Before he played in four World Cups, captaining Canada in two of them, Gareth Rees was a University of Victoria Vike through and through.
Rees, the first rugby player inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame, returns to Ring Road this morning to deliver the keynote address to the expected 680 attendees at the 11th annual Vikes Championship Breakfast.
The event has been successful, raising more than $5 million for UVic varsity athletes over the 11 years. UVic administration provides $200,000 in matching funds to what the breakfast raises annually. Recent totals raised include $603,050 last year, $503,909 in 2016 and $466,756 in 2015. The money goes mostly to the athletes with 75 per cent to scholarships for current Vikes varsity athletes, with the other 25 per cent to an endowment fund supporting the future of Vikes athletics.
“Playing for the Vikes at UVic provided an accommodating environment at a key juncture that helped me nurture my high-performance dreams, and I hope that continues for UVic athletes,” said Rees.
“I urge current Vikes athletes to be part of this performance pathway that UVic is famous for around the world.”
Rees joins a list of past Vikes Championship Breakfast keynote speakers that includes Olympic gold medallist triathlete Simon Whitfield, former UVic rower and Olympic gold medallist Adam Kreek, former Vikes swimmer, Paralympics multi-medallist and Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame inductee Stephanie Dixon, former UVic rower and Olympic silver medallist Darcy Marquardt, former Vikes player and field hockey Olympian Nancy Mollenhauer and MLS Vancouver Whitecaps president Bob Lenarduzzi. The initial keynote address was delivered in 2008 by former Vikes basketball star Chris Hebb, then senior vice-president of broadcasting for Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, and now commissioner of the B.C. Hockey League.
Rees stressed it’s more than about Olympians and internationals.
“Growing up in Victoria, I really benefited from UVic as a community kid competing in school track and field at Centennial Stadium, attending soccer camps, and being a fan in the stands watching Ken and Kathy Shields’ Vikes basketball dynasties,” he said.
“I want to challenge the university to be even better at that and to be even more open to the community.”
Rees, director of commercial and program relations for Rugby Canada, was asked if he will touch on the current controversy in which national sevens players have publicly objected to a new funding and training formula in Langford and are looking to unionize.
“As a former player, I have no problem with players voicing concerns,” said Rees, who noted he is not part of the Rugby Canada executive branch dealing directly with this matter.
“It’s sad it has got to this and I wish we could be at a table discussing rugby,” said Rees.
