Remembering the Vic High ‘V’

Vic High sweaters used to be popular, usually a V-necked cardigan with gold bands on the arm. Students displayed their hard-earned Vic High ‘V’ patch on them, often along with team patches and school pins. October 2025 newsletter we asked for your memories:  We found some team badges in the Archives.  Who remembers these? Did you have any? Do you still have them?  Here’s the responses we received.

 

 

 

 

Derek Reimer, VHS 1965

The Tsasquatches played volleyball. They wanted to keep the “T” tradition going: Totems, Titans, Tigers, etc. I loved seeing the Block Vs. I had a Big Block 6 (for interschool sports) and a Small Block 2 or 3. I played everything except basketball. I’m not claiming to be the best athlete who ever attended Vic High (far from it), but I was told at the time that I was the first to earn a “6” to add to my Big Block. Don’t know if that’s true but that’s what I was told. As I recall, you needed 50 points to earn a big block. Thirty were awarded for being on an interschool rep team (maybe 20 for being on a “B” team?). You gained 10 additional points if your team won the city championship and a further 10 points if you were on BC Championship team. Fun days.

Ron Dworski, VHS 1969   

The Tsasquatches were the Senior Boys Volleyball team.  At least in ’68 and ’69, and previous years.  In 1969 the team made it to the BC Provincial Championships at Simon Fraser University.  On a very limited budget, the entire team fit in coach Judy Bourne’s husband’s old pickup truck for transportation to the mainland.  Tom rigged a canvas cover over the box where we sat on our duffle bags, practice balls, and uniforms.  All crammed in tight and cozy.  No seat belts back then!  Oh ….. how times have changed! I’m glad to see the (volleyball) team resurrected and certainly will contribute to the cause with a Purdy’s purchase (to support team fundraising)!   (Ron was a 1969 Tsasquatch and Totem)

Rod Edwards, VHS 1974                                            

The Tsasquatches badge was for the boys volleyball team. I played on the team in 1973 and 1974. We went to the BC championships both years. We didn’t do too well but had a great time going with the team and our teacher, coach Peter Gammon. In ’73 we went to Dawson Creek and in ’74 it was Maple Ridge.

Coral (Melder) Kaliciak , VHS 1972                                     

I love the white sleeved jacket. It would be great to make them again, ahead of so many commemorations coming soon. I had a VHS ring from a jewellery store on Douglas. It was next to Miss Friths, which was the place for grad dresses if you didn’t make your own, LOL

 

 

Dan Soberg, 1964                                

My small V was awarded for playing on the junior Teepees basketball team in grade 10 in 1962, coached by Mr. Price.  The large V represented the Totems with coach Mr. Andrews in 1963 and 1964.   He was a quiet, disciplined teacher. In 1964 we won the city and island championships. At the BC’s at UBC I think that we placed 5th. We had fabulous battles with Oak Bay in full, noisy gyms.  Not that I am competitive, but in 1964 Oak Bay never left the island.  🙂 Courtenay and Esquimalt joined us at UBC. Oak Bay won the provincials in 1965 and Vic High in 1966.

My name ‘Dan’ and my jersey #45 are on each arm. The G and triangle represented the Gamma Y club.  There is a pin that goes with that. Two other pins represent class president and golf club president.

I  would be happy to donate the sweater to the archives if you would like.  It is a little discoloured but has many stories to tell. Many sweaters walked the halls in the 1964. I loved my high school years.

Bill Williams, VHS 1958

I have 3 block “V” letters.  The 1956 and 1957 ones are the plain flannel type, plus one 1958 chenille type. I was a member of the cross-country team 1956,1957 & 1958. All are damaged from a flood I had in my basement. Is it possible to have them replaced? (we’ll look into that, Bill. Maybe current students would like to see the ‘V’ come back?)

Aristotle Azad, 1971                        

FYI Tsasquatches was the name of our boys field hockey team. (We found a boys’ field hockey team in the 1970 Camosun, just identified as Boys’ Field Hockey. Maybe the ‘T’ name was left out. 

 Leslie Van Mil, VHS 1991

I remember the Tsasquatches was a boys volleyball team when I was at Vic High… coaches were Judy Bourne and Donna Blackstock. Raymond Ng, Sean Granger, Wade Schlatter were player names I remember. I didn’t know about the Takus, but looked them up – found in the 1977 Camosun (p101-104 of digital copy on the Alumni website).

A few years ago, a volunteer made these lovely quilted banners for the Archives, to display various Vic High pins, and of course, the iconic ‘V’.