As everyone is aware, we (yes the Barons of Rugby) once again took on the rescheduled Canada Sevens 2022 on April 16 & 17th. Somehow we “MUDDLED” through all the challenges that came our way.
Despite our restricted numbers everyone who had attended had a GREAT time at the Canada Sevens 2022 this year!!!! We sold ” 305 ” two Day reserved game tickets & a smaller but good turnout at our After Party at Moose’s Down Under Australian Bar & Grill. This was made possible by all our generous supporters & sponsors.
In addition, all the Group Leaders (too many to mention but they were the ones who looked after your ticket orders, distribution & payment and without their help this would be an extremely difficult event to run, I will contact you individually) .
And “GREAT” sponsors Okanagan Spring / Sleeman Breweries; Moose’s Down Under Australian Bar & Grill (Corina & her staff for a FABULOUS After Party !!!! ). A special mention goes out to the Burnaby Lake Rugby Club Men & Women’s rugby teams & OUR own Irish guys, BLOBS & of course all the TWITS and all our out of town friends, yes from Edmonton too who were the “LIFE & SOUL” of the party!!!
And last but least, Rugby Canada – CANADA SEVENS (in particular Jamie Levchuk & Nathan Seto & Sam Carter ) for without their help & assistance with our game ticket package & seating arrangements none of this would happen.
In addition we did a major raffle & @ Moose’s a 50/50 raffle (THANKS to Nina Boundy & Rebecca Suchodolski & Thomas for their efforts). We received some generous donations from Robert Overgaard a good rugby friend and Maureen Mclean & Tom House along with some of their BLOB friends. With everything combined we will be distributing the following for our Children’s charities:
New this year we will be donating $4,500 to a Resettlement program for Ukrainians coming to British Columbia our funds will be concentrating on the Children’s special needs once they arrive here.
We have been dealing through the Ukrainian Canadian Congress with payments going through the Holy Eucharist Cathedral in New Westminster who in turn pass it on to the ” Help Us Help Ukraine Fund “.
The Help Us Ukraine Fund is made up of a group of Professional Volunteers who look after displaced Ukrainian persons from all initial stages in Europe to their settlement in Canada. All their services are free.
For more details go to their website UAHELP.ca . Hopefully if our initial donations go successfully we can assist them again later this year.
Also new this year we will be donating $ 4,750 to the Burnaby Lake Rugby Club to rebuild & update Youth Rugby programs for young men & women in the Under 15, Under 17, Under 19 age categories.
These programs will be looking after the needs of young people from East Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, Coquitlam, & the Tri – Cities. The funds we have donated will go to pay for rugby equipment, uniforms, supporting financially compromised athletes & coaching honorariums.
In addition we have donated Rookie Rugby Equipment Kits (@ cost of $ 220 each) to various Burnaby High Schools to start new programs with their own Grade 8 boys & girls & establishing an outreach program at their feeder Elementary & Community Schools using their student outreach programs. We have donated equipment to following schools to assist in starting their first programs.
Alpha Secondary School; Burnaby Central Secondary School; Burnaby Mountain Secondary; Burnaby North Secondary; Byrne Creek Secondary & Community Schools; Edmonds Community School
Plus we have provide a kit to Sean Baron for developing a program with Mission School District & a kit to Rain De Guzman for Surrey & Langley Schools.
It will be interesting to watch these new programs grow.
Once again, THANK YOU, for helping us to achieve our goals of creating a FUN time for our rugby fans while at the same time helping some deserving Children’s Charities. WE HOPE TO SEE YOU AT CANADA SEVENS 2023, VANCOUVER in MARCH 2023 .
Stay Safe!!
Best Regards
Yours in Rugby
Steve Baron