New President of Canada West facing challenges moving through COVID-19.

Thompson Rivers University Athletic Director Curtis Atkinson took over as President of Canada West in October.

He will lead a conference of universities that stretches from Victoria in the west to Winnipeg in the east.

“Canada West has 17 schools, and TRU is one of 17 schools.” says Atkinson. “We all have a voice. As president I guess I have an opportunity to engage at a little bit of a different level with the board. But really Canada West is a collective and we’re here to serve the members.”

With Covid-19 Atkinson takes over at one of the most difficult times in the long history of the conference, after seasons and championships in all of the major team sports were cancelled for the 2020-21 season.

“We really have to find a way to be playing in a league structure next year.” says Atkinson. “I think in January assuming that we’re okay with provincial health authorities, perhaps to have more of a formal look to have some exhibition games, not counting towards any league standings, but give us an opportunity to play and influence what our league could look like next year.”

If there can be anything positive out of the season cancellation, it is that it’s bought time for Canada West to cross the t’s and dot the i’s to the best of the board of directors ability, on how to move forward with a sustainable model.

Canada West faces many of the same challenges as the Western Hockey League —- spread out across four Western provinces.

“That’s going to be the priority across all four provinces.” says Atkinson. “Is really trying to learn over the next few months how we can execute next year. We have to find a way to do it, assuming that it’s safe for our student athletes, coaches and staff.”

Atkinson says while priority one is getting back to game action next year, it’s necessary to have a sustainable model long term in Canada West dealing with some of the realities that are probably going to be around once they’re back, possibly without fans.

Some leagues, mostly at the junior A and B hockey levels, have pay to play programs.

It’s not something Atkinson says Canada West has even discussed.

“We’re very much in business. We’re trying to keep our name out there, and I know our colleagues across the country are doing the same things on their campuses, within the perimeters they have been dealt wthin their respective provinces.” says Atkinson. We’re going to keep being creative with fund raisers, with community work that we’re doing. Make sure the people of Kamloops know that we’re still in this, we’re still moving forward, our athletes are developing, our coaches are heavily engaged with them. But there’s no doubt that that’s going to be a challenge if we are in this position next fall. We all have to find a way to be creative and stay relative within our communities.”

by Earl Seitz

New President of Canada West facing challenges moving through COVID-19.

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