Stephenson and Ward to join Hall of Fame

(Scotiabank Field at Nat Bailey Stadium - Vancouver, BC) - The Vancouver Canadians Baseball Club is proud to announce that broadcasters Bill Stephenson and Brook Ward have been selected for induction into the Vancouver Canadians Broadcast & Journalism Hall of Fame this coming August out at historic Scotiabank Field at Nat Bailey Stadium.

Over his five decades in radio and TV, Stephenson covered almost every major sport in Canada including baseball in Vancouver with the Mounties (1956-60). Before departing for Toronto, Stephenson was a Sports Director and Announcer at CKWX here in Vancouver shortly after getting his start at CJAV (Port Alberni) and later CJOR.

Once in Toronto, Stephenson would become the voice of the Toronto Argonauts (CFRB) and later receive the Sports Media Canada Achievement Award in 2000 prior to his retirement. In 2006, Stephenson was inducted into the CAB Broadcast Hall of Fame (2006).

Brook Ward's voice remains one of the most recognizable in Vancouver when it comes to baseball having handled the C's play-by-play duties for more than a decade when you combine both the Triple-A and Class-A Short-Season levels.

With his on-air start in Vancouver back in the late 80's, Ward's smooth delivery seemed like a natural fit for the game of baseball and his tenure with the Canadians began when he took over for current Vancouver Canadians Broadcast & Journalism Hall of Fame member Ron Barnet in 1989.

Ward has called more C's games than any other broadcaster in the franchise's history and remains on the air in Vancouver with CKNW 980AM.

The addition of Stephenson and Ward brings the current Vancouver Canadians Broadcast & Journalism Hall of Fame membership to 17. They join Jim Bennie, Clancy Loranger, Jim Robson, Pat Karl, Lyndon Little, Greg Douglas, Jerry Landa, Barry Mcdonald, Garry Raible, Dennis Feser, Ron Robinson, Keith Matthews, Lowell Ullrich, Ron Barnet and Hal Rodd.

A finalized date for induction will be released in the coming days.