February 26, 2026

For immediate release

VICTORIA, BC — With an exciting announcement earlier this week (SEE HERE), and ticket packages available and selling fast, it’s time to publicly unveil the leadership stars of the 2026 West Coast League Baseball All-Star Game committee.

It’s a group that, combined, knows one word well — community.

Dave Cockle and Brenda MacFarlane are the co-chairs, working closely with Victoria HarbourCats leadership — President John Wilson, part owner and community advocate Helen Edwards, Managing Partner Jim Swanson, General Manager Christian Stewart, Marketing Director John Pollard, and Adrian Somers, VP of Operations/Business.

Cindy Kent and Dave Garton, who wear many hats for the HarbourCats including host family and gameday events, are involved in planning and execution.

Cockle is the retired former longtime Oak Bay fire chief who is active with many boards including Kiwanis (Board Chair of Oak Bay Kiwanis Pavillion) and their advocacy for seniors and affordable housing, a director with SVI Rangers, and the HarbourCats advisory committee, and was chair of the 2017 and 2018 Baseball Canada Men’s Championship.

MacFarlane is — well, what isn’t she involved with? With IG Wealth Management, she gives her time to the Victoria Hockey Legacy Society (Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada, 100 Year Stanley Cup “Century Celebration”) among other charity work and involvement literally too numerous to list here.

“What a group — seriously, we are so glad to have people who understand what it means to really captivate Victoria with memorable events, who get the vision and logistics mix that make things shine,” said Swanson.

The 2026 WCL All-Star Festival will take over Victoria, helping fill hotels and seats, on July 14 and 15, culminating with the game on Wednesday, July 15. The HarbourCats will also host the festival in 2027.

The leadership group involved goes WAY deeper than those named above.

• Vince Greco, a well known local sports leader, is spearheading the youth camps component, some of which is still to be announced.
• Stewart is overseeing ticketing, graphics, photography and media, and stadium planning — yes, the famous HarbourCats food trucks scene will be on full display for the home run derby and game.
• Veteran pro baseball scouts Walt Burrows and Marti Wolever and coach Gorman Heimueller will direct the WCL player scouting combine, supported by HarbourCats and Collegiate Cats coaches.
• Nanaimo NightOwls GM Tina Cornett is heavily involved with planning and administration.
• Doug Sturgeon, known well in local ball circles, is coordinating the community wiffle ball game slated for the B.C. Legislature lawn on July 14.
• Chris Jaycox of Chris Jaycox Productions is overseeing the broadcast, featuring the play-by-play of Warren Dean, that will allow people from around the world to see many of the events.
• Samantha Newton will oversee transportation needs for players, team officials and VIPs, with the LA Limousine fleet as a featured addition.
• Shawn Leckie, Stacey Gillespie, Raphael Oliveira, Kevin Schmidt and Garton will provide setup and logistics leadership both at Wilson’s Group Stadium at RAP, and for events away from the main venue.
• Kelly and Rory Kurta will oversee some special projects that have yet to be finalized and able to be announced — stay tuned!

Major partners and sponsors will be recognized as this major event comes closer to reality in Victoria.

The All-Star Festival begins the morning of July 14, 2026 with a kids camp and wiffle ball scrub game on the lawn of the BC Legislature, followed by a Home Run Derby at Wilson’s Group Stadium that evening.  The actual All-Star game takes place on Wednesday evening July 15th at 7:00 pm.

Ticket packages are now on sale for the Home Run Derby and the All-Star Game and are available on-line HERE, or by stopping in at the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street to order in person.

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All-Star Game Committee members Dave Cockle, Adrian Somers (back row) and Brenda MacFarlane (front right) pose with (Front row L to R) MLA and Assistant Deputy Speaker Lorne Doerkson, MLA Mandeep Dhaliwal, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport Anne Kang and Speaker Raj Chouhan on the front steps of the BC Legislature (Photo: Christian J. Stewart).

February 24, 2026

For immediate release 

VICTORIA, BC — There is no single spot in Victoria more impressive and representative of the provincial capital city than the B.C. Legislature buildings and grounds.

When the 2026 West Coast League Baseball All-Star Game Festival arrives in Victoria in July, hosted by the Victoria HarbourCats, the leadoff event will take place on the lawns in front of the famous buildings.

Thanks to the support of Anne Kang, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport, the Official Opposition critic for Sports, Mandeep Dhaliwal, and in particular the eager anticipation of Speaker Raj Chouhan and Assistant Deputy Speaker Lorne Doerkson, the All-Star Game will begin in a way that will be memorable for all.

The ASG Festival — slated for Tuesday, July 14 and Wednesday, July 15 — will begin with two concurrent community focused events, on the Tuesday morning:

Tuesday, July 14

10am-1pm, BC Legislature Grounds

• Youth Skills Camp,
• And a Community Wiffle Ball Game

These will take place on the lovely lawn in front of the building along Belleville Street, on either side of the walkway that includes the famous water fountain.

“I am always on the lookout for opportunities to bring MLAs together,” said Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Hon. Raj Chouhan. “When the HarbourCats approached me with the idea of a kids’ baseball camp and wiffle ball on our front lawn, I knew we’d be unanimous. Every Member here understands the impact of community spirit and team sports.”

The two components at the Legislature to start things on Tuesday, July 14:

YOUTH CAMP — Working with Baseball BC, KidSport Greater Victoria and the Doug Hudlin Charitable Society, 20 worthy young players (ages 7-9) will be selected for a free youth skills camp led by HarbourCats pitching coach Zach Swanson, assistant coach Carson Myers, and Victoria Collegiate Cats coaches Chris Vlaj and Darius Opdam Bak.

COMMUNITY WIFFLE BALL GAME — Remember playing scrub ball at recess or lunch time at school? Any and all are welcome to join in a friendly game of Wiffle Ball, using a plastic bat and traditional plastic Wiffle Ball — take a swing, throw a pitch, take a position on the field and have fun running the bases in this iconic location.

The Tuesday events will be supported by volunteerism from local Rotary groups, staff support from the Royal BC Museum/IMAX Victoria leadership, and the HarbourCats’ official youth camps partner, A+W. T-Shirts will be provided to all youth camp participants by local author and philanthropist Helen Edwards, a member of the HarbourCats ownership group, and Baseball BC.

Plans are also in place so the Team North and Team South team photos will be taken on the historic steps of the Legislature Buildings early Wednesday afternoon.

“We are thankful for being able to do these events as the festival lead-off, grateful to these provincial leaders for seeing the vision,” said ASG Committee co-chairs Dave Cockle and Brenda MacFarlane. “Imagine the smiles of the kids and adults alike that day, that we can capture in videos and photos for memories and history.”

There will be further event and detail announcements— many, in fact — about the West Coast League All-Star Game Festival, including exciting news about the home run derby, musical performances and additional events as part of a comprehensive and engaging community plan.

Tickets are available already for the two major events set for Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park:

Home Run Derby (details to come)
6:35pm, Tuesday, July 14

West Coast League All-Star Game
7pm, Wednesday, July 15 (doors will open as early as 4:30pm, TBD)

Secure your seats for these events at https://tinyurl.com/AllStar2026

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Members of the Victoria Golden Tide, soon to be called the “Victoria Collegiate Cats” pose in their Collegiate Cats gear at the HarbourCats offices.

For immediate release

February 17, 2026

VICTORIA, BC — In name only, the ‘Golden Tide’ tenure is coming to an end — so a stronger age of Victoria collegiate baseball can take root.

Welcome, the Victoria Collegiate Cats, fully embracing the HarbourCats logo and branding as of the fall season — caps, uniforms, workout gear, and mission statement to develop great baseball players and young men in a winning environment. Same program, even stronger connection to the parent club.

The city’s entry in the Canadian College Baseball Conference (CCBC) will play as the Golden Tide for this spring campaign, which starts in just over a month. The team, which provides an outstanding collegiate baseball and academic experience for UVic and Camosun students, where they can stay at home, play in a great stadium (Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park) in a tremendous city, with the best weather in Canada, and get a world-class degree over five years of athletic eligibility, began as the Victoria Golden Tide in the fall of 2021.

Five years as the Golden Tide included some strong results, including a second place finish in May of 2023, a Cinderella run to the final of the CCBC World Series in Lethbridge.

“It just makes sense for many reasons, as the program has improved and grown beyond early challenges, to be fully adopted under the respected HarbourCats name,” said Jim Swanson, Managing Partner of the group that owns the HarbourCats of the West Coast League, the Collegiate Cats, and the Nanaimo NightOwls (also WCL). “Among other bonuses, so many Golden Tide players have earned summer WCL opportunities through this program, and that can only continue to increase with the foundation being firmly entrenched in this name shift as well.

“In hindsight, this should have been the naming from the beginning. Moving forward, the players and coaches and new recruits are excited for the transition.”

The HarbourCats front office, led by Swanson, GM Christian Stewart and VP-Operations Adrian Somers, supports the now-Collegiate Cats coaching staff of head coach Chris Vlaj, and assistants Darius Opdam Bak and Colton O’Brien — in fact, Opdam Bak and O’Brien have themselves taken to the field as HarbourCats.

The Collegiate Cats coaches will continue to have the support and mentorship as well of all coaches with both the WCL HarbourCats and NightOwls.

Over the four completed seasons, more than 20 players in good standing with the Golden Tide have earned opportunities to play with either of the Island’s WCL clubs, some in regular season and playoffs (such as team leader and catcher Jai Berezowski, and slugger Ryan Deagle), or in exhibition games. That number will grow this summer.

The list:

OF Jaxson Cordle
RHP Brett Paterson
RHP Nate Major
C Jai Berezowski
OF Dominic Biello
IF Jordan Bond
RHP Darius Opdam Bak
OF Colton O’Brien
RHP Peter Cunningham
C Damian Cataldo
IF Thomas Plant
IF Ryan Deagle
LHP Ethan Dean
RHP Jakin Rohne
OF/RHP Travis Harfield
IF Nick Lee
IF Brandon Green
RHP Haldon Craig
OF Daniel Sawchyn
OF Tyler Burton
RHP Owen Luchies
RHP Cam Dunn
LHP Jacob Popadynec

The Golden Tide start their 2026 schedule on the road at Thompson Rivers University with a four-game set March 21-22 and then return for their home opener on Saturday March 28th at 1:00pm at Wilsons Group Stadium against the Edmonton Collegiate Riverhawks.  A second game follows at 4:00pm, with another doubleheader scheduled for Sunday the 29th at 11:00am and 2:00pm.

The full 2026 Golden Tide schedule is found below (Home games in BOLD and at Wilson’s Group Stadium unless otherwise noted):

Sat. March 21 – @Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops, 4:00pm and 7:00pm
Sun. March 22 – @Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops, 11:00am and 2:00pm

Sat. March 28 – vs. Edmonton Collegiate Riverhawks, 1:00pm and 4:00pm
Sun. March 29 – vs. Edmonton Collegiate Riverhawks, 11:00am and 2:00pm

Thu. April 2 – vs. Okanagan College Coyotes, 2:00pm and 5:00pm
Fri. April 3 – vs Okanagan College Coyotes, 10:00am and 1:00pm

Tue. April 7 – @Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo, 4:00pm and 7:00pm

Fri. April 10 – @Prairie Baseball Academy, Lethbridge, AB, 1:00pm and 4:00pm
Sat. April 11 – @Prairie Baseball Academy, Lethbridge, AB, 2:00pm and 5:00pm

Wed. April 15 – @Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo, 4:00pm and 7:00pm

Mon. April 27 – vs. University of British Columbia @LAMBRICK PARK, 1:00pm and 4:00pm
Tue. April 28 – vs. University of British Columbia @LAMBRICK PARK, 10:00am and 1;00pm

Sat. May 2 – @University of the Fraser Valley, Chilliwack, 4:00pm and 7:00pm
Sun. May 3 – @University of the Fraser Valley, Chilliwack, Noon and 3:00pm

Sat. May 9 – vs. University of Calgary, 4:00pm and 7:00pm
Sun. May 10 – vs. University of Calgary, 11:00am and 2:00pm

Sat. May 16 – vs. University of British Columbia, 1:00pm and 4:00pm

Sun. May 17 – @Vancouver Island University, Nanamio, 4:00pm and 7:00pm

Wed. May 20-Mon. May 25 – CCBC World Series, Lethbridge, AB – Top six teams in regular season play advance.

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