University students from across the city competed in the first annual Dodgeball Tournament for Halifax Humanities at the University of King’s College gym on Saturday.
Eight teams signed up for the fun event. Players wore costumes and there were prizes for the first place and best-dressed teams. The admission fee was $10 admission per person.
Organizers said all of the money was going to the Halifax Humanities Society, a local group that provides free humanities courses to low-income adults.
Program director Mary Lu Roffey-Redden said Halifax Humanities began 10 years ago. It was created by a small group of King’s professors and several others, and now includes approximately 60 professors from eight universities throughout Nova Scotia. Every year it graduates between 14 to 25 people.
Roffey-Redden said all books and reading materials are supplied free of charge, along with free bus transportation, refreshments and child care. The professors donate their time and teach three or four classes each during the eight-month program.
Participants must be 17 or older. They must be able to read at a high school level and have a low income.
“Every year we have a very diverse group of people join us, eager and ready to learn,” said Roffey-Redden.
The society just introduced another class called Halifax Humanities Seminar for students who have graduated Halifax Humanities 101 and want to continue learning.
‘A lot of fun’
The charity tournament held at King’s was open to people of all ages and skill levels, but the majority of participants included students from Dalhousie University, Saint Mary’s University and King’s.
Joseph Fish and Alex Rose, two tournament organizers, said about 50 people came out to support the cause. Rose said he believes the tournament raised more than $500, though the final numbers are not in.
“It was a lot of fun and went as well as I could have hoped,” said Rose. “The atmosphere was amazing and I can’t wait to do it again next year.”
The final showdown occurred at 4:00 p.m. between teams Shaqtin’ A Fool and the Varsity Badminton Team. Both teams were evenly matched and after a long, back-and-forth game Kevin Cox sniped a perfect shot, taking out the final player on the Varsity Badminton Team and bringing Shaqtin’ A Fool to victory.
Rose and Fish are interested in holding another tournament next year so it becomes an annual event.
This story also appeared on Peninsula News.
