.png)
OUR STORY
NORTH VANCOUVER'S LONGEST-STANDING & MOST WELL-RECOGNIZED
YOUTH VOLLEYBALL CLUB
BCO Volleyball Club teams are registered non-profit youth volleyball teams based in North Vancouver, BC. It was founded in 1978 by Canadian Men's National Team athlete and certified Indoor/Outdoor International referee, Mike Rockwell, and Handsworth Secondary School teacher, Neil Salkus. Mike and Neil recognized a need for a grassroots program on the North Shore to help young athletes develop the skills and experience necessary to compete at the university level and beyond. Their dream was to help as many players as possible pursue and reach their goals of one day competing at the Olympics. Based on this, they decided on the name BCO (British Columbia Olympic) Volleyball Club.
After 40 years of success, in 2019, the Club was taken over by two-time Canadian Beach National Champion and 2012 Olympic qualifier, Christian Redmann. Also assisting Christian is two-time Canadian Open National Champion, Maverick Hatch, and 2016 Beach Volleyball Olympian, Jamie Hatch (Broder).
BCO club teams are a non-profit organization and a member of the North Vancouver Recreation Commission, Volleyball BC and Volleyball Canada. Our NCCP-certified coaches provide their expertise to assist young athletes to achieve excellence in volleyball. Our development programs prepare players for high level competition in high school, college and beyond.
Unlike many clubs, BCO’s primary focus is player development and team success follows as a consequence. The vast majority of all BCO Elite graduates have secured placement at a post-secondary institution in Canada or the USA, and eighteen graduates have played for our National Team, including current Canadian National team members Kyla Richey, Kiera Van Ryk and Sarah Chase. Many BCO Alumni have played professionally in various international venues as well. Check out our Alumni Page for a full list of our alumni success stories.
CLUB LEADERSHIP
Christian Redmann
PRESIDENT
Christian was a professional beach volleyball player who competed for Canada on the Beach Volleyball World Tour for 15 years. Some of his accomplishments include: • 2 X Open Canadian National Champion • Top 10 world ranking • 2011 PanAm Games • Represented Canada in multiple World Championships • 2014 Continental Champion (NORCECA Beach Volleyball) • 2012 – Qualified a spot for Canada in the London Olympics • Canadian National Team for over a decade He has also been coaching youth volleyball for 15 years. Christian has coached club volleyball at just about every age and level from 13/14U developmental teams all the way up to 18U Provincial Champions, and National Medal winning teams. He was the Head of the Volleyball Program at Havergal College in Toronto for 10 years where the school won more than 25 Independent School Championships from 13U up to 20U and a Provincial Championship. Ten years ago Christian and 3 time Olympian and Olympic Medalist, John Child started Leaside Volleyball Club. The club offers competitive team that have won numerous Provincial Championships as well as a house league that has over 1000 kids playing annually. He now lives full time in Vancouver with his wife, Olympic Snowboarder and Dr. of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Dominique Vallee. Christian was also the head coach of the top Canadian Men’s beach volleyball team, 2016 Rio Olympian Ben Saxton and Grant O’Gorman.
Natalie Eades
GENERAL MANAGER
Natalie discovered her love for volleyball on the Sunshine Coast in Grade 6. After several years with the Sunshine Coast Volleyball Club, she began commuting to North Vancouver in Grade 11 to play for BCO Volleyball Club. Her hard work paid off with a scholarship to play middle for the SFU Volleyball Program in 2004. After two years at SFU, Natalie transferred to UBC, where she competed with the Thunderbirds until 2009—winning two CIS National Championships along the way. Since graduating, Natalie has shared her passion for the game through coaching at BCO, Thunder, Argyle Secondary, and Lord Byng Secondary, while continuing to play recreationally herself. She’s now excited to help guide young athletes as they work toward achieving their own volleyball goals
Cal Wohlford
BOARD MEMBER
Cal Wohlford is a professional volleyball coach with extensive experience across multiple levels of play—from 14U club to professional international adult teams in both indoor and beach volleyball. He started coaching for BCO in 1989. Recognized as a clear communicator who builds positive, productive relationships with players and staff, Cal was a head coach at Capilano University from 2012-2018, where he led the women’s volleyball team to multiple provincial bronze medals and a national championship appearance. He has also served as the head coach at Thompson Rivers University and the Lindesburg Volleyball Elite team in Sweden. Prior to that, he has been the assistant coach at UBC, Simon Fraser, and the University of the Fraser Valley. He has also been an instructor at the West Vancouver Academy. Currently, Cal is a mentor coach for all the BCO club teams, where he continues to inspire and guide young athletes and coaches.