Funded by the Province of B.C., Government of Canada, individual foundations and corporations, viaSport awards approximately $2 million dollars in sport-related grant programs each year. The program’s aim is to reduce barriers and ensure quality sport experiences by:

• Increasing participation and leadership opportunities for under-represented groups
• Developing grassroots sports in outlying and under-served areas in B.C.
• Supporting the continued education of training of certified coaches
• Encouraging regional, provincial, national and international sport event hosting across the province
• Assisting with travel costs for youth

To apply and for more information, access the viaSport Grants page.

The Comox Valley Field Hockey Association is inviting players to join their indoor field hockey sessions starting this week, on Tuesday, at Lewis Centre (489 Old Island Hwy, Courtenay, BC V9N 3P5) from 8:00 to 9:00pm. All sessions will take place on Tuesdays on the following dates: Oct 18th, Oct 25th, Nov 1st ,  Nov 15th , Nov 22nd, Nov 29th.

You can access the registration form and waiver here.

Read the invitation communique from the Comox Valley Field Hockey Association below:

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Article by viaSport

On September 30, individuals and communities will be honouring Orange Shirt Day, as well as the second National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada. Collectively, we are marking this important occasion by encouraging members of the sport, physical activity, and recreation sectors to actively participate in this day of Truth and Reconciliation.

The individual and collective journeys of Truth and Reconciliation are enduring. It isn’t a destination, but rather a lifelong path of reflection, learning, and understanding. Accordingly, we are inviting everyone within the sport, physical activity, and recreation sector to make a personal and/or organizational commitment to reconciliation.

What is Orange Shirt Day?

Orange Shirt Day is an Indigenous-led commemorative day which officially started in 2013 as a way to honour Indigenous children and educate Canadians about the harmful impact the residential school system had and continues to have on Indigenous peoples and communities. It is “a day that we honour all the children who survived residential schools, as well as honour and recognize those who did not return,” said Brenda Gunn, academic and research director at the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation.

The origins of Orange Shirt Day date back to 1973 when Phyllis Webstad of Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation, entered the St. Joseph Mission Residential School, outside of Williams Lake, B.C. Phyllis, who was six years old at the time, was wearing the brand new orange shirt her grandmother bought for her to wear for her first day of school. Upon arrival, she was stripped of her clothing and had to put on her school’s institutional uniform; her orange shirt was gone forever. Phyllis, like countless others, felt like no one cared. Her experience with residential school led Phyllis to champion Orange Shirt Day and the “Every Child Matters” movement. Learn more here.

What is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation?

In June 2021, the federal government announced that September 30, 2021 would mark the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The day honours the lost children and Survivors of residential schools, their families, and communities. Public commemoration of the tragic and painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools is a vital component of the reconciliation process.

Creating a federal holiday was one of the 94 Calls to Action by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission established in 2015. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action outlines 94 specific recommendations made in order to redress the legacy of residential schools and advance the process of reconciliation in Canada.

There are five Calls to Action that directly relate to sport. Sports and Reconciliation Calls to Action #87 to #91 can be found on page 20 of the report. Review the five Sports and Reconciliation Calls to Action below:

87. We call upon all levels of government, in collaboration with Aboriginal peoples, sports halls of fame, and other relevant organizations, to provide public education that tells the national story of Aboriginal athletes in history.

88. We call upon all levels of government to take action to ensure long-term Aboriginal athlete development and growth, and continued support for the North American Indigenous Games, including funding to host the games and for provincial and territorial team preparation and travel.

89. We call upon the federal government to amend the Physical Activity and Sport Act to support reconciliation by ensuring that policies to promote physical activity as a fundamental element of health and well-being, reduce barriers to sports participation, increase the pursuit of excellence in sport, and build capacity in the Canadian sport system, are inclusive of Aboriginal peoples.

