The University of Victoria's Department of Athletics and Recreation relies on the generosity of alumni, donors, and community members. Events like the Vikes Championship Breakfast and Vikes Giving Day help fund scholarships and create opportunities that shape varsity athletes as students, competitors, and leaders. In return, and to say thank you, Vikes programs make it a priority to pay it forward.

UVic student-athletes know they're part of something bigger. As future community leaders and role models, they make an effort to give back to the people who help make their journey possible.

Below are a few examples of how Vikes programs collectively give back to the greater community.

School visits and celebrity readers
Each school year, the Vikes women's and men's basketball, soccer, rugby, cross country, and track teams participate in more than a dozen visits to local elementary schools. During these visits, student-athletes lead short clinics filled with games and drills while building connections with the next generation. In April, the women's soccer team made a special appearance at Wishart Elementary School as celebrity guest readers.
 

Canadian Blood Services blood donation
The men's and women's rugby teams, among other teams, support Canada's vital blood supply shortage by donating through Canadian Blood Services. In 2024, the men's team launched an annual blood drive where student-athletes collect pledges for every ounce donated. Since its inception, the drive has resulted in over 150 pints of blood collected, which has the potential to help up to 450 people.

Local events: TC 10K, Ironman Victoria, World Cup Youth Soccer Festival, Callaway Junior Golf Tournament
Volunteers are the backbone of any major sporting event—and UVic student-athletes know it. That's why they regularly support local events across the region. Recently, members of the men's and women's rowing teams and both soccer teams volunteered at the TC10K powered by Runsport. The women's rowing team help at Ironman Victoria, the soccer teams pitch in at the World Cup Youth Soccer Festival, and the golf team supports the Callaway Junior Golf Tournament every year, to name a few.
 

 
Serving those in need
In 2024–25, the women's field hockey team joined the Extreme Outreach Society's Warm-A-Soul initiative by helping collect and deliver stockings filled with gifts and essentials to children, youth, Indigenous communities, and individuals in shelters, supportive housing, and on the streets. The women's basketball team also gave back to those in need by volunteering at the soup kitchen and organizing a feminine hygiene product drive as part of their 2025 Empower Her campaign for International Women's Day. One in seven girls in Canada has missed school due to a lack of access to feminine hygiene products, a crucial gap in basic care and dignity for those who need it most. Even small drives can help dozens of people stay in school, go to work, or attend community programs without interruption.
 
Youth programs and community coaching
All 15 UVic varsity teams—and hundreds of student-athletes—give back each year through volunteer coaching efforts and leading community programs across Greater Victoria. The women's rugby team alone has over 30 athletes currently coaching within the community.

The women's field hockey team hosts Train with the Vikes, a free camp for girls aged 8 to 12. The women's basketball team leads W̱SÁNEĆ basketball clinics for Indigenous youth, while many Vikes swimmers volunteer their time coaching in local swim clubs and beyond for their hometown clubs.

Dozens of men's and women's rugby players serve as coaches and mentors with the BC Grassroots Rugby Association and Thunder Rugby, both of which support Indigenous youth and provide programs for at-risk communities. These initiatives aren't just about sport—they're about connection, inclusion, and opportunity.
 

Shoot for the Cure
Since it launched in 2007, the UVic women's and men's basketball teams have joined the fundraising efforts in the fight against cancer as part of U SPORTS' Shoot for the Cure initiative. Over $1 million in donations has been raised by schools across Canada. Annually, the Vikes basketball teams dedicate one game a season to raising funds and awareness for this important cause, (led by the women's basketball team).

Vikes Kick Cancer
Since UVic men's soccer alumnus Mackenzie Rigg was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2019, the Vikes have continued to honour his legacy through annual fundraisers like Vikes Kick Cancer and, more recently, Vikes Flutter Kick for Cancer. Following Riggs' passing in 2022, the events have taken on even deeper meaning. Proceeds support the Canadian Brain Tumour Society, and since its inception, the initiative has spread nationwide, with programs and individuals across the country raising funds for brain tumour research.
 

Special Olympics
In memory of UVic women's soccer alumna Mia Gunter, the women's soccer team participates in the annual Gucci Games in support of Special Olympics Alberta—a cause close to Gunter's heart. The Vikes join forces with players from the University of Alberta and Special Olympics Alberta in a tournament focused on giving back and breaking down barriers. Inspired by the experience, the team is now exploring ways to get involved with the Special Olympics locally.

Fundraising
Vikes programs continually look for opportunities to contribute financially and raise money for important causes. The men's rugby team participates in the annual Thunder Rugby Jersey Auction with proceeds from jersey sales supporting Thunder Rugby. This year, the team wore jerseys designed by Bradley Dick, in honour of Truth and Reconciliation and in solidarity with the Songhees Nation.
 
Every year, Vikes student-athletes contribute thousands of volunteer hours, support hundreds of youth through coaching and clinics, and raise vital funds for health, equity, and inclusion initiatives. The impact they make—on the field, in the classroom, and throughout the community—goes far beyond sport.

The Vikes commitment to community is a reflection of the support they receive. As they chase championships and academic excellence, UVic student-athletes continue to give back—to the fans, families, and organizations who help them along the way.

 

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