A late sporting giant in Coquitlam — plus a former city councillor and community volunteer — will get tips of the hat in places where they were known best.
Tonight, June 3, city council is expected to endorse a staff plan to install plaques for:
- Bill Green
- at Mundy Park Field 4
- Bill LeClair
- at Blue Mountain Park
According to the report by Lanny Englund, Coquitlam’s general manager of parks, recreation, culture and facilities, the municipality has fielded requests from residents to pay tribute to the duo.
The city’s naming policy for civic parks, buildings, facilities and structures is designed to commemorate deceased residents who made significant contributions to the community through meritorious or outstanding service.
The cost for the recognition plaques will come from the department's annual operating budget, Englund said.
Below, the backgrounds of the two honourees:
Bill Green
- The longtime coach and manager for the Coquitlam Reds, a Premier Baseball League (PBL) team based at Mundy Park, near Spani Pool, died of cancer in March 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a celebration of his life was not held until last June. Green ran the Reds from 1985 to 2015, coaching the likes of MLB third baseman Shawn Bowman, outfielder Rene Tosoni, pitcher Curtis Taylor and Larry Walker, a right fielder. Green was also an MLB regional scout and, in 2013, was inducted into the Coquitlam Sports Hall of Fame.
Bill LeClair
- The city councillor from 1983 to 1996, and again from 1999 to 2005, was the founder of a fundraiser for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and the Coquitlam Foundation, a philanthropic group. LeClair died in October 2017. A graduate of Centennial Secondary and UBC, LeClair, an accountant, followed his father, Ray, a former city manager, to city hall. LeClair also volunteered with the Coquitlam Sharks swimming club.
- with files from Mario Bartel, Tri-City News
An earlier version of this report had Les Wingrove of the Coquitlam Jr. Adanacs as a plaque recipient; council did not proceed with that recognition Monday night as it is being "held in abeyance" at the request of the Wingrove family, city manager Raul Allueva said.
