The Dog River Howlers Rugby Club would like to thank it's board members and supporters (see list below) for their most generous commitment to the HOWLERS FUND. Spearheaded by Mike Holmes we now have $72,500 committed which matched by an anonymous donor tops this fund to date up to $145,000. We of course welcome any further donations. This fund will help to support a First Nations student attending the University Of Victoria playing rugby who also displays leadership and involvement in his community. Donators:

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Dog River Howlers Club itself
Jahmil Fayad (Howlers supporter)
Karl Fix (Howlers board member)
Roger Gay (Howlers supporter)
Mile Holmes  (Howlers board member)
Charles Huisamen (Howlers supporter)
Randy Ludwar (Howlers board member)
Vaughn Nichols (Howlers supporter)
Grenville Thomas (Howlers board member)
Tim Young (Howlers board member)

 

The Howlers donated rugby balls to the the "Healing Hands Project"

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Good day Karl 
We donated some of the balls to Walmer High School which is one of poor schools here in Port Elizabeth but the kids are passionate about the sport. It was a pleasure donating to them. Thank you so much. They really appreciate it. Hope to be getting more donations in future. They have a female team there as well. Please find pics attached. We will send you more of other schools next week. We face a transport problem as well here to get around. We are a struggling organization. We are so proud to be associated with you and Dog River Howlers. 

Maggie

By Irene Seiberling of the Leader Post - February 10, 2014

Super Bowl champion Jon Ryan poses with his mom, Barb, at the Bowties & Sweethearts gala, a fundraiser for the Leader-Post Christmas Cheer Fund, held at the Hotel Saskatchewan in Regina, Sask. on Saturday Feb. 8, 2014. The autographed jersey he’s wearing was auctioned off, raising $6,000 for local women’s shelters. Dressed to the nines, hundreds of supporters of the Bowties & Sweethearts Valentine's Gala gathered in the elegant Hotel Saskatchewan ballroom Saturday night to help raise money for local women's shelters.

While the final tally isn't yet available, Karl Fix, chair of the fundraiser's organizing committee, estimated approximately $130,000 will be donated to the Leader-Post Christmas Cheer Fund, which supports four Regina shelters for women and children fleeing domestic abuse. Regina Transition House, YWCA Regina's Isabel Johnson Shelter, WISH Safe House and SOFIA House.

Live auction items. which included an autographed Rolling Stones guitar, a jersey autographed by Super Bowl champion Jon Ryan, a Napa Valley epicurean adventure for two, a Buffalo Narrows private show, and a painting by Regina visual artist Ladd Fogarty. raised more than $37,500 for the charity. A silent auction raised thousands more.

Ryan made a brief appearance at the fundraiser. His mom, Barb Ryan, who donated the jersey, was on stage as it was auctioned off.

The menu, created by Chef Milton Rebello of the Hotel Saskatchewan, included foie gras, lobster thermidor, beef tenderloin and a chocolate trio. Entertainment included performances by Buffalo Narrows, Zenaya Semple and Frogsback.

The by-invitation, $300-aplate fundraiser was attended by a cross-section of community leaders. from CFL coach of the year Corey Chamblin to representatives from event sponsor Mosaic to local business owners and professionals.

[email protected]
Photograph by: Michael Bell , Regina Leader-Post

REGINA ARTIST USES HIS TALENT TO SUPPORT LOCAL SHELTERS (DOG RIVER HOWLERS RUGBY CLUB INITIATED FUNDRAISER - THE BOWTIES AND SWEETHEARTS GALA) - By Irene Seiberling of the Leader Post - February 7, 2014
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Regina visual artist Ladd Fogarty has been blessed with happy childhood memories of special times spent with his dad.

But he's well aware that not everyone is as lucky.

So he created a painting that brings back memories of canoeing and fishing with his father in northern Saskatchewan, which will be auctioned off Saturday night at the Bowties & Sweethearts Valentines Gala, to raise money for the four domestic abuse shelters supported by the Leader-Post Christmas Cheer Fund "We have to have these places because some dads are not nice," the retired high school art teacher said.

This is the third year Fogarty has donated a painting created for the fundraiser.

The first was inspired by the Dog River Howlers rugby club, whose members spearheaded the Regina fundraising gala.

Mosaic bid $10,000 for the painting, which now hangs in its corporate office.

At last year's gala, Mosaic and Young's Equipment got into a bidding war for the First Nation's-inspired painting Fogarty created. The charity was the ultimate winner, when the competing bidders agreed that Young's would pay $28,000 for the original painting and Mosaic would donated $25,000 for a full-sized, giclee print.

"That was kind of a thrill to see that happen," Fogarty said.

While he's optimistic this year's painting will also raise a substantial amount for the Christmas Cheer Fund, Fogarty admitted, "I don't expect anything like last year. That was beyond any expectation. Whatever it goes for is good."

Fogarty donated 80 to 100 hours to create each of the paintings for the Bowties & Sweethearts live auctions.

He retired last year, after 32 years of teaching, which allowed him to focus more on his art.

"I was able to concentrate over an extended period of time a little bit easier this time, where I didn't have to find space. So that was nice," Fogarty said.

Titled On the way to Puskwakau, Fogarty's four-bysix-foot (1.2-by-1.8-metre) acrylic painting depicts a tranquil setting with a stream opening up to a lake.

"The air is sweet and there is a stillness that enriches the soul," Fogarty wrote in his artist statement.

"These are the kind of memories every child should have."

Limited-edition prints of the painting are also being sold, available for $350. They can be purchased at the gala, or by emailing Karl Fix, chairman of the gala's organizing committee, at [email protected].

Anyone interested in bidding on auction items, but unable to attend the gala, is asked to contact Fix, to arrange for him to place a bid on their behalf.

WHO HAS PLAYED 7'S RUGBY FOR THE HOWLERS SINCE THEIR FIRST TOURNAMENT 5 YEARS AGO?


Number Of Players - 256 (126 men, 63 women, 46 U-18 men and 21 U-16 men)

Canadian International Players (Men) Who Have Played With The Howlers -  24

Canadian International Players (Women) Who Have Played With The Howlers - 14 

International Players From Other Countries - 7 including Waisali Serevi considered by most the greatest 7's player in the history of the game

Number Of U-16 Men's Tournaments - 2  - both in Germany

U-18 Men's Tournaments - 7 - in Canada and the USA

Number Of Men's Tournaments Participated In - 20 (won 9) - in 5 countries

Number Of Women's Tournaments Participated In- 12 ( won 6) - in 5 countries 

One Off Exhibition Games  Played- 4 - all in Canada

This first ever Ultra 7's Rugby game played in BC (organized and hosted by the Vancouver Island Rugby Union) which helped to raise some $5,000 for Kelowna's Judah Campbell who suffered a serious spinal injury last year. The historic game was played at the Westhills Stadium in Langford on Saturday night Feb. 1, 2014..

The Dog River Howlers team was comprised mainly players from Vancouver Island along with a few from Kelowna (Cole Mossychuck who actually played with Judah in the game he was injured) Abbotsford, Belleville Ontario, Scotland and New Zealand. . There were 8 players who had previously played with the Howlers along with 9 new caps.

In the end the Howlers prevailed over the Vancouver Island Crimson Tide by a score of 71 - 54.. 

Former Canadian 7's player Robin Mac Dowell who now has 12 Howlers caps was named he game MVP. Jared Douglas (Canadian 7's player Justin's brother) was also impressive for the Howlers. Johnny Morris and Doug Fraser stood out for the Tide.

A name to look out for in the future is 16 year old 6'2'/190 lb Ross Mosychuk who put in a couple of solid shifts for the Howlers.


Howler lineup:

* Rob Anderson - Victoria, BC
Noah Barker - Victoria, BC
* Dustin Dobravsky - Victoria, BC
* Jered Douglas - Abbotsford, BC
Gabriel Farrell - Scotland
Aaron Frisby - New Zealand
* Connor Hunter - Abottsford, BC
* Kieran Macauley - Comox, BC
Robin MacDowell - Cowichan, BC
* Cole Mosychuk - Kelowna, BC
Ross Mosychuk - Kelowna, BC
* Dave Morgan - Victoria, BC
Matt Mullins- Belleville, Ontario
* Casey Reed - Victoria, BC
Tyson Stochoff - Victoria, BC
Brad Skene - Victoria, BC
Kane Wyatt - Victoria, BC

* - previously capped Howlers.

Coach - Shane Thompson
Manager - Leo Lane.

This was a case of the cause being more important than the results, particularly in the Ultra 7s match. The Dog River Howlers team was comprised of Vancouver Island players who had played for the Howlers in the past versus a team of Vancouver Island players who had not previously played for the Howlers.

In the end the Howler's Island team prevailed 67-54. I suspect whichever team had Robin MacDowell playing for them would have won, he was easily the best player on the field. A testament to the fitness of the young 35, former national team player. Justin Douglas' brother Jared Douglas was also impressive and showed some of his brother's speed. I'm surprised he hasn't been looked at for the Maple Leafs at least. Johnny Morris and Doug Fraser stood out for the Tide. In the earlier game the Ravens prevailed over a slow starting Canada U20 team. After giving up an early 17-0 lead the Canada U20 played themselves back into the game and narrowly lost 29-24. The full Canada U20 match report from Rugby Canada is appended below.

The match videos and program are appended below but first I'd like to thank all the people involved. A sentiment shared by Judah.

Hi Mark, thank you guys so much for doing that. It was great to be able to watch the game and what a game it was. A lot of tries going back and forth. The event was awesome and it sounded like everyone was enjoying themselves. I really want to thank everyone involved in making that game happen on my behalf. Could you either forward my email or give me theirs, so I can thank everyone.

Cheers,

Judah