Correspondence: Rugby Canada – Westhills Stadium (request re hydro pole relocation)

March 16, 2016

Victoria Office / Bureau de Victoria

3024 Rue Glen Lake Road
Langford, BC CANADA V9B 4B4
Tel / Tél : 250 418 8998
Fax / Téléc : 250 386 3810
rugbycanada.ca
info@rugbycanada.ca

Toronto Office / Bureau de Toronto

30 Rue East Beaver Creek Road, Suite 110
Richmond Hill, ON CANADA L4B 1J2
Tel / Tél : 905 707 8998
Fax / Téléc : 905 707 9707

To

Hon. Peter Fassbender
Minister of Community, Sport, Cultural Development & Minister Responsible for TransLink
Province of British Columbia
P.O. Box 9045
Victoria, BC

Subject

RE: Westhills Stadium – City of Langford

Minister Fassbender:

On behalf of Rugby Canada I would like to extend our sincerest thanks and appreciation to the Province of British Columbia for your support of the highly successful inaugural World Rugby HSBC Canada Sevens Men’s Rugby tournament in Vancouver this past weekend and your Province’s on-going support of the Women’s Sevens Rugby tournament scheduled for Langford this April 16-17 for the second year. As you will recall, the inaugural 2015 Women’s Sevens Rugby tournament in Langford was very successful and was regarded as “the best stop” on the Women’s series tour. Rugby Canada looks forward to delivering another successful event in 2016 as our National Senior Women’s Sevens team prepares to compete in the inaugural 2016 Summer Olympic Games Rugby tournament in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The 2016 Women’s Sevens Rugby tournament in Langford marks the final year of our contract with World Rugby to host the tournament in Canada. World Rugby are excited for Rugby Canada to commit to a longer term contract to host future Women’s Sevens Rugby tournaments in Langford for the coming years. Such a commitment by World Rugby is of real benefit to Rugby Canada and our Women’s Sevens team in being able to compete on home soil against the best teams around the world. Furthermore, 2017 provides the opportunity to host the reigning Olympic Games Champions, which of course we all hope will be Canada, and will provide an added attraction for additional spectators and visitors to the tournament with positive economic benefits for the City of Langford and British Columbia.

It is the on-going viability of hosting this important Women’s Sevens Rugby tournament in Langford that I write. Hosting such competitions is an expensive venture and one the places considerable risk on Rugby Canada. This risk is of considerable concern to World Rugby in their negotiations to award this on-going event to Rugby Canada. In addition to receiving the critical and greatly appreciated financial support from the City, Province and other funders, the event relies significantly on the ability to generate revenue from the sale of spectator tickets.

In the current configuration of the Westhills Stadium we are limited in an ability to install a suitable number of stands for spectator seating due to the location of a hydroelectric pole located on the north side of the stadium. I understand the City of Langford has held several discussions with BC Hydro and the Province regarding the associated costs with relocating this hydroelectric pole. Rugby Canada wishes to express our need to have this pole relocated in order to support the longer term viability of this important Women’s Sevens event, and other national and international Rugby events at Westhills Stadium.

I greatly appreciate your consideration on this matter. Rugby Canada looks forward to welcoming you to the 2016 HSBC Canada Women’s Sevens tournament in Langford this April 16 and 17.

Sincerely,

Allen Vansen
Chief Executive Officer

CC
His Worship Stewart Young, Mayor City of Langford
Hon. Steve Thomson, Minister of Forests, Lands & Natural Resource Operations
Hon. Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism & Skills Training & Minister Responsible for Labour

Key facts