Members of Williams Lake city council dug into their own pockets to purchase a banner supporting the city’s own Kayla Moleschi, who will be competing on the Canadian women’s rugby sevens team at the Olympics in Rio next month.
Council unveiled the banner during its regular meeting Tuesday, July 19.
“I know there have been a lot of community members that have been rallying around the city to do something for this,” said Coun. Laurie Walters. “There are businesses that have posters on their doors and all sorts of different things that are going to happen. For us as a city to show support this way speaks volumes.”
As soon as Moleschi was named to the Olympic team, Caren Poole Pritchard of Williams Lake began encouraging everyone in the community to do what they could to support her.
“I have known her since she was 12 or 13 when she started playing rugby with our daughter Sydney,” Pritchard said. “Sydney talked her into coming out to play.”
Describing her as the strongest person she knows who has worked so hard to get where she is today, Pritchard said by the time Moleschi was in Grade 9 she knew she wanted to be in the Olympics one day with rugