Vancouver Island Athletes
Receive Funding from VIMSS
June 16, 2008 – After receiving a record number of applications for the Spring grants, the Vancouver Island Mountain Sports Society (VIMSS) has awarded seven athletes who live and train on Vancouver Island in mountain sports with assistance for their competition/training costs.
VIMSS is a not-for-profit association that raises funds for emerging amateur athletes who compete in the mountain sports of Alpine, Nordic and Freestyle Skiing, snowboarding, adaptive snow sports, biathlon and mountain biking.
“All funds raised go directly to these dedicated athletes to offset the travel and competition costs that are the price of success,” said VIMSS Chair Rick Morson. “They need to travel off the island to most provincial and national level events and training camps.”
The following athletes received the travel grants:
• Nicola Anderson, 15, Campbell River, Alpine Skiing
• Simon Garstin, 18, Courtenay, Mountain Bike
• Max Heard, 15, Duncan, Freestyle Skiing
• Lauren Hughes, 18, Victoria, Mountain Bike
• Thomas Skinner, 26, Victoria, Mountain Bike
• Freya Wasteneys, 16, Campbell River, Nordic Skiing
• Sylvia Watkins, 15, Royston, Nordic Skiing
“We wish all of the athletes who train at Mount Washington success in their competitions and training this summer and we thank our sponsors and those who continue to support our fundraising efforts including Mount Washington Alpine Resort, the Island Coastal Economic Trust and Rick Gibson,” added Morson.
Vancouver Island Mountain Sport Society
VIMSS is a multi-sport umbrella association that includes representatives from Vancouver Island ski, snowboard and biathlon clubs, the mountain biking community, the Vancouver Island Society for Adaptive Snowsports (VISAS), Mount Washington Alpine Resort, PacificSport and community members. www.vimss.com
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For more information, contact: Rick Morson, Chair VIMSS rmorson@vimss.com C: 250.897.3488
*please see Funded Athletes for bios
Island Coastal Economic Trust Announces Funding for Vancouver Island Mountain Centre
June 13, 2008
Courtenay, B.C. - Sandy Herle, Mayor of Parksville, and Board member of the Island Coastal Economic Trust (ICET) on behalf of W.J. (Jack) Peake, ICET Chair, today announced funding approval of $555,500 for the development of the Vancouver Island Mountain Centre project at Mount Washington. The total cost of the project spearheaded by the Vancouver Island Mountain Sport Society is estimated at $2,222,500.
“Once built, the Centre will serve the broad community on Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast by promoting “fitness for life” principles through mountain sports and outdoor recreation,” explained Sandy Herle. “User groups of the Centre will include persons of all ages and abilities, athletes and coaches from the regional to national level, and sport experts in athletic testing, training and competition preparation. The creation of additional economic activity by using sports training and development as part of the economic growth strategy of the Comox Valley is what attracted the Island Coastal Economic Trust to this project.”
The Centre, to be located by the Raven Lodge at Mount Washington Alpine Resort, will include affordable overnight accommodation for groups of up to 40 people in the form of dormitory-style rooms with a group kitchen, classrooms and fitness facilities. It is anticipated that the Centre will attract user groups from the recreation, sport and education sectors.
“This announcement marks the commencement of the fund raising campaign that will be undertaken by VIMSS to secure the balance of the funds to build the Centre,” stated Rick Morson, VIMSS Chair.
Morson reported that an independent economic analysis of the project indicates that there will be 25 to 30 permanent jobs per year created locally. The economic output is estimated at $7 million in the first year during construction, with and ongoing impact of about $150,000 per year to the three levels of government.
