sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½

Wheelchair racer Robert Easton, a native of Edmonton who lives in Victoria, was inducted into the Paralympic Athletes Hall of Fame during ceremonies Friday in Toronto.

Easton competed in the 1984 Los Angeles and 1988 Seoul Paralympic Summer Games, winning eight gold medals and one silver. He held and improved on every world record for track and field events in his class from 1982 to 1988.

Easton, who has cerebral palsy, was introduced to wheelchair sports in 1976, initially playing wheelchair basketball. He took up wheelchair racing in 1977. He established the Easton Family Scholarship at the University of Alberta, awarded annually to a student with superior academic achievement entering the third or fourth year in the Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation focusing on adapted physical education.

A professional accountant, Easton worked as the chief financial officer for the sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ Ministry of Healthy Living and Sport, responsible for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Secretariat. Easton is currently an executive director with the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development in Victoria.

Easton is also a member of the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame and the Canadian Cerebral Palsy Sports Hall of Fame. — sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½

Ìý

Dogwood Meet is this weekend

The 25th Dogwood Meet, hosted by the Victoria Track and Field Club and the largest meet on Vancouver Island, takes place today and Sunday at Centennial Stadium.

The Dogwood meet will feature all the track and field disciplines as well as wheelchair races. More than 500 athletes, ranging from junior development to masters, will be competing. The meet attracts athletes and para-athletes from across the province and country.

Victoria Track and Field Club alumni include Angela Chalmers, 1992 Barcelona Summer Olympics bronze medallist and 1994 Victoria Commonwealth Games gold medallist; and two-time Olympic triathlete Brent McMahon. — sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½

Ìý

Soccer tourney aids hospice

The third-annual Anneswer to Cancer fundraiser soccer tournament, to benefit Victoria Hospice and raise awareness about mesothelioma cancer, takes place today at Finlayson turf field in Topaz Park between noon and 5 p.m.

Last year, the event raised more than $50,000 over the five hours.

The tournament features about 200 players of all ages. The majority of funds are raised through pledges, but there are a number of other activities and contests for the public at the event. — sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½