Labour politics be damned, nothingB次元官网网址檚 going to stop high school sports on the South Island.

Regardless of whether this weekB次元官网网址檚 B.C. TeachersB次元官网网址� Federation vote passes, plenty of high school sports programs in Greater Victoria have plans to continue even if thereB次元官网网址檚 an official mandate for unionized teachers to withdraw from voluntary extracurricular activities in protest of Bill 22.

High school sports such as girls soccer, boys rugby, the School Bike League and track and field are all carrying on. Even more are about to get going with golf and tennis among the next seasons to start up.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not a good time for athletics,B次元官网网址� said School Bike League commissioner Eric Simonson of Oak Bay High. B次元官网网址淢any coaches (like me) think it is unfair to withdraw from extracurricular (activities).B次元官网网址�

Simonson said negotiations involving the teachersB次元官网网址� union usually donB次元官网网址檛 touch extracurricular activities.

B次元官网网址淚 know other coaches will keep coaching despite the vote.B次元官网网址�

Coaching is among the extracurricular activities that teachers in the Saanich School District, which covers the Peninsula and the northern edge of the municipality of Saanich, have already agreed to withdraw from.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a big grey area thatB次元官网网址檚 been left up to the individual (teachers), with most continuing for now,B次元官网网址� said Darren Reisig, athletic director at Claremont secondary.

B次元官网网址淐laremont continued with all sports, but whoB次元官网网址檚 doing what is up to that school or individual. If teachers arenB次元官网网址檛 doing it then community coaches (and parents) have stepped in.B次元官网网址�

In some cases, practices and games have been a little less formal.

In the event it doesnB次元官网网址檛 pass, the local recommendation would stand, likely to be revisited at next monthB次元官网网址檚 general meeting.

B次元官网网址淭his is not a cut and dry picket line, (in terms of) what would happen if a teacher continues,B次元官网网址� said Sean Hayes, Saanich TeachersB次元官网网址� Association president.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e seen a prohibition on extracurricular before, in the early 2000s. I donB次元官网网址檛 remember anyone being sanctioned, but I do remember colleagues angry at colleagues, and teachers who continued to coach.B次元官网网址�

Meanwhile, private schools Glenlyon Norfolk, Saint Michaels University, St. AndrewB次元官网网址檚 and Pacific Christian are helping to carry the load. Sharing the commissioner duties for the cityB次元官网网址檚 track and field league are St. AndrewB次元官网网址檚 teachers Angela McLeish and Kevin Mennie. TheyB次元官网网址檙e able to offer ongoing support without facing any potential sanctions.

Likewise, St. MikesB次元官网网址� teacher Eliot Anderson is the high school rugby commissioner.

B次元官网网址淢any of our games are scheduled against independent schools so theyB次元官网网址檒l happen anyways. We wouldnB次元官网网址檛 be looking for games, we have a full schedule. WeB次元官网网址檝e got kids whoB次元官网网址檝e paid for the experience and weB次元官网网址檒l give it to them.B次元官网网址�

AndersonB次元官网网址檚 also heard some schools might not look for extra games as a show of support, should it come to that.

As for the school cycling league, Simonson intends to keep it alive however he can.

B次元官网网址淚 have many parents that can fill in for me if my union frowns on my participation.B次元官网网址