Tsawwassen businessman Ron Toigo will officially be welcomed into the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame tonight at an induction gala at the Vancouver Trade and Convention Centre.
The Vancouver Giants majority owner and team president is part of an impressive 2019 class and recipient of the prestigious W.C. Bennett Award.
Toigo’s tenure in junior hockey started in 1991 when he became the owner of the WHL’s Tri-City Americans. After selling the club in 2000, he became the Majority Owner and President of the Vancouver Giants. The franchise’s training facilities and offices are located at the Ladner Leisure Cenrte. He also continues to serve on the Executive Committee for the WHL’s Board of Governors.
He played a major role in bringing 2006 IIHF World Junior Championship to Vancouver. He served as both the head of the Bid Committee and later the tournament Chair for what is widely regarded as one of the most successful World Junior hockey tournaments in the history of the event.
Most recently, Toigo co-chaired the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship in Vancouver and Victoria.
Under his leadership, the Vancouver Giants also hosted and captured the 2007 Memorial Cup.
He was inducted into the Delta Sports Hall of Fame in 2010 and the B.C. Hockey Hall of Fame two years ago.
Past recipients of the W.C. Bennett Award include Pat Quinn who was among the Giants ownership group when he passed away in 2014.
“WAC Bennett was someone I greatly admired when I was young and was the kind of strong leader that meant a lot to everyone in this province. To also enter the Hall in the same category as my dear friend Pat Quinn means more to me than people can possibly know,” he said.
Toigo adds his career has been challenging at times but in so many ways, it has been very rewarding.
“Sports is the best character builder there is because you need to work with everyone in order to enjoy success. The unsung heroes are the volunteers who have helped deliver world class events like the world junior hockey championship.”
And when he accepts the award – who will he be thinking about? “Certainly, my family who have been with me every step of the way, my dad who passed away some 25 years ago and would have loved to have been with us on this night. I will also be thinking about Pat Quinn and Gordie Howe, who both helped me early on with the Vancouver Giants. I can never full express how much they mean to me.”
Other inductees tonight include: Emily Brydon (skiing), Roy Gerela (football), Kelly McCallum (rugby), Daniel Sedin, Henrik Sedin, Darlene Currie (basketball), Ken Holland, Tony Waiters , 1968 New West Salmonbellies, Ralph Henderson (football/basketball) and Dan Jukich (horse racing).
