Alvin Lau, a four-time Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association gold medalist in Badminton, will be inducted into the CCAA Hall of Fame in the Athlete Category.

Lau, along with partner Charmagne Yeung, captured three straight CCAA titles for Douglas College in Mixed Doubles (2006-08). He earned another CCAA gold medal in Men’s Doubles (2009) as well as a silver medal in Men’s Doubles (2010).

In five seasons with the Royals, Lau led the British Columbia Colleges Athletic Association (BCCAA, now PACWEST) to five consecutive Team Supremacy awards (2006-10).

He earned CCAA All-Canadian awards and was named CCAA Men’s Badminton Player of the Year in each of his final two seasons at Douglas (2009-10).

“Alvin exemplified excellence on and off the badminton court as a student-athlete and continues to give back to the sport of badminton through his work at Badminton BC,” said Brian McLennon, Athletics Manager. “Alvin success within the BCCAA/PACWEST and the CCAA is testament to Douglas College excellence within the sport of badminton.”

Lau credits the Royals’ success to head coach Al Mawani and the incredible system he built at Douglas.

“At the height of the program, the Douglas team would have made up over half the Canadian National team if it were not for immigration policies,” said Lau. “It was quite the adventure with all the travels and competition.”

One season stands out in particular for Lau.

In 2007, the year Douglas hosted the CCAA Badminton National Championships in New Westminster, BC, Lau also competed at the Canada Winter Games. Between the provincial, college and Canadian circuit events as well as the main events, he played for 12-13 weeks continuously with only one-weekend break.

“The CCAA Badminton Nationals was the last event that we were playing, and we had just come back from Whitehorse, Yukon, competing in the Canada Winter Games and winning BC’s first Badminton Team Gold,” said Lau.

“It was amazing to have the home-crowd support and to finally be back home to play – that year was a very tough and long year for the whole team as we traveled a lot,” he said.

Half the team was battling illness and suffering from injuries according to Lau, but the Royals would go on to have a record-breaking CCAA National Championships, winning gold in all five disciplines.

“It was the cherry on top of the entire experience, with Douglas becoming the first college to sweep all National titles,” said Lau. “It was the most memorable and fun season I’ve ever had and it was thanks to the support of Douglas College.”