BC Soccer’s 2024 Award Winners and Hall of Fame Inductees

It has been another exciting year for soccer in British Columbia. Marked by more significant milestones, BC Soccer would like to acknowledge those who help grow the beautiful game in our province. 

2024 Player of the Year

Emiliano Brienza

During the 2023-24 season, Emiliano played a pivotal role in Columbus FC’s thrilling pursuit of the Vancouver Metro Soccer League Premier Division title. His remarkable tally of 20 goals in 22 games earned him the VMSL Golden Boot. Additionally, his performance secured him a spot on the VMSL All Star team and the title of VMSL Player of the Year. Emiliano’s contributions were nothing short of extraordinary.

2024 Coach of the Year

Katie Collar

Katie has exemplified outstanding leadership, guiding Vancouver Whitecaps Girls Elite to remarkable success in League1 BC. Under her stewardship, the team has achieved significant milestones, including the L1BC titles in both 2023 and 2024. Their triumphs extend beyond the league, as they also secured victories in the Inter-Provincial Championships in 2023 and 2024, and proudly represented Canada at the 2025 Concacaf Women’s Champions Cup. Most recently, Katie’s expertise and talent were recognized at the national level, as she joined the Canada Soccer Women’s National Team Staff for their camp and match against the reigning World Cup Champions, Spain.

2024 Administrator of Year

Ilona Thomson

Ilona Thomson has been the registrar for the Burnaby district since 1990. Prior to this position she was the Cliff Avenue United Football Club registrar and a Director with Cliff Avenue. Thomson was involved in the organization and planning of the several Coastal and Provincial cup finals held in Burnaby. It's important to recognize the people who are not in the spotlight very often, but their work behind the scenes helps soccer in our province run as well as it does.

2024 Woman of Distinction Award

Jo-Dee Stanley

Jo-dee has been an outstanding administer for many years and has led the way for Woman's soccer over the last 20 years. She is also part of the competition committee for the Metro Women’s Soccer League and has served on several other committees over her time with the league. She continues to advocate for inclusivity in women's soccer and works tirelessly to promote soccer for all ages.

2024 Referee of the Year Award

Eray Demirtas

Demirtas has worked diligently over the past few years to progress quickly along the Referee Development Pathway. After coming to Canada from Turkey in 2021, he quickly earned high level appointments in League 1 BC, University Games, and MLS Next Pro matches. He was accepted into Canada Soccer’s Elite Development Program and completed his Provincial Upgrade in 2023. For his excellent performances, he has been appointed to the past two League 1 BC Men's finals and earned several appointments in the Canadian Premier League in 2024.

2024 Exceptional Leadership Award

Charles Cook

Charles Cook has had an incredible impact on the soccer community in Prince Rupert. Notably, he organized corporate sponsors to offset the cost for community members’ children to play soccer. Fees in Prince Rupert have not risen since the pandemic and registration numbers have increased. Because of Cook, the athletes in our community now have a pathway to BC Soccer, and Soccer Canada programming.

Award of Merit

Bruce McCallum

Bruce has been a positive influence in his community for many years, initially through various coaching and leadership roles. As a member of the District’s board, Bruce has amplified his impact across the District and contributed to leading substantial improvements within the community. Bruce’s hands-on approach and work on the District board has are a testament to his deep-rooted passion for service to soccer.

Special Recognition 

Bill Keserich

Bill Keserich is synonymous with the sport of Soccer in the Cowichan Valley. He began coaching in the 1970’s and his passion, self-discipline and skill development was a recipe for success. In 1982, Keserich was asked to take on more duties within the Soccer Association and so, he became Equipment Manager, then was ultimately elected President. He continues that position today. Bill was recognized for his long-time contributions to Cowichan Soccer with a lifetime achievement at the Duncan-Cowichan Chamber of Commerce Black Tie Award event in 2015.

Special Recognition 

Gale Russell

Gale Russell has been instrumental in assisting, developing, and promoting soccer in Northern BC. Russell was President of Prince George Youth Soccer Association where he started a children’s soccer program. In an 18-year coaching career, not having played himself, Russell took all the coaching clinics he could and moved on to coach the PG All-Stars, leading two boys’ teams and one girls team to provincial titles. For his dedication to make soccer prosper in Prince George, Gale Russell was recognized with the PGYSA President’s Cup, the City of Prince George Volunteer Award of Merit, the BC Soccer Award of Merit in 1996, Sport BC President’s Award in 2000 and 2004, and ultimately, was inducted into the Prince George Sports Hall of Fame in 2003 as a builder and a coach.

Life Membership

Tiberio De Frias

Tiberio De Frias has contributed and supported the beautiful game in Vancouver, in British Columbia, and across Canada. De Frias has spent most of his time as a referee, and now helps develop the referees of tomorrow. As a referee instructor, coordinator and assessor, De Frias works tirelessly to ensure the rules of the game are followed and maintained.

Life Membership

Bob Favelle

Bob Favelle’s unwavering dedication to soccer is felt throughout Port Moody Soccer Club and BC Soccer. Favelle's contributions to soccer extend over 26 remarkable years, a period during which he has worn many hats. His deep-rooted commitment to the sport has left an indelible mark on the Port Moody Soccer Club saw him spearhead the development of an adult soccer program that now boasts over 13 teams, catering to both male and female players.

A.C. Sanford Award for Service to Soccer

Don Moslin

Don Moslin, born in Vancouver in 1957 and raised in Kamloops, began his coaching career in Kamloops and continued in Victoria and Nanaimo. He achieved his A License in 1998. Moslin's dedication to player development spans youth, adult, school, post-secondary, and provincial soccer teams. Notably, he led the 1980 Under 14 boys team to become the first BC provincial champions from the Interior and coached Nanaimo youth teams from 1991 to 2007.

Moslin's provincial contributions include coaching six provincial All-Star girls’ teams and one boys’ team, with the 1996 Under 19 girls winning the Canadian All-Star team championship. Moslin held leadership roles in various soccer organizations, including BC Soccer Director for 17 years. His accolades include the BC Colleges Athletic Association “Coach of the Year” Award in 1992, Coaching Canada’s National Award in 1996, and induction into the Soccer Hall of Fame of BC in 2023.

President’s Award

Gayle Statton

Gayle Statton has lived and flourished in BC all her life.  A multi-sport varsity athlete with a huge love of sport.  Gayle was on the BC Soccer Board of Directors since 2018 and President since 2020. Gayle was also the Chair of the inaugural Member Council for Canada Soccer – an inclusive Canada Soccer Membership Council striving for good strategic communications. Statton has 30+ years contributing to progressive and positive change at the grassroots levels in BC advancing to the Provincial and now the National levels of leadership.

BC Soccer Hall of Fame

The Soccer Hall of Fame of British Columbia announces eleven outstanding inductees across its six classifications in 2024. The Class of ‘24 have had distinguished soccer careers in communities across BC. Spanning 100 years of history and showcasing soccer’s rich diversity in the province, all inductees this year have graced the game through their talent, hard work, and dedication. All while overcoming challenges and adversity on their road to success.

Players

Jamie Ackinclose played for Canada’s Para soccer team from 2010 to 2019, was named Canada Soccer’s Para Player of the Year in 2017 and was inducted into the Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame in 2023.

Nick Gilbert played professionally in the Canadian Soccer League from 1987 to 1993 and made 12 appearances for Canada’s senior MNT between 1988 and 1992.

Sharolta Nonen played youth soccer for Vancouver and BC Selects, then became the first three-time All-American at the University of Nebraska. A defender, Nonen went on to play 63 games for Canada’s women’s national team between 1999 and 2006.

Murray West was an All-star. Described as “one of the finest halfbacks of the 1930s” and usually his team’s captain, West was selected nine times to play for Vancouver All-Stars against visiting professional teams, the record for any player before World War Two.

Coaches

Doug Abercrombie coached Burnaby Edmonds U-14 girls to national champions and BC All-Star girls’ teams for many years. Abercrombie then coached Capilano College women's team from 1994 to 2010, winning the Canadian college championship five times.

Mike Bartram’s first love was coaching. Under his guidance, the UCC Sun Demons women’s soccer team won national and provincial college titles, and he was “College Coach of the Year” five times provincially, and three times nationally

Referee

Mauricio Navarro was a FIFA Referee from 2000 to 2011. He is the only Canadian to referee at Copa America and refereed a CONCACAF Gold Cup Final. Winner of the BC Soccer Official of the Year - Adult Award in 2007, he received Canada Soccer’s referee awards in 2002 and 2012.

Builder

Leeta Sokalski was a founder/President of the Metro Women's SL, a BC Soccer Director, and BC Soccer's first female Chair from 1987 to 1990. At the heart of the formation of women’s soccer in Canada, Sokalski served as Canada Soccer’s Director of Female Soccer.

Team of Distinction

The Chinese Students team of 1933 represented Vancouver’s Chinese community for 20 years as the community lived through economic hardship and racial prejudice. The peak of the team’s success was winning the regional championship Mainland Cup in 1933. The team was inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame in 2011.

Organization of Distinction

Powell River Villa FC has given its local players the chance to shine and progress to a bigger stage since 1973. Thriving despite its isolated community’s economic challenges and having to travel to the Island every other week, the Villa has won the Vancouver Island league championship four times and placed three players on the VISL “All-Star Team of the last 50 Years”.

Vancouver Whitecaps FC has brought professional soccer to the city since 1974. The Whitecaps famously won the NASL Soccer Bowl in 1979, the 86ers had a record streak of 46 unbeaten games and the Whitecaps have succeeded in the top tier MLS since 2011. In recent years the Whitecaps have reintroduced its women’s teams and their youth programs have developed numerous Canadian team players. The club was inducted into Canada Soccer’s Hall of Fame in May of 2024.

BC Soccer would like to thank this year’s award winners and Hall of Fame Inductees for their contribution to soccer in British Columbia. Your impact on the growth of the game in our province is admired and for that, we are forever grateful.