VICTORIA - The University of Victoria women's basketball team is heading back to Courtenay, B.C., to celebrate the life and legacy of alumna Megan Dalziel, while paying it forward to the next generation of girls and young women.

On Saturday, September 27, the Vikes will host a pair of youth clinics at G.P. Vanier Secondary before suiting up in their first exhibition game of the season against Vancouver Island University. Admission to the 6:00 p.m. game is by donation, with all proceeds supporting the Megan Dalziel Memorial Bursary.

For the Vikes, the trip is about more than basketball. It's about community, connection, and carrying on the impact Dalziel made as both an athlete and a leader.

Dalziel, a Vanier graduate and standout multi-sport athlete, went on to become a five-year starter for the Vikes, helping guide the program to national championship titles in 1998 and 2000 under head coach Kathy Shields. After her playing career, she poured herself into coaching and teaching, leaving a mark that extended well beyond the court. She passed away in 2017 after a courageous battle with cancer, but her influence continues to this day.

This biennial event, spearheaded by Dalziel's former Vikes teammates Kim Graves and Lindsay Brooke alongside Vanier coaches Larry Street and Hugh McKinnon, has always been about honouring that legacy. This year, it takes on added meaning: both Graves' and Brooke's daughters play for the Vikes women's basketball team.

Bella Graves is entering her second year, while rookie guard Avery Geddes joins the team fresh off a standout career at St. Michael's University School. For their mothers, who once competed alongside Dalziel in Vikes colours, watching their daughters carry on the tradition underscores just how deep her legacy runs.

"It feels like a full circle moment," said Vikes head coach Carrie Watts. "Megan was a prominent figure during a prominent era in women's basketball on Vancouver Island. She wasn't just a champion on the court—she gave back as a coach and teacher, inspiring countless young girls. To see her former teammates now supporting their own daughters in this program, while continuing to honour Megan's impact, is incredibly powerful."

The day will begin with two skill sessions for girls: one for ages 8–12 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and another for ages 13–18 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Vanier Secondary. The exhibition game between UVic and VIU will follow at 6:00 p.m.

All proceeds from the clinics and game will support the Megan Dalziel Memorial Bursary, which helps future students while keeping alive the spirit of an athlete, teacher, and mentor who left the game better than she found it.

Those interested in donating to the bursary can do so through cheques to G.P. Vanier Secondary, 4830 Headquarters Road, Courtenay, B.C. V9J 1P2, c/o Counselling Department re: Megan Dalziel Memorial Bursary.

For more information, contact Dave Mayert at Vanier (250-338-9262) or for the girls' clinic hosted by the Vikes, contact Larry Street at larrystreetcar@gmail.com.

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