As the Gulf Islands Secondary School (GISS) Improv team gears up for its first post-Covid national competition, students are focusing on fundraising to get there.
Eight creative, courageous and entertaining high school students — and their supporters — will work to raise $15,000 in just five weeks, according to team coach Jason Donaldson, in support of their March 26 trip to Ottawa for the Canadian Improv Games’ national tournament.
The team recently took home the first-place trophy at the Vancouver Island regional tournament, earning them a berth at the Canada-wide event.
Donaldson said the trip — notably the eighth time GISS Improv students have represented the Southern Gulf Islands at the nation’s capital — is more than just the competition; there’s also a big learning component.
“It’s a phenomenal opportunity for these kids,” said Donaldson. “They will get improv workshops with some of the best trainers on the continent during the day, and watch and perform with the best teams from here to Newfoundland in the evening — not to mention touring our national galleries, museums and Parliament Hill as well.”
The event takes place at the National Arts Centre from March 26 to 30, putting GISS students alongside the top 20 improv teams in Canada. GISS Improv team member Melody Silva said the opportunity to see how other teams approach the event would be invaluable.
“I’m really looking forward to meeting people from all across the country,” said Silva, “and having the chance to compete again.”
GISS students earned gold in 2019 and 2017, and silver in 2018; while the pandemic put a damper on the games, Donaldson said the new group of students making up the GISS Improv team is eager to hit the stage and is reaching out to the community. Barbecue fundraisers, bake sales and entertaining shows will be held to raise funds, and the groups now accepting donations online at fundrazr.com/82M578.
All funds raised in coming weeks will be used to help cover the costs of flights, hotels, food and ground transportation.
For more information, contact Donaldson at jdonaldson@sd64.org.