Sarah Simpson

Brock Gowanlock sets his sights on an Ottawa Redblacks player during his CFL preseason debut for the Montreal Alouettes on Friday, June 3. (Minas Panagiotakis/Montreal Alouettes)

Vancouver Island lineman basking in Grey Cup win with Alouettes

Duncan’s Brock Gowanlock calls championship experience “amazing”

Brock Gowanlock sets his sights on an Ottawa Redblacks player during his CFL preseason debut for the Montreal Alouettes on Friday, June 3. (Minas Panagiotakis/Montreal Alouettes)
Duncan Stingrays Swim Team head coach Leanne Sirup received the coveted Rubber Boot Award, given to the top coach in the province as chosen by their peers, during a special event on Sept. 30. (Submitted photo)

Duncan swimming legend earns coveted Rubber Boot Award

Leanne Sirup B.C.’s best, according to peers

Duncan Stingrays Swim Team head coach Leanne Sirup received the coveted Rubber Boot Award, given to the top coach in the province as chosen by their peers, during a special event on Sept. 30. (Submitted photo)
Frances Kelsey track star Alexa Dow powers to a first place finish at the senior girls AAA Provincial Cross Country Championships at Crescent Park in Surrey on Nov. 4. (Philip Ngo photo)

Vancouver Island runner nabs 2nd-straight B.C. cross-country title

Cowichan’s Dow takes top spot at a relatively new distance for her

Frances Kelsey track star Alexa Dow powers to a first place finish at the senior girls AAA Provincial Cross Country Championships at Crescent Park in Surrey on Nov. 4. (Philip Ngo photo)
Mill Bay Fire Department Chief Ron Beck, Jacob Baggott, Nolan Baker, Tina Barlow, Paul Brandson, Brian Caseley, Cathy Caseley, Kevin Crossman, Jeremy Elliott, Josh Grandage, Camrin Hillis, Dean Kwasny, Eugene Labbe, Tyler LeBlanc, Kaelin Leddy, Andrew Limb, Joe Manifold, Chris Mclnerney, Steve Melanson, Denise Nelson, Jordan Pendlebury, Alex Power, Trevor Reid, Thomas Roden, Tom Salmon, Bill Sanderson, Arnie Sanford Darien Slater, Neil St. Hilaire, Sarah Strachen, Laura Uhler, David Vandermrule, Dustin White.

RCMP investigate suspicious fire at Freemason Lodge in Mill Bay

Mill Bay lodge fire spread from first floor into attic

Mill Bay Fire Department Chief Ron Beck, Jacob Baggott, Nolan Baker, Tina Barlow, Paul Brandson, Brian Caseley, Cathy Caseley, Kevin Crossman, Jeremy Elliott, Josh Grandage, Camrin Hillis, Dean Kwasny, Eugene Labbe, Tyler LeBlanc, Kaelin Leddy, Andrew Limb, Joe Manifold, Chris Mclnerney, Steve Melanson, Denise Nelson, Jordan Pendlebury, Alex Power, Trevor Reid, Thomas Roden, Tom Salmon, Bill Sanderson, Arnie Sanford Darien Slater, Neil St. Hilaire, Sarah Strachen, Laura Uhler, David Vandermrule, Dustin White.
Mill Bay product Matt Percillier takes a selfie with his new hardware following Team Canada’s bronze medal rugby sevens win at the Pan Am Games in Santiago, Chile on Nov. 3. (Submitted by Liz McDougall)

Rugby 7s medals returning to Vancouver Island with Pan Am athletes

Canada’s field hockey team place 4th, while the rugby 7s women won silver and the men bronze

Mill Bay product Matt Percillier takes a selfie with his new hardware following Team Canada’s bronze medal rugby sevens win at the Pan Am Games in Santiago, Chile on Nov. 3. (Submitted by Liz McDougall)
Duncan product and national team member Sara Goodman during action against Chile at the Pan Am Games in Santiago. (Yan Huckendubler photo)

Rowers golden, Goodman and field hockey team advance to semis at Pan Am Games

Cowichan athletes seeing success in major competition

Duncan product and national team member Sara Goodman during action against Chile at the Pan Am Games in Santiago. (Yan Huckendubler photo)
Jenn Jackson rides a ramp following her big win at the Canadian X-Country Mountain Biking National Championships on July 22 in Kentville, Nova Scotia. (Tim Foster/Dose Media Inc.)

Vancouver Island’s Jenn Jackson golden at Pan Am Games

“I had an amazing experience in Santiago”

Jenn Jackson rides a ramp following her big win at the Canadian X-Country Mountain Biking National Championships on July 22 in Kentville, Nova Scotia. (Tim Foster/Dose Media Inc.)
Racers push off from the start line, competing in the men’s pair during a qualifying race on Friday morning on Quamichan Lake. The 2023 Canadian National Rowing Championships were being held on the lake over the weekend. (Sarah Simpson/Citizen)

BC rowers put on a show at Canadian National Championships in North Cowichan

2023 RCA National Rowing Championships a success

Racers push off from the start line, competing in the men’s pair during a qualifying race on Friday morning on Quamichan Lake. The 2023 Canadian National Rowing Championships were being held on the lake over the weekend. (Sarah Simpson/Citizen)
Dignitaries gather for the official ribbon cutting during the grand opening of the National Training Centre docks ahead of the 2023 National Rowing Championships on Quamichan Lake Thursday, Sept. 28. (Sarah Simpson/Citizen)

