University of Victoria Athletics

Mike Holmes competed as a varsity athlete for the Vikes men's rugby team from 1982 to 1987, while completing his Bachelor of Arts degree. He then returned to UVic to pursue a Law degree. Holmes was an accomplished player competing for B.C. provincial and Canadian national teams, while attending UVic, but after graduating Holmes went on to practice law with Emery Jones Law firm, while continuing to be a prominent alumnus working hard to develop partnerships to help the Vikes financially. In 2011, Holmes was recognized with the Times Colonist Publisher's Award presented to individuals within the community that have made an outstanding voluntary contribution to a varsity program. Holmes and Howard Gerwing, who was previously inducted in to the UVic Sports Hall of Fame as a builder, created one of the first athletic scholarships at UVic in 1987 in memory of Brian Williams starting what is now 31 years of philanthropy for the Vikes.
 
Holmes is a founding member of the Canadian Rugby Foundation, a non-profit society that uses an endowment to develop rugby across Canada. Holmes serves an executive director, as the fund has raised over 2 million dollars, and now funds many of the youth development programs in Canada, as well as forming the Canadian University Rugby Championship. Holmes has initiated programs to make sure youth representatives can afford to play the sport of rugby. In the recent years Holmes embraced a Vikes challenge to raise nearly $800,000 for the Vikes men's rugby program and started new campaigns to create a Vikes coaching fund to help fund assistant coaches. He has also started a tour fund to ensure future Vikes get the opportunity to experience international travel and competition.
 
Holmes has also recently created a scholarship in the UVic Faculty of Law for a prospective male of female varsity rugby player and the fund has already exceeded $120,000. The Victoria native also co-founded the Courtenay Walls Award, the Cuchalain Award and Marlene Donaldson award for Vikes women's rugby players. Holmes' philanthropic energy and passion for sport has been evident in every area of his life as he is a founding member of the Velox Valhallians sports club, a member of the Vancouver Island Real Estate Board and helped form and was president of West Mont Montessori School. His support for the building of scholarships and an active alumni database has made him one of the most pivotal people involved in the Vikes rugby programs and a true representation of a builder.

Other Contributions/Achievments
- Founding member of the Velox Valhallians Sports Club, which has been a big contributor to the Victoria amateur sports scene for over 20 years 
- Chair of the Canadian Rugby Foundation, which raises funds for all levels of rugby and helps Rugby Canada fund many of their age-grade programs. 
- Was on founding committee to establish a National Men’s University Rugby Championship, which was held at Guelph University in November 2017. 
- Past winner of the Publisher’s Community Contributors Award, which recognizes someone in the community who contributes to the Vikes Athletic program.