by CWUAA Communications
VICTORIA - UBC-Okanagan has been officially accepted as a probationary member of the Canada West Universities Athletic Association (CWUAA). The decision came by vote at the Canada West's annual general meeting Thursday afternoon in Victoria.

The "Heat" will begin a three-year term as probationary members, effective September 2010, and will begin interuniversity athletic competition in the sports of men's and women's basketball and volleyball in the fall of 2011.

The Canada West acceptance is dependent on Canadian Interuniversity Sport’s (CIS) acceptance of UBC-Okanagan's application for CIS membership. UBC-Okanagan's application to the CIS will be reviewed at the CIS annual general meetings in 2011.

UBC-Okanagan was one of three new membership applications up for discussion at the CWUAA AGM. The applications from Vancouver Island University and University of Northern British Columbia did not meet the required level of support. Seventy-five percent of membership approval was required for CWUAA acceptance.

In addition to accepting UBC-Okanagan as probationary member of the conference, the CWUAA also extended full membership status to erstwhile probationary members Thompson Rivers University and University of the Fraser Valley.

Thompson Rivers was accepted for probationary membership in 2005 in the sports of basketball and volleyball. Fraser Valley was accepted as probationary member in 2006 and competes in basketball and soccer.



Please direct questions to the CWUAA President: Sandy Slavin (slavin@uleth.ca )