EDITORIAL

Local club helps spread cheer

Peter Mallett disappointment. Their first

Staff Writer ever participation to the prestigious Summit International

The Pacific Cheer Championship competition in Empire cheerleading Orlando, Florida, in May was club has scored some cancelled due to the COVID-19 impressive results pandemic. in recent competitions as it In-person classes and training continues to grow in popularat Pacific Cheer Empire were ity, especially in the military suspended starting March 13 community. due to health and safety physi

Since opening at Colwood’s cal distancing measures. They Wale Road location in 2016, were able to train via video the membership base of youth conferencing. However, with the to adult-aged women and men isolation protocol being lifted, has almost tripled. the club re-opened June 1; indi

The club has also found viduals or small groups of six competitive success. In 2018, can now train in person, albeit a senior level team placed third with numerous restrictions and in their division at the UCA precautions. International Championships at “It really hit our athletes hard the ESPN Wide World of Sports not being able to see their teamComplex in Orlando, Florida, mates and coaches, so now we earning them a bid invitation to are just so excited to be reunited compete at the U.S Finals in Las with our cheer family and return Vegas two months later. to training,” said Samson.

That success has come under The facility is equipped with the guidance of head coach and a five-panel birchwood double owner Shannon Samson. layer spring floor system, as well

Samson, 32, has been involved as multiple tumbling mats and in dance and cheerleading since training shapes. early childhood and is a past In the coming months when winner of the 2012 Canadian the gym becomes fully operaCheerleading Coach of the Year Award, which she earned during the Cheer Expo national cheerTatianna Halliman with her winning banner at Sea to Sky Cheer Championships 2019. tional, Samson will expand her club to offer a new dance program that will offer members leading competition in Halifax. Photo by Melanie Halliman both all-star competitive dance Samson moved to Victoria from teams, as well as regular dance her native Cape Breton in 2012 class options in different styles when a family member was posted to with shouted slogans to encourage enthufrom jazz, hip-hop, lyrical, and line CFB Esquimalt. siastic cheering from the audience. It has dancing to Acro dance.

Samson also owns a gym in Nova grown from high school gyms and sports “We are a sports organization and a Scotia and she was surprised to learn fields into a sport of its own. business, but at the end of the day we there were no cheerleading clubs in Military mom, and now the program really operate like a family,” said Samson. Victoria at the time, so she decided to fill co-ordinator, Sylvie Blais enrolled her “Our main goal is to give athletes a safe that void and create her own club. eight-year-old daughter, Jayna Flamand place to be themselves and to really

“I knew military members and many into the squad when they moved to develop them, make them good human people from other parts of the country Victoria two years ago. The youngster beings. We want to see our athletes conget transferred here from places where was a ringette player in Saint-Hubert, tribute to society, and I know the skills thriving cheerleading communities Québec, and was sad when she had to say they learn here such as hard work, time already exist,” said Samson. “So, being goodbye to her teammates. Pacific Cheer management, problem solving, and comable to fill that void was a driving force offered her much-needed camaraderie mitment are the type of training they behind founding Pacific Cheer Empire. and an athletic outlet. require to succeed in the real world.” It was my intent to give families a sense “I really like tumbling and learning stuff For more details about Pacific Cheer of belonging in their community and a like flying and flips, but what I like best is Empire and their program options visit place they can call their own.” going to competitions,” said Jayna. www.pacificcheerempire.com or send an

Cheerleading is a team activity that The enthusiasm of club members email to pacificcheerempire@outlook. combines dance, stunting, and tumbling has been tempered with some recent com.