90. We call upon the federal government to ensure that national sports policies, programs, and initiatives are inclusive of Aboriginal peoples, including, but not limited to, establishing:

1. 1. In collaboration with provincial and territorial governments, stable funding for, and access to, community sports programs that reflect the diverse cultures and traditional sporting activities of Aboriginal peoples.
   2. An elite athlete development program for Aboriginal athletes.
   3. Programs for coaches, trainers, and sports officials that are culturally relevant for Aboriginal peoples.
   4. Anti-racism awareness and training programs.

91. We call upon the officials and host countries of international sporting events such as the Olympics, Pan Am, and Commonwealth games to ensure that Indigenous peoples’ territorial protocols are respected, and local Indigenous communities are engaged in all aspects of planning and participating in such events.

Further information on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is available here.

Originally posted on the Vancouver Island Ladies Field Hockey Association  website

On Sept. 17, a small group of the Vancouver Island field hockey community gathered to have a belated celebration of Pat Hall’s 2020 induction into the Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame.

Read more: https://gvshof.ca/inductees-2/all-inductees/11-builders/336-pat-hall-2020.html

The evening featured an impressive display of articles, photos and memorabilia spanning Pat’s involvement in field hockey. Long time friend Shelley Andrews, who was coached by Hall at Oak Bay High, emceed the event in entertaining fashion, while an impromptu open mic followed.

Kind words followed from former VILFHA president Denise McGeachy, current Umpires Association President Alison Sweeten, as well as remarks from Anne Batey, Denise Hall and players who have been coached by or played with Pat. It was truly a community evening with representation from all current clubs as well as past members including Craig Wilson, Liz Munn and Ev Sigalet.

VILFHA hosted the event so that all donations and ticket contributions could support the FHBC Pat Hall Officials Development Award. This award is designed to promote the development of Vancouver Island umpires and technical officials. An award of up to $500 will be allocated each year to successful applicants. In order to be eligible for this award, applicants must be a member in good standing with Field Hockey BC and an active official within National, Provincial or Club based programming.

The award was created by VILFHA when Pat retired from a long, long-standing term on the executive.

VILFHA is pleased to announce that $1,160 was raised last night.

Thank you to everyone who contributed in congratulations to Pat!

See photos from the event last night on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/vancouverislandladiesfieldhockey

Indy Sehmbi has played a huge role in the development of young field hockey athletes in the Lower Mainland and throughout Canada.

Indy started coaching provincially in 2000 and continued to coach BC Provincial teams until 2013.

In 2009, Indy join the Men’s National Team as a video analyst and toured with the team to Australia, Argentina, India (Commonwealth Games and World Cup), Mexico (Pan American Games) and South Africa for the next two years.

As Indy increased his knowledge the game though his international experience, he decided it was time to put this knowledge to work and joined the Canadian Junior National Team in 2011 as an assistant coach alongside Aaron Guest.

Indy continued as an assistant Canadian Junior National Team coach until 2013 when we took a more leadership role in the Junior National Program.

In 2014, Indy coached the Youth National team to the U18 Youth Olympics where they won the silver medal.

From 2015-2021 Indy was the Junior Head Coach.  Indy led the Junior National program and took the team to two Junior Pan American Games (Silver and Fourth Place finishes) and to two Junior World Cups (both in India)

Indy has been such a positive coach and role model for so many athletes on both the Junior National and Club programs. Throughout his involvement with the National and Junior National Team Indy was a driving force with the Burnaby Lake Field Hockey Club promoting the development of young players and solidifying the Burnaby Club as contenders in the Vancouver league year in and year out.

After taking the Junior National Team to the Junior World Cup in December of 2021 Indy mad the tough decision to step aside and take some time away from coaching at the National level.

Indy has helped to develop so many local players and is a coach and person who truly believes in each individual and their potential. Indy can be described as a Coach and Community Builder – one Athlete at a time.

We would like to wish Indy well in which ever challenge he takes on next and thank him for all of his amazing contributions to Field Hockey in Canada.

From proud friends and supports of coach Indhi