About the Vancouver Island Mountain Sports Society (VIMSS)
VIMSS is an independent, non-profit society and umbrella group of many sports and outdoor organizations. Since 2003, it has raised over $47,000 to assist emerging competitive mountain sport athletes on Vancouver Island. Partners in Vancouver Island Mountain Sport Centre include the Mount Washingon Alpine Resort; Strathcona Nordic Ski Club; Mount Washington Alpine Ski Club; Courtenay Biathlon Association; Courtenay Biathlon Association; Mount Washington Freestyle Club; Vancouver Island Society for Adaptive Snow Sports; Comox Valley Cycling Club; and BC Parks.
About Island Coastal Economic Trust
The Island Coastal Economic Trust was established by Provincial legislation on February 27, 2006. It provides $50-million that is managed by an independent board of directors made up of 8 locally elected government representatives and 5 provincially appointed members from the community. The board’s mandate is to make strategic investments in regional economic priorities such as forestry, transportation, tourism, mining, energy, Olympic opportunities, economic development, agriculture and aquaculture, and small business. To date, the Trust has approved some $27.7 million for over 30 projects since inception. The total impact of this investment is estimated at $164 million. Information about the Trust and approved projects can be found on www.islandcoastaltrust.ca.
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Rick Morson, Chair Vancouver Island Mountain Sports Society Tel: 250-703-5383
Don Sharpe, Treasurer Vancouver Island Mountain Sports Society Tel: 250-792-0005
W.J. (Jack) Peake, Chair Island Coastal Economic Trust Tel: 250-749-6625
Al Baronas, CEO Island Coastal Economic Trust Tel: 250-334-2427 ext. 223
Mukmuk for Mascot Campaign
The campaign to convert Mukmuk, the sidekick marmot to the 2010 Olympics, into full mascot status recently got a boost from two powerful individuals. Tourism and Sport Minister Stan Hagen, and Peter Gibson, the President of Mount Washington Alpine Resort took up the cause directly with John Furlong, the CEO of the Vancouver Organizing Committee during Furlong's visit to Courtenay to check out winter sports facilities.
Mount Washington has a breeding centre for the rare Vancouver Island marmot and Gibson is on the board of directors of the Vancouver Island Marmot Recovery Foundation. Hagen is also the MLA for the area. At two different meetings both Hagen and Gibson presented Furlong with a copy of the plush toy marmot the foundation uses for fundraising purposes. They also gave two to The Vancouver Sun, which has mounted a campaign for children to say why they think Mukmuk should become a full-fledged mascot. The Sun will be giving away the marmots and a set of the other mascot figures as gifts at a later date.
Hagen and Gibson said Vanoc's choice of Mukmuk as sidekick has dramatically raised the profile of the rare Island marmot and they believe he would be a good ambassador as an Olympic or Paralympic mascot. Furlong, who took the good-natured lobbying in stride, said the Free Mukmuk campaign has helped define the marmot's character.
"It has created a wonderful element to the whole thing. The fact that everyone is asking and pushing and (The Vancouver Sun) is coming up to my office with pictures of a marmot behind bars is really great," he said. "We have not yet decided all that will be done, other than you will see a lot of Mukmuk."
Join the campaign. Submit your comments and drawings to: Mukmuk for Mascot, Box 6610, Vancouver, B.C. V6B 5R2 Canada or e-mail: mukmukformascot@png.canwest.com Please include your name and contact information. Report courtesy of Jeff Lee,Vancouver Sun
VIMSS Welcomes new Board Members
January 22, 2008 - Four Vancouver Islanders have been named to the Vancouver Island Mountain Sports Society (VIMSS) Board of Directors for 2008.
New to the Board are Gord Campbell (Hornby Island), Manager of the Tribune Bay Outdoor Education Centre; Françoise Ducret (Victoria) representing Biathlon; Dave Forrester (Nanaimo), Athlete/Coach Services Manager for PacificSport Vancouver Island; and Lynn Larsen (Courtenay) from the Crown Isle Resort & Golf Community.
The Board thanked outgoing Vice Chair Michelle Shetterly (Comox Valley) and Directors Joe Bajan (Nanaimo), Gary Egli (Comox Valley) and Roger Kishi (Comox Valley) for their tremendous energy, focus and commitment to VIMSS.