Rowing nationals were never supposed to come, but Cowichan glad they did

2023 National Rowing Championships on Quamichan Lake this weekend

Dignitaries gather for the official ribbon cutting during the grand opening of the National Training Centre docks ahead of the 2023 National Rowing Championships on Quamichan Lake Thursday, Sept. 28. (Sarah Simpson/Citizen)
Police are seeking a suspect, described as a masked individual wearing a Bugs Bunny hooded sweater, in relation to the break and enter of TD Canada Trust in Duncan. (RCMP Handout)

Suspect sought in B&E at Duncan bank

A masked individual wearing a Bugs Bunny hooded sweatshirt is the prime…

Police are seeking a suspect, described as a masked individual wearing a Bugs Bunny hooded sweater, in relation to the break and enter of TD Canada Trust in Duncan. (RCMP Handout)
The Cowichan Valley Capitals have been sold to local owners Island Capitals Sports & Entertainment.

Cowichan Valley Capitals sold to local buyers

BCHL board of governors approved the sale Friday, Sept. 22

The Cowichan Valley Capitals have been sold to local owners Island Capitals Sports & Entertainment.
Ontario’s Brock Cummings was the first to jump into the path of a Victoria shot during exhibition play between the Cowichan Valley Capitals and Victoria Grizzlies at the Cowichan Arena on Tuesday night, Sept. 12. (Sarah Simpson/Citizen)

New faces as Cowichan Capitals back on the ice for 2023/24

Regular season play begins Sept. 22

Ontario’s Brock Cummings was the first to jump into the path of a Victoria shot during exhibition play between the Cowichan Valley Capitals and Victoria Grizzlies at the Cowichan Arena on Tuesday night, Sept. 12. (Sarah Simpson/Citizen)
The sun shone brightly on the players who drew the morning games at Evans Park Saturday as part of the 25th annual Cody Classic ball tournament. (Sarah Simpson/Citizen)

Cody Classic marks 25 years of caring for Cowichan kids

Childhood cancer fundraiser still going strong

The sun shone brightly on the players who drew the morning games at Evans Park Saturday as part of the 25th annual Cody Classic ball tournament. (Sarah Simpson/Citizen)
Kart drivers round a turn at the Vancouver Island Motorsport Circuit during races hosted by the Vancouver Island Karting Association on May 8, 2022. The drivers are headed back to the VIMC this coming weekend. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen file)

Karting provincials bolstering racing resurgence across B.C.

Vancouver Island Motorsport Circuit is ideal for kart racing

Kart drivers round a turn at the Vancouver Island Motorsport Circuit during races hosted by the Vancouver Island Karting Association on May 8, 2022. The drivers are headed back to the VIMC this coming weekend. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen file)
Team Canada’s Ellashani George and her team in the open V6 24km race at the IVF World Distance Outrigger Championships in Samoa earlier this month. (Xavier Keutch Photography)

Young Vancouver Island paddler shines in Samoa at outrigger worlds

From NAIG to the world championships, Cowichan’s Ellashani George has had quite the summer

Team Canada’s Ellashani George and her team in the open V6 24km race at the IVF World Distance Outrigger Championships in Samoa earlier this month. (Xavier Keutch Photography)
Quite possibly the first female position player ever to suit up for a game with in the VIJHL, defender Aurora Kahlert, of Maple Ridge, skated with the Kerry Park Islanders for games on Aug. 26 against the Comox Valley Glacier Kings and Aug. 27 against the Saanich Predators. (Todd Blumel photo)

Aurora Kahlert 1st female position player to skate in VIJHL game

Aurora Kahlert makes hockey history with Kerry Park Islanders

Quite possibly the first female position player ever to suit up for a game with in the VIJHL, defender Aurora Kahlert, of Maple Ridge, skated with the Kerry Park Islanders for games on Aug. 26 against the Comox Valley Glacier Kings and Aug. 27 against the Saanich Predators. (Todd Blumel photo)
Duncan’s Kaliyah St. Amand has helped Langford’s U19 girls softball team to a national title. (Submitted photo)

Vancouver Island pitcher throws perfect game in U19 softball nationals

Duncan’s Kaliyah St. Amand among Langford Lightning’s pitching powerhouses

Duncan’s Kaliyah St. Amand has helped Langford’s U19 girls softball team to a national title. (Submitted photo)
Cowichan’s Declan Forcier, 11, has crushed his track and field goals with quadruple gold at the eighth annual World Dwarf Games in Cologne, Germany. (Tammy Isaachsen photo)

Forcier returns from WDG in Germany with 7 medals

11-year-old already planning for the World Dwarf Games in 2027

Cowichan’s Declan Forcier, 11, has crushed his track and field goals with quadruple gold at the eighth annual World Dwarf Games in Cologne, Germany. (Tammy Isaachsen photo)
The Canadian National Rowing team is heading off to the 2023 World Rowing Championships in Belgrade, Serbia. (Sarah Simpson/Citizen)

B.C. gives warm sendoff to Team Canada rowers ahead of Worlds

15 of the 39 athletes headed to Serbia on Olympic qualifying quest have B.C. connections

The Canadian National Rowing team is heading off to the 2023 World Rowing Championships in Belgrade, Serbia. (Sarah Simpson/Citizen)
Cowichan’s Alexa Dow was Team Canada’s flag bearer for the opening ceremonies at the 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games. (Submitted photo)
Cowichan’s Alexa Dow was Team Canada’s flag bearer for the opening ceremonies at the 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games. (Submitted photo)