Surrey Sports Hall of Fame nominations due Dec. 31

Ellie JonesDecember 15, 20252 Mins read7

Professional wrestler in a blue “Earthquake” singlet poses with both arms flexed, highlighting his strength in the ring.

Surrey‑raised professional wrestler John “Earthquake” Tenta, seen here in his trademark blue singlet, became a fan favourite on the WWF circuit (now WWE) in the early 1990s—a larger‑than‑life example of the type of hometown sports legends Surrey Sports Hall of Fame hopes to celebrate.

Nominations open for inaugural class

The Surrey Sports Hall of Fame nominations due Dec. 31 will help shape the Hall’s first-ever group of inductees. City hall says this is a chance to honour athletes, coaches, teams and volunteers who have made a lasting impact on sport in Surrey.

Nomination forms and full criteria are available online, and all submissions will be reviewed by an independent selection committee set to be announced in January.

Who can be nominated

Organizers are seeking names in six main categories: Athlete, High Performance Athlete, Team, Builder, Coach and Game Changer. There is also a Community Hero award to recognize people who support sport at the grassroots level, from organizers to long-time volunteers.

If someone has inspired your sporting journey, city officials say now is the time to put their name forward before the December deadline.

Where the Hall will live

Surrey Sports Hall of Fame will debut next spring with a temporary exhibit at the Museum of Surrey in Cloverdale. The long-term plan is to create a permanent home inside a new City Centre Arena championed by Mayor Brenda Locke, who says the Hall will salute “those who’ve nurtured talent, built teams and inspired others.”

In 2026, Surrey’s sports legacy will also appear on interactive digital kiosks in select civic facilities, giving residents another way to explore local history.

Advisory board and background

A nine-member advisory board and one council representative are already in place to guide the project. Board members include Faythe Lou, Gurpreet Rai, Jon Mara, Kuldip Singh Sidhu, Mike McKay, Rajgurav Shergill, Scott Ackles, Stewart Masi and Thomas Hastie, along with city councillor Gordon Hepner.

The idea of a Surrey sports hall has been discussed for several years. Earlier proposals ranged from a virtual sports museum to a bricks-and-mortar space in City Centre, backed by fundraiser and Ironman athlete Elizabeth Model and the Downtown Surrey Business Improvement Association.

How to submit Surrey Sports Hall of Fame nominations due Dec. 31

To nominate, residents can visit the city’s website and complete the online form, including details about the nominee’s achievements and community impact. Supporting documents, such as statistics, awards and letters of reference, can strengthen each case.

With Surrey Sports Hall of Fame nominations due Dec. 31, the city is encouraging sports associations, schools and fans to look back over decades of local success and help ensure Surrey’s champions—on and off the field—get the recognition they deserve.

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