Team Therapists
Samara Tocher
Charlotte Van Audenrode
Carla van der Merve

Team Photographer
Judy Teasdale

The Nor’Westers Rugby Club is raising funds for a memorial scholarship in Dutch’s name within the Ancient Nor’Westers Athletic Fund held by the Canadian Rugby Foundation (P.O. Box 8003, Victoria BC V8W 3R7). The scholarship will be for coaching and referring development for age grade rugby. This is something that was close to Dutch’s heart (big man, big heart) in his many years as a junior and high school coach.

Donations in excess of $25.00 will receive a charitable receipt from the Canadian Rugby Foundation. Donations can be made by cheque payable to the Canadian Rugby Foundation( ANNAA "DUTCH) and mailed to Don Paradis, 1025 Parker Drive, Sherwood Park, AB, T8A 1C5, They also can be made by going online to the Canadian Rugby Foundation website (www.canadianrugbyfoundation.ca) and click on the rugby ball and go to fund/designation drop box and select Ancient Nor’Westers Athletic Association


HOLLAND, David Daniel "Dutch" 1954 - 2013 David Daniel Holland, age 58, passed away suddenly at home. He will be greatly missed by his mother, Margarete, his brother, Ralph (Candy), his sisters, Donna (Lou) and Laura (Osh) and a multitude of friends, especially Rick (Sherry) Melia, Al(Marie) Hancock, Garry (Barb) Weisbrot, Rob (Alison) Poole and Stan Thorseth. Dave was predeceased by his father, Wilber, in 2006. Dave was born in Kelowna, B.C., on June 3, 1954 and started running early, the beginning of a lifelong passion for sports. He started school, at age 5, in Sri Lanka (Ceylon). Moving back to B.C. proved a bit of a shock to young David so he was quite happy when his family moved to Santiago, Chile. Happy, that is, until he realized even the comics were in Spanish! In Fredericton, N.B., Grade 6 yielded the biggest discovery of his life: basketball. Things were never the same, even when he moved to Edmonton in 1967. He played basketball at Harry Ainlay High School, 1967-71, and the University of Alberta, 1972-76. His teammates renamed him "Dutch" and it stuck. Combining two of his favorite things, athletics and travel, "Dutch" was a committed team player for provincial and national basketball, for rugby and for team handball teams in competitions across Canada and other countries, including Australia, New Zealand and the US. He also introduced Alberta and Saskatchewan junior and high school students to team handball. For more than 25 years, he was a generous, well-respected volunteer coach, especially for the Edmonton Nor'Westers Rugby Club, and the Harry Ainlay Titans boys' basketball and rugby teams. Dave, sensitive to the needs of the players, motivated them to be the best they could be. A gentle, easy-going giant, David Holland will be missed by his extended family and his many friends. A Celebration of Dutch's Life will be held at 2:30 pm on Friday, January 11, 2013, at the Ellerslie Rugby Park, 11004 Ellerslie Road SW, Edmonton. A youth sport endowment fund has been set up in Dutch's name. Donations to the Canadian Rugby Foundation, ANAA "Dutch" c/o Don Paradis, 1025 Parker Drive, Sherwood Park, AB, T8A 1C5, would be appreciated

Kerry Singh, better known to former rugby teammates and friends as Huggy, was a member of the Balmy Beach RFC of Toronto in 1993 when he suffered a spinal cord injury while playing rugby. The injury resulted in quadriplegia and in 1994 the Balmy Beach Rugby Club, friends and family helped Huggy raise money to purchase a van that could be modified for him to drive. This helped him improve his quality of life and allowed him to enjoy his independence of mobility, but the van is nearly 16 years old now and in need of being replaced.

Rugby Canada and The Dog River Howlers teamed up to help Huggy raise $35,127,14 for his new wheelchair-accessible van. Graham Brown, CEO of Rugby Canada stated that, “Rugby Canada is happy to get behind Huggy and support his efforts to raise funds for a new van. The rugby community in Canada is a tight knit group and it’s encouraging to see that people from across the country are coming together to help a fellow rugby friend in need.” According to Karl Fix, President of The Dog River Howlers Rugby Club, whose motto is “it’s more than a game, it’s a way of life,” this effort falls in line with the meaning behind why the "We Stand on Guard for Thee" program was originally started. “Huggy took the risk that all players do when stepping on to the field. It’s unfortunate that he suffered such a severe life-changing injury and now it’s time for the rugby community to stand on guard for him in his time of need.”

Balmy Beach RFC spearheaded by Huggy's long time club mate Geoff Reynolds also held a fundraising dinner on September 22, 2012 which neted a further $27,000. This event featured Hockey Night In Canada's Ron McClean and legendary Irish international and British Lion rugby player Denis Hickie

Huggy had originally planned to hopefully raise the needed funds over a period 3 years. Instead the Canadian rugby community made this a reality for him in less than 6 months. He is now in the process of shopping for his new wheelchair accessible van.Thanks to everyone who was part of this "magic".

OH CANADA !!!! OH RUGBY !!!!