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VIDEO: A new home at Langley Events Centre for Queen Vicki volleyball tournament

More than 20 teams take part in Vancouver Gay Volleyball Association event

It was the first post-pandemic Queen Vicki tournament for the Vancouver Gay Volleyball Association (VGVA), held over two days at its new venue, the Langley Events Centre (LEC), on Saturday, March 18, and Sunday, March 19.

VGVA chair Nelson Santos said the association was still recovering from COVID restrictions that forced several cancellations of the tournament.

“It’s the first one in three years,” Santos noted.

“Pre-COVID, we had up to 48 [teams competing in the Queen Vicki tournament], but after COVID, things are starting to slowly get back together,” Santos told the Langley Advance Times.

“This year we have 24, 25 teams.”

The 2023 edition saw the event relocate from its previous home to the LEC.

More than 20 teams competed in the first Queen Vicki tournament since the pandemic to be held by the Vancouver Gay Volleyball Association, at its new venue, the Langley Events Centre on Saturday, March 18 and Sunday March 19. (Dan Ferguson/Langley Advance Times)
More than 20 teams competed in the first Queen Vicki tournament since the pandemic to be held by the Vancouver Gay Volleyball Association, at its new venue, the Langley Events Centre on Saturday, March 18 and Sunday March 19. (Dan Ferguson/Langley Advance Times)

“Normally we would play up at the Richmond Oval, just because of the size of the tournament,” Santos said.

“We need about eight courts, and that’s the only facility in the Lower Mainland that has that, but Langley was available and has that many courts as well.”

It was a positive experience, he said.

“The tournament ran smooth and on time,” Santos summarized.

“Players all reported having a fantastic time and were very happy to return to a normal tournament after a 3 year hiatus.”

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Santos thinks the event could make the move to Langley permanent.

“The venue was so amazing, we would love to return,” Santos commented.

Richmond Oval, where the tournament has played for years, has become “difficult to deal with for local tournaments,” requiring a 50-room block booking with local hotels, Santos explained.

“This makes it hard for local smaller organizations to play there,” he observed.

“It seems they want to focus on larger national tournaments [and] that leaves us at a loss.”

At the 2023 Langley event, “B” winning teams were (gold) Vancouver set it up, (silver) Denver Mile High (bronze) and Seattle Big Dig Energy, while “BB” winners were (gold) Spokane Cerebus, (silver) Vancouver Vixens and (Bronze) Vancouver Empire Spikes Back.

More than 20 teams competed in the first Queen Vicki tournament to be held by the Vancouver Gay Volleyball Association since the pandemic at the Langley Events Centre on Saturday, March 18 and Sunday March 19. (Dan Ferguson/Langley Advance Times)
More than 20 teams competed in the first Queen Vicki tournament to be held by the Vancouver Gay Volleyball Association since the pandemic at the Langley Events Centre on Saturday, March 18 and Sunday March 19. (Dan Ferguson/Langley Advance Times)

VGVA is a provincially registered non-profit society, with divisions ranging from beginner up to club level.

It is one of the longest operating volunteer organized sports groups in the Lower Mainland with a stated purpose of promoting “a gay-positive and inclusive environment that focuses on volleyball play, fitness and – most of all – lots of fun.”

More photos from the day can be viewed online at the Langley Advance Times Facebook page.

READ ALSO: Study finds Canada a ‘laggard’ on homophobia in sports

READ ALSO: Private Langley university rejects LGBTQ+ event request


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Dan Ferguson

About the Author: Dan Ferguson

Best recognized for my resemblance to St. Nick, I’m the guy you’ll often see out at community events and happenings around town.
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