VIMSS Chair Rick Morson (Strathcona Nordics volunteer from Courtenay), Vice Chair Stephen Frame (alpine ski volunteer from Campbell River), Treasurer Don Sharpe (Director of Business Services for Mt. Washington Alpine Resort from Courtenay) and Secretary Jim Van Tine (Mt. Washington Ski Club and Campbell River) retained their respective positions. Continuing as Directors are Jay Dahlgren (1968 Olympian from Cumberland), Joanna Fox (Canadian Sport Centre Pacific in Victoria), Dave Nowak (competitive cyclist from Courtenay), John Trimmer (Mt. Washington Alpine Ski Club Head Coach from Courtenay) and Gordie Tupper (CHEK News from Victoria).
Vancouver Island Mountain Sport Society
VIMSS is a multi-sport umbrella association that includes representatives from Vancouver Island ski, snowboard and biathlon clubs, the mountain biking community, the Vancouver Island Society for Adaptive Snowsports (VISAS), Mount Washington Alpine Resort, PacificSport and community members. www.vimss.com
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Contact: Rick Morson, VIMSS Chair rmorson@vimss.com C: 250.897.3488
Money Arrives for Mountain Project
With files from Lindsay Chung, Comox Valley Record
December 21, 2007 - There were smiles all around, as Comox Valley MLA Stan Hagen presented $110,000 to the Vancouver Island Mountain Sports Society (VIMSS).
The cheque was the final installment in a $330,000 Olympic/Paralympic Live Sites Program commitment from the provincial government for the society’s work on Mount Washington to provide training facilities for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
“We’re very, very excited about the work that’s being done up the mountain and the opportunities that will be present there for athletes from all over the world,” said Minister Hagen.
The provincial funding was dedicated to Phase One of the VIMSS infrastructure project on the mountain. It allowed the VIMSS to upgrade Nordic trails at Mount Washington, where it hosted the International Paralympic Committee Biathlon and Cross Country Skiing World Cup Finals, and, in partnership with BC Parks, create a new trailhead for Strathcona Park, said VIMSS chair Rick Morson.
“We’re extremely happy,” he said. “This is the completion of Phase One, which was on time and on budget.”
The Society is now working on Phase Two of its project, the Mountain Sports Centre, which features a hostel, a weight room, multi-purpose rooms, coaching offices and rooms for testing and massage. The centre will be 8,000 square feet and will be built on land donated by Mount Washington Alpine Resort adjacent to Raven Lodge. The total cost is estimated at $1.8 million, and VIMSS hopes to complete it by November 2009.
The VIMSS expects schools and community groups will also use the facility, he added. The society was formed in 2005, and its primary mandate is to provide yearly grants to competitive athletes on the Island. “It came together after the announcement Vancouver and Whistler was going to host the 2010 Games, and the question was asked what can we do here on Vancouver Island to help our athletes compete in those games,” said Morson.
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Vancouver Island Athletes Receive Funding from VIMSS
Athletes Cavin Donald, Peter Stubbs, Kelsi Francisty, Ryan Hotte and Braydon Luscombe with Steve Frame (left) and Don Sharpe (right) of VIMSS
December 10, 2007 – Christmas came a bit early to 14 athletes who live and train on Vancouver Island when they received help with their competition costs from the Vancouver Island Mountain Sports Society (VIMSS).
VIMSS is a not-for-profit association that raises funds for emerging amateur athletes who compete in the mountain sports of Alpine, Nordic and Freestyle Skiing, snowboarding, biathlon and cross-country mountain biking. At a presentation during Mount Washington Alpine Resort’s opening weekend, VIMSS awarded a total of $7,000 to the athletes.
“All funds raised go directly to the athletes to offset the travel and competition costs that are the price of success,” said VIMSS Chair Rick Morson. “They need to travel off the island to most provincial and national level events; we’re glad to be able to help them and we’re very thankful to those who continue to support us in our efforts to raise this much-needed funding.”
The following athletes received the travel grants:
• Pat Boucher, Courtenay, Freestyle Skiing
• Carle Brenenman, Comox, Snowboard
• Andrea Bull, Campbell River, Freestyle Skiing
• Cavin Donald, Campbell River, Snowboard
• Kelsi Francisty, Duncan, Alpine Skiing
• Ryan Hotte, Qualicum Beach, Alpine Skiing
• Mathieu Leduc, Comox, Alpine Skiing
• Braydon Luscombe, Duncan, Para Alpine Skiing
• Andrea Lee, Black Creek, Nordic Skiing
• Sarah Peters, Courtenay, Nordic Skiing
• Jessica Sedlock, North Saanich, Biathlon
• Peter Stubbs, Courtenay, Freestyle Skiing
• Brett Trainor, Courtenay, Nordic Skiing
• Krysta Wark, Campbell River, Nordic Skiing
Vancouver Island Mountain Sport Society
VIMSS is a multi-sport umbrella association that includes representatives from Vancouver Island ski, snowboard and biathlon clubs, the mountain biking community, the Vancouver Island Society for Adaptive Snowsports (VISAS), Mount Washington Alpine Resort, PacificSport and community members. www.vimss.com
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November 16, 2007
Vancouver Island Mountain Sport Society Partners with PacificSport
Courtenay, BC – Two organizations key to the preparation of athletes in BC have partnered in the development of the Vancouver Island Mountain Sports Centre (VIMSC) at the Mount Washington Alpine Resort.
The Vancouver Island Mountain Sport Society (VIMSS), a multi-sport umbrella association based in the Comox Valley, and PacificSport, the Canadian Sport Centre in British Columbia that delivers sport performance programs to help athletes and coaches win medals for Canada, will work together to deliver mutually beneficial services, recognition and opportunities between the two organizations.
“We are confident that this partnership with a leader on the Canadian sport scene will bring support, infrastructure and profile to VIMSS,” said VIMSS Chair Rick Morson. “PacificSport has earned a national reputation for getting support directly to Canada’s athletes and coaches and we are very pleased to have them on board as a partner in this project.”
Since its inception in 2003, VIMSS has helped Vancouver Island based emerging athletes in the mountain sports of alpine, nordic and freestyle skiing, snowboarding, biathlon and cross-country mountain biking, by raising over $35,000 to offset their travel and competition costs. Thanks to public and private funding, it has completed Phase I of the VIMSC and is entering the second phase of this exciting facility project. Plans are moving rapidly to have the VIMSC completed by 2009.
“We are very excited to be partnering in the development of the VIMSC, a Centre that promises to provide high performance athletes with a much-needed training facility on the mountain,” said Roger Skillings, CEO of the Canadian Sport Centre Pacific. “Like all of the facility projects that we are partnered with across the province, this Centre will have a healthy spin off as it will also benefit recreational users year round.”
Vancouver Island Mountain Sport Society
VIMSS is a multi-sport umbrella association that includes representatives from Vancouver Island ski, snowboard and biathlon clubs, the mountain biking community, the Vancouver Island Society for Adaptive Snowsports (VISAS), Mount Washington Alpine Resort, PacificSport and community members. www.vimss.com
Canadian Sport Centre Pacific– Powering Sport Performance
The Canadian Sport Centre Pacific delivers sport performance programs to help athletes and coaches win medals for Canada. Working in support of our national, provincial and regional sport partners the Canadian Sport Centre Pacific and its PacificSport parters are creating a stronger system for the development of athletes, coaches, performance enhancement teams and sport performance facilities. www.cscpacific.ca
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For more information, contact:
Rick Morson, Chair, VIMSS 250.703.5383 or rick@vimss.com
Joanna Fox, Manager of Communications, Canadian Sport Centre Pacific 250.882.5426 or jfox@cscpacific.ca