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Retired B.C. Lions coach Wally Buono has his day at Vancouver city hall

Longtime B.C. Lions coach and general manager Wally Buono hung up his clipboard and called it a day at the end of this season.
Longtime fan Gordon McDonald chats with Wally Buono after the ceremony at city hall. Photo Dan Toulg
Longtime fan Gordon McDonald chats with Wally Buono after the ceremony at city hall. Photo Dan Toulgoet

Longtime B.C. Lions coach and general manager Wally Buono hung up his clipboard and called it a day at the end of this season. But before he retreated to the golf courses and Tommy Bahamas shirts of retirement, Buono dropped by city hall, where Mayor Kennedy Stewart proclaimed Dec. 4, 2018 as “Wally Buono Day” in Vancouver.

“Wally has not only been a central figure in Vancouver’s sports community, he’s been a leader off the field as well,” said Mayor Stewart. “Wally’s unrelenting commitment to teamwork, leadership, service and family exemplifies the very best in civic spirit and serves as an inspiration for all Vancouverites.”

In accepting the proclamation, Buono said: “I’m honoured and grateful for today’s proclamation from His Worship and the City of Vancouver. I will be forever indebted to this great city for the years of support of our organization and the CFL. The championships we brought to Vancouver and the province of British Columbia are among the most vivid memories of my life in football and today is a very special one for my entire family.”

Buono retires as the all-time winningest coach in CFL history. He spent 46 years in the Canadian Football League as a player, coach and General Manager, including 16 years as head coach or general manager of the B.C. Lions Football Club.