Sunday, May 12, 2019 ~ LANGFORD
by Mary P Brooke ~ West Shore Voice News
It was a weekend of powerful female athletes from 12 countries giving it their best on the field at Westhills Stadium during HSBC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series tournament in Langford on Mother’s Day weekend, May 11 & 12, 2019.
On Day 2 at the half-time there was a special VIP moment as Parliamentary Secretary for Gender Equity took to the field and was broadcast to the full stadium with her message of celebrating women in sport in BC.
“Congratulations to all the athletes. The BC government is proud to support HSBC Canada Women’s Sevens,” she said at the microphone, wearing hot pink.
“Sport is a driver for change. Especially for women. Sport empowers women and girls and builds a more equal future,” said Dean.
She went on to say: “These athletes will inspire the next generation of women and girls to get into and stay in sport. Thanks to BC Rugby, Rugby Canada, the staff, volunteers, athletes, sponsors, City of Langford and to all of you — all the supporters.” There was much applause.
Standing along with Mitzi Dean — who is MLA for the Esquimalt-Metchosin riding which includes Colwood in the west shore — was Rugby Canada’s Manager of Media Relations & Communications, Bryan Kelly.
Kelly was doing one his last duties before leaving Langford and Rugby Canada after seven years of endless skillful communications work to build a strong internal information system and efficient external communications network within the sports community and with media. All of that to the benefit to the sport, to Rugby Canada, and the City of Langford where all this sports-base building has taken place.
The much appreciated, well-known Bryan Kelly is off to Regina to start a new life — following the path of his fiancée Ceilidh Millar (former announcer at CHEK TV) as her career takes off in TV media on the prairies.
===== Tournament profile & results: