Top Island Indigenous athletes honoured for successful seasons in 2018

Eight Indigenous athletes from Vancouver Island were honoured this week for their outstanding performances in 2018.

Cameron Christison (volleyball, basketball, track and field) of Beaver First Nation, Hayden Guilderson (hockey) of Tzeachten First Nation, Sierra Murphy (volleyball) of Metis Nation B.C., Devin Jack (soccer of Cowichan Tribes, Marieta Kaloucokovale (basketball) of Ahousat First Nation, Maddox Moon (soccer) of Dzawada’enuxw and Cowichan Tribes, Megan McCool (small-bore rifle) of Metix Nation B.C. and Knowlton Griffiths (snowboarding) of Selkirk First Nation, were recipients of the regional 2018 Premier’s Awards for Indigenous Youth Excellence in Sport.

The awards were presented during a formal celebration at the Wei Wei Kum First Nation Thunderbird Hall in Campbell River.

The regional recipients are automatically nominated for provincewide awards, which will be presented in January.

Racquet Club skater eyes national medal

Audrey Darrah is just 14 years old, but today she begins to battle the best young figure skaters Canada has to offer.

Audrey, who trains out of the Racquet Club of Victoria, will compete in the pre-novice women’s event at Skate Canada Challenge in Edmonton. The Grade 9 student at St. Margaret’s School, booked her ticket the national event thanks to a secondplace finish in the short program and fifth place overall at the recent Skate Canada B.C./Yukon Championships.

“This is a great accomplishment for Audrey because getting to this level takes enormous focus, grit and determination,” Racquet Club of Victoria director of skating Deena Beacom said, in a statement.

Panthers, auto shop lend helping hand

Friday’s Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League game at Panorama Recreation Centre will be a heated contest between rivals Peninsula Panthers and the visiting Victoria Cougars.

But emotions will really hit a fever pitch in the first intermission when one lucky person in need in the community will be presented with a like-new car that has been fixed, painted, insured and stocked with food and other items for the holiday season courtesy the Panthers ownership and Allison and Rob Peters, owners of Superior Collision Repairs. The local business completed the work on the car, which was “written off” by the insurance company.

The recipient of the restored vehicle has been chosen by the Saanich Peninsula Lions Food Bank.