Gradin, Thomas

Thomas Gradin

Born in Solleftea, Sweden, Thomas Gradin graduated from the University of Stockholm with a specialization in Physical Education and a love of hockey. He began his 16-year career as a junior playing for Sweden and it wasn’t long before he was drafted into the professional ranks of the National Hockey League (NHL). Here he distinguished himself throughout a brilliant on-ice period spanning nine years with the Vancouver Canucks from 1978 to 1986. The following year he played briefly for the Boston Bruins during the 1986-87 season and playoffs.

Thomas also played for Sweden regularly in several international hockey tournaments. In January 2011 the Canucks inducted Thomas into their ‘Ring of Honour’, celebrating him as one of a few select players, staff members and broadcasters having a lasting impact on the franchise. At the time, Thomas was the highest scoring Centreman in the franchise’s history.

After retiring from competitive hockey, Thomas coached young talent before being drafted once again in 1994 by the Vancouver Canucks, this time as the Associate Head Scout, a position he has held for over 20 years and maintains today. Thomas was part of the scouting team that drafted the Swedish players Mattias Ohlund, Alex Edler and the Sedin twins.

In 2013 Thomas accepted additional new responsibilities when he was appointed Honorary Consul for Sweden in British Columbia and the Yukon Territories.

Thomas and his wife Cathie live in Vancouver where they spend much of their time, except when Thomas is scouting the world for the next great Canuck.

 

Thomas Gradin spoke to us in October 2015.

Midsummer Festival

Each June we have a booth at the Midsummer Festival on the grounds of the Scandinavian Community Centre. In addition to handing out information about our club, we also sign up new members. Everyone is invited to come out to enjoy this fun annual event. If you have time available, why not consider volunteering to help with our booth?

Christmas Party

 

In December, instead of our usual monthly dinner meeting, we have our annual Christmas party. Our guests are welcomed into the hall by the cheerful sounds of the Runeberg Choir. We have a fabulous Scandinavian Christmas dinner, followed by dancing to live music.

Monthly Dinners

Our dinner schedule for 2024 will be: Feb 14th, Apr 10th, TBD. Social hour starts at 6:00pm, dinner at 7:00pm and the dinner speaker starts at about 8:00pm. The dinner is Scandinavian and usually starts with herring and salmon open-faced sandwich appetizers and ends with coffee/tea and delicious Scandinavian desserts. The theme for the after dinner talk is usually business related and hopefully with a Scandinavian connection but we also schedule other speakers of interest. Two meetings of the year we have no speaker. Instead, in February we have our Annual General meeting where we discuss business for the upcoming year and elect our new board of directors. In June, we have our annual joke-telling contest and discover who, among us, is the best teller of jokes.