The University of Victoria Vikes have announced that Marina Skakun, Brooke Taylor and Charisse Faubert are the recipients of this year's Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame (GVSHOF) awards, established to support local varsity student-athletes attending UVic. 

Marina Skakun, first-year women's rugby player, is the 12th winner of the Bate Family Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame Award. Brooke Taylor, a first-year women's field hockey player, is the recipient of the second annual Sybil Verch Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame Award. First-year women's rower Charisse Faubert is the first-ever winner of the Simon Keith Foundation Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame Award.

Skakun, a student in the Camosun College/UVic Baccalaureate of Science in nursing, has seamlessly adjusted to the demands of balancing varsity athletics with one of the most challenging programs of study. The Stelly's Secondary School graduate consistently demonstrates work ethic and commitment to her craft, helping the women's rugby program to a fourth-place finish at the 2021 U SPORTS National Championships. According to past coaches, Skakun is a role model to younger players and is always ready to help new and young athletes improve their skills and grow their love of the game.

Marina Skakun

"I am so pleased to hear that Marina is the recipient of the Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame Bate Family Award. Marina has been a great addition to the team this year and demonstrates strong character and a team-first attitude on and off the field. With her work ethic, talent and positive attitude, the future is very bright for Marina, and this award will help her immensely in reaching her goals," says Brittany Waters, women's rugby head coach. 

A graduate of Glenlyon Norfolk School, Taylor stepped into her role as a key member of the Vikes women's field hockey program with ease. Helping the Vikes to a U SPORTS national title in her first season, Taylor's ability to adapt to whatever is thrown at her, switch positions on the fly, and meet challenges head on, is what makes her such an invaluable asset to the women's field hockey team. As a faculty of science student, Taylor not only meets the demands of a challenging course load, but she continues to give back to her former high school coaching field hockey and ultimate frisbee in her free time.

Brooke Taylor

"We are extremely proud to learn that Brooke is the recipient of the Sybil Verch Award. She is a wonderful young woman, who comes to every practice radiating joy (she's always smiling)," says Lynne Beecroft, women's field hockey head coach. "During our Canada West season, she was willing to do whatever we needed her to do to help the team qualify for our U SPORTS championship, whether that was playing on the forward line, midline or defence. Despite being a rookie, she never came off the field in the three games at the U Sports championship, playing a major role in shutting down the UofT forwards; thus, helping the Vikes win their 14th championship."

With her sights set on eventually attending UVic Law School, the Bachelor of Arts student has a long varsity rowing career with the Vikes ahead of her. A graduate of Oak Bay Secondary School, Faubert got her start with Victoria's Gorge Narrows Rowing Club, where she not only fell in love with rowing but began giving back to the sport through volunteer work and coaching. In her freshman season, Faubert raced with the lightweight women's four at the Canadian University Rowing Championship regatta, helping the Vikes to a second-place banner. 

Charisse Faubert

“Charisse came into the program very strong, and her hard work paid off early by getting selected to the varsity crew for the Canadian University Rowing Championships. As a first-year athlete it’s difficult to get selected for varsity and she did so by working hard and showing up every day with a smile,” says Jane Gumley, women’s rowing head coach. “Charisse continues to display her positivity throughout the team, and we are looking forward to seeing her develop over the next few years.”

The Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame celebrates the accomplishments of athletes, teams and builders who have contributed to the history of sports in Greater Victoria and continues to work closely with UVic to support local athletes.

"The whole objective of these awards is to keep local students local. The Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame (GVSHOF) has been working with the Vikes to encourage elite student-athletes to stay in Victoria and compete at the varsity level while earning a degree," says Doug Jennings, President of GVSHOF.

"Starting in 2010-11, we first announced the Bate Family Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame Award to support this important effort and now we have two more awards, one of which is specifically for a female athlete, and one that is for someone who has been impacted by organ donation. These awards have been quite successful, and we are actively working with UVic to create more award opportunities like this for students in the region." 

"We’re grateful for our partnership with the Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame (GVSHOF) and the role it’s played in helping to establish these three important awards,” says Senior Director of Vikes Athletics & Recreation, Clint Hamilton. “The generosity of the donors and dedication of the GVSHOF to honour local sports contributors helps UVic attract future leaders to our programs.”

Sybil Verch Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame Award:

Awarded to an undergraduate woman student entering UVic from a secondary school in the Greater Victoria region who competes on a Vikes varsity team. 

 Bate Family Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame Award:

Awarded to an undergraduate student entering the University of Victoria directly from a secondary school in the Greater Victoria region who competes on a Vikes varsity team.

Simon Keith Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame Award: 

Awarded to an undergraduate student whose life has been directly impacted by organ donation entering the University of Victoria directly from secondary school in the Greater Victoria region who competes are a Vikes varsity team. This is the award's inaugural year.

Eligible students are required to submit an application by the specified date to the Senior Director of Athletics & Recreation. Award recipients must meet all U SPORTS and/or NAIA eligibility requirements and are selected on the basis of work ethic, commitment and performance criteria.

Bate Family Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame Award – past recipients:

2020-21: Jack DesBrisay, Men’s Rowing & Mareya Valeva, Women’s Swimming
2019-20: Janet Dawson, Field Hockey, Mount Douglas Secondary
2018-19: Lockie Kratz, Rugby, Oak Bay Secondary
2017-18: Shaye Tudor, Rugby, Claremont Secondary
2016-17: Brayden Tate, Rugby, Oak Bay High
2015-16: Harbir Sidhu, Field Hockey, Mount Douglas Secondary
2014-15: Michael Baart, Soccer, St. Michaels University School
2013-14: Stephanie Polomark, Rowing, Belmont Senior Secondary
2012-13: Sarah Douglas, Soccer, Glenlyon Norfolk School
2011-12: Patrick Psotka, Track, Oak Bay High
2010-11: Julia Schmidt: Swimming, Lambrick Park Secondary