In a previous edition of the Richmond Sentinel, we highlighted two inductees and their journey to the Richmond Sports Wall of Fame. In this edition of the Richmond Sentinel, we look at the Richmond Sports Wall of Fame, Class of 2022.

2022 Richmond Sports Wall of Fame Inductees

Alan Sakai – Judo

Alan Sakai was born and raised in Richmond, he attended several schools in the area and developed a passion for judo during his time at the Steveston Judo Club. While working in the fishing industry, he pursued higher education at the University of British Columbia, earning both a Bachelor’s and master’s degree in education. For four decades, he dedicated himself to teaching in the Richmond School district and became deeply involved in community service, notable contributing to the Steveston Community Society and Martial Art Centre. He played a pivotal role in re-establishing the Steveston Judo Club, attracting and retaining new young athletes to judo. His contributions and achievements were recognized with awards such as the Shigetaka Sasaki BC Sport Achievement Award in 1972, the Richmond Sport Award, and the UBC Big Block Athletic Award in 1973.  In 2008, he had the honour of carrying the Olympic Torch in Richmond, an acknowledgement of his outstanding dedication to Judo and the community. 

Albert Nishi – Football

Albert Nishi grew up in Richmond and graduated from Steveston Secondary School in 1962. For 33 years, Albert taught and coached at Burnett Secondary School when the gymnasium was still under construction, which caused many teams to have to practice in the outdoors. He coached many teams throughout his 33 year coaching career and won championships in football, badminton, and baseball. From 1982 to 2003, many teams coached by Albert went on a dominate run. Nishi coached the Burnett Badminton teams to a combined total of ten Vancouver and District silver medals at the BC Provincial Championship in back-to-back years. He was a recognized by the Richmond Secondary School’s Athletic Association for his 30-year service recognition and named BC School Sports Coach of the Year in the 2001-2002 season.

Bernie Glier – Football

Raised in Richmond, Bernie Glier attended Tomsett, Bridgeport, Cambie, and Richmond High Secondary School. He was a multi-sport athlete, excelling in football, and attended the University of British Columbia on a football scholarship. After graduating from UBC, Glier was drafted fifth overall by the BC Lions and was part of the team that won 1985 Grey Cup. In 1983 while playing for the Lions, Glier began teaching at Richmond High who eventually won the BC High School Football Championships, making Bernie one of many to win as both a player and a coach with the Richmond Colts. 

Bill Haddow – Football

Raised in Richmond, BC, Bill Haddow was a three-sport athlete, playing hockey, football, and baseball, he would go onto win a Western Canadian Little League Championship in 1970. His father was one of the founders of the Richmond Minor Football Association. He played football throughout his middle school and high school days and in collaboration with his brother Bruce Haddow, kept high school football alive in Richmond in the 2000s. He coached community and school sports for 43 years and served on the BC High School Football Board of Directors for 20 years. He and his brother coached at Hugh Boyd Secondary School for 20 years, delivering a total of seven conference championships. Bill also won three league championships and one provincial championship with Richmond Minor Football.

Brian Johns – Swimming 

Brian Lawrence Johns was born in Regina, Saskatchewan. His family moved to Richmond, British Columbia where he would go onto attend William Bridge Elementary and McRoberts Secondary. Brian trained rigorously with the Richmond Aquanats and Racers (later the Rapids). Brian attended the University of British Columbia, holding the world record in the 400-metre individual medley (short-course), with a time of 4:02.72. He won a bronze medal in the 1999 World Championships in Hong Kong, and a silver medal in the 2022 World Championships in Moscow. He has participated in three Olympics in 2000, 2004, and 2008, and later retired from swimming and is now Head of Coaching Science at FORM, a company that aims to break down barriers between what swimming is and what it could be.

Bruce Haddow – Football

Like his brother, Bill, Bruce Haddow lived and breathed football and coaching. He coached a variety of sports including baseball, softball, track and field, and football. He taught in the Richmond School District for 34 years and retired in 2017. Bruce coached multiple sports for 40 years at eight different levels, in that time he was named National High School Coach of the Year Runner Up twice, the 2007 RSSAA – Outstanding Coaching Achievement Award, awarded a BCHSFA Honorary Life Membership, and many more.

Eagles Field Hockey – Field Hockey

Regarded as most dominant field hockey team between 1992 to 1999, the Eagles joined the Greater Vancouver Junior Field Hockey League in 1992 as part of a team that was meant to develop junior girls’ field hockey. The eagles won the Greater Vancouver Field Hockey League Champions every year and won six consecutive Provincial Field Hockey Championships between 1994 and 1999. Eight players from this dominant field hockey team would go on to win the 1998 BC High School AAA Provincial Championships. In 1999, they were named Richmond’s Sports Awards Team of the Year. As a team they lived and breathed by one quote “Everybody wins with teamwork” said by Lance Carey. This dominant team inspired many around the province through their dedication, many would go onto coach or umpire field hockey games.

Jim Kojima – Judo

Jim Kojima was born in Steveston but evacuated to Southern Alberta in 1942 before returning in 1951. He began practicing judo in 1953 and has been a key member in the Steveston Community since. He promoted and raised money for the new Martial Arts Center that would house Kendo, Judo, and Karate and continues to instruct young athletes now. He served as the vice president of Judo Canada for 14 years and president for six years. He has constantly been an advocate for women in Judo at all levels of the sport, promoting the first Women’s World Championships in New York in 1980 and helping at the 1992 Olympic Games. He’s officiated at six Olympics, 22 world judo championships, the Pan Am Games, and Pacific Rim Championships. Some achievements Jim has received include the Order of Canada in 1983, the Queens Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012, an induction into the Judo Canada Hall of Fame in 2004, and more.

Mike Charlton – Athletics

Mike Charlton began working for the Richmond School District in September 1989 shortly after immigrating to Canada. For over 30 years, he continuously promoted, coached, and led multiple sports helping develop thousands of athletes in the city. Between 1995 to 2005, he coached the Cambie Track and Field team to 11 straight championships, from 1989 to 2011 he coached 29 championship calibre badminton teams, and from 2016 to 2019 as the head of Rugby at McMath Secondary he created and coached 4 levels of men’s rugby and coached the emerging sports program into continual provincial championship qualifiers, earning a silver medal finish in the process.

Richmond Superstars – Soccer 

The Richmond Superstars were a team of players, coaches, and managers who all lived in Richmond and joined the club in the inaugural 1975 season. The team was made up of multi-sport athletes who also played box lacrosse, basketball, volleyball, ball hockey, and fastpitch softball. With a lack of areas to practice at, the team played out of their neighbourhood school, Walter Lee Elementary. Despite dealing with financial struggles, the team held fundraisers to pay for the resources, uniforms, fields, and coaching. The team won four western Canadian and national championships within a five-year period and accomplished a three-peat during the 1978 to 1981 season.

Rick Yodogawa – Judo

Rick Yodogawa grew up in Steveston working for his dad’s fishing boat. His family would later move to Surrey but he was committed to the Steveston Judo Club and would routinely make trips to Richmond in support of the club. From 1967 to 1971 he would win two gold medals at the Judo Canadian National Senior Championships in the 63 kg division, and two silver medals and a bronze medal in the 66 kg division. In 1983, the B.C. judo team of eight athletes coached by Ricky, would go on to win a total of seven medals: four gold medals and three bronze medals. As an athlete, Rick would lose his first match to Alma May Stokes who he would later marry. As a coach, all students regardless of skill level were treated with the utmost respect and consideration.