PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – February 16, 2016

VICTORIA, B.C. – The Victoria HarbourCats have named their advisory committee for 2017.

The advisory committee is comprised of people who are community-minded, invested in this area, and love the added quality of life that HarbourCats baseball brings to Victoria and the South Island. They assist by giving the team independent opinions on all aspects of the program, and helping with networking in specific and strategic areas.

Kelly Mann, Chair, Victoria Harbourcats Advisory Committee

Kelly Mann is the President and CEO of the BC Games Society and is the co-founder of KidSport Greater Victoria. Kelly has been recognized for his leadership provincially and nationally in the amateur sport sector. Mann sees sport as a valuable community builder and is pleased to share his expertise with the Harbourcats.

Fraser Campbell

Fraser Campbell is the former President of Carnarvon Baseball Association and as well as the Greater Victoria Baseball Association. Fraser is currently a Director, Disciplinary Chair and member of the Coach Development Committee for the Provincial BC Minor Baseball Association, which delivers Canadian Baseball programs for nearly 20,000 players and coaches from the ages three to 45 in BC. He is a local Commercial Real Estate Broker (Campbell Commercial Group), baseball fan and a strong supporter of the HarbourCats from the beginning.

Gary Beyer

Gary Beyer is a Co-Owner of Tesseract 2.0 Computing, Gary grew up in the Greater Victoria area and has been involved in sport through the years as a player and coach in Millstream and Langford Softball Associations.  Gary shares his passion for technology and sport by helping the Victoria Harbourcats with technical and infrastructure support.

Mira Laurence

A former sports broadcaster, Mira has been involved with the HarbourCats for four years both on the Advisory Committee and in marketing and community relations. She currently holds the position of Executive Director at HeadWay- Victoria Epilepsy & Parkinson’s Centre. In addition to her support of the Harbourcats, she is involved with the Vancouver Island Running Society and 100 Women Who Care’s Victoria Chapter.

Keith Wells

Keith is a former CHEK television sportscaster and founder of Victoria-based SendtoNews.com, which delivers sports video highlights (including MLB) to thousands of websites around North America. His baseball ‘claims to fame’ include winning the Name the Team content for the Edmonton Trappers, when they joined the Pacific Coast League in 1981, and being in the World Series earthquake in 1989.

Peggy Kulmala

Peggy manages advocacy efforts for the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce, the largest business association in the region. She has deep experience in the public sector as a communications leader, and has a diverse background, from script writing for a popular children’s show to advising federal officials during the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

Ray Parks

Ray Parks launched BIM Consulting in 2009 after a long career with the provincial government of British Columbia where he held a number of leadership positions. A powerful and strategic networker, Ray helps corporations, organizations and communities define and achieve their business objectives. Ray’s ability to inspire, move organizations forward and get things done transition well into board rooms and community centers alike where he reinvests his time and care helping build strong companies, communities and families  – a commitment he has made consistently for more than twenty years.

Richard Mimick

Richard is the Director responsible for the Business & Management unit, Division of Continuing Studies and an Adjunct Business Professor at the University of Victoria.  He formerly was a management consultant with Andersen Consulting (Accenture) and a Director and Professor at the Ivey Business School and the Royal Roads Faculty of Management. He is a co-author of Business Diagnostics: Evaluate and Grow Your Business, and sits, or has sat, on private and non-profit boards of directors and advisory boards.  Baseball is his passion.

“Simply, this is a great group of human beings and we have a lot of fun talking baseball, and baseball operations,” said HarbourCats managing partner Jim Swanson. “Kelly really takes the lead with his vast sports experience, and when the group starts floating ideas and ways to make more connections in the community, their passion is evident. The HarbourCats are humbled to have the support of these people.”

“The Victoria HarbourCats have quickly become an important sport asset in Greater Victoria and our committee is pleased to support their growth by seeking opportunities for the club.  Each of us enjoy the game, and are proud to access our social capital to ensure the team and baseball flourish,” said Advisory Committee Chair, Kelly Mann.

The HarbourCats open the 2017 season on the road, June 1, in the inaugural game for the Port Angeles Lefties. Victoria’s home opener is set for Monday, June 5, a 6:35pm first pitch against the Wenatchee AppleSox.

WINTER BASEBALL TRAINING

 The HarbourCats are offering a series of instructional youth baseball camps at the Westshore Training Academy (2950 Westshore Parkway, Victoria, BC).

HarbourCats personnel will conduct the camps including Jim Swanson (MLB scout), Troy Birtwistle (HarbourCats assistant coach), Andrew Wilson (HarbourCats assistant coach), Brad Norris-Jones (HarbourCats general manager) and other guest instructors.

 Dates:

February 25 – 26

March 11 – 12

March 25 – 26

Saturday sessions run from 3:00pm until 5:00pm, and Sunday sessions run from 6:00pm until 8:00pm.

Registration for all 12 sessions (six sessions remain) costs $175 or $20 for single sessions.

A HarbourCats t-shirt and hat is included with registration.

Brad Norris-Jones will be conducting individual or group sessions on select weeknights (Monday to Thursday).

2017 SEASON TICKETS

Over 60,000 fans attended HarbourCats games in 2016 for an average of 2,239 fans per game, which led the West Coast League and ranked ninth in all of North America among summer-collegiate clubs.  Secure your favorite seat today for the 2017 season.

Seating location and pricing options are as follows—

DIAMOND CLUB SEATS (Field Level Box Seats in 2016)

$550 (SOLD OUT)

MAIN GRANDSTAND (Section 10, covered)

$395

PREMIUM SEATING (Sections 6-7-8-9-11-12, blue bucket seats)

$375

GENERAL ADMISSION (Silver bleachers, picnic areas, wheelchair seating, soccer grandstand)

$275

*All prices listed are base price, and do not include fees or GST.

Visit the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street or call (778)-265-0327 to purchase season tickets or for more information. You can also email brittany@harbourcats.com for further details, or go to the team website at harbourcats.com.

2017 SEATTLE VACATION

The HarbourCats are staging their second consecutive fan vacation to Seattle in 2017 to see the Blue Jays take on the Mariners.

The 2017 vacation takes place June 9-11, 2017 and will include:

• Travel on Wilson’s Transportation buses from to and from Victoria and Seattle. Ferry cost also included.
• Field level tickets for all three Blue Jays @ Mariners games at Safeco Field.
• Two nights at the Hilton Embassy Lynnwood.

Total cost is $798 per person (based on double occupancy). Different rates available for triple as well as single occupancy.

Registration for HarbourCats season ticket holders is $725 (based on double occupancy). The trip is not expected to interfere with the HarbourCats home schedule, as the team is expected to be on the road during this time.

To register, contact Carey Shelby at Flight Centre (1-866-299-5614) or carey.shelby@flightcentre.ca

OFFICE HOURS

The HarbourCats office (1814 Vancouver Street, 778-265-0327) is open and operating under off-season hours.

Office hours for the months of January through March are:

MONDAY-FRIDAY – 10:00am – 4:00pm

SATURDAY-SUNDAY – Closed (Except by appointment)