RAY MYRTLE

Ray Myrtle started his volleyball journey in high school playing for Templeton Secondary, then returned to coach the school’s teams alongside Gordon Chamberlain. In 1971, Ray and Gord were hired by Volleyball BC to promote the sport in elementary schools, and they developed a number of teacher workshops, player clinics and summer camps throughout the Lower Mainland.
Ray moved to Kitimat, BC in order to work and save for his dream of studying volleyball in Japan. While in Kitimat, Ray set up a men’s volleyball club and was very involved in the development of additional clubs around the province. He then made the journey to Japan, and shadowed the Takaiku Kikchui high school championship team and the Olympic men’s gold medal team. He also met with the Japan Volleyball Association and established the Iwate Exchange Program to benefit Canadian and Japanese players.
Ray returned to Canada and spent two years in Kamloops to create the first two U14 Batam provincial championships that continue today. He then moved back to Vancouver and became BCVA’s vice president of development in 1977, then its technical and executive director in 1978. After Ray left the BCVA, he remained involved by teaching camps in Canada and the USA.