring in CFL history, and holds the record for the longest kickoff in BC Lions history (100 yards). He also shares the record for most field goals in a Grey Cup game with six.
Fellow 2024 inductee Shawn Olson was one of the most prolific quarterbacks to ever come out of B.C., according to a biography.
"Following a standout high school career at Surrey’s Holy Cross Regional High School, he made the jump to his hometown Surrey Rams. From 1992 to 1995 he guided the team to three B.C. junior championships and one Western Canadian championship. During those seasons with the Rams, he passed for 5,758 yards and had 62 touchdowns over three seasons playing quarterback."
Olson later played all-star football at UBC, quarterbacking the Thunderbirds to a Vanier Cup in 1997. He then turned to coaching in North America and Europe, returning to UBC in 2010 as head coach for an award-winning run there.
The North Delta Razorbacks team was founded in 1984 "from the bonds of high school friendships and would go on to forge a legacy of excellence on the flag football field," says a bio.
"Over the span of 12 years, from 1984 to 1996, the Razorbacks dominated the provincial flag football circuit winning an impressive 16 out of 20 tournaments and amassing $50K in prize money. Their prowess would extend beyond provincial borders as, in addition to capturing seven provincial titles, they also won three coveted Western Canadian Championships solidifying their status as a powerhouse in the sport."
Players on the team include Michael Lindsay, Brad Smith, Mark Halvorsen, Kevin Wilson, Mike Caton, Bill Cox, Wayne Jakeman, Roger DesLauriers, Glenn Ellingson, Bruce Easton, Dan Gosse, Michael Berger, Jack Ellis, Kevin McWilliam, Frank Roberto and Gord Cochrane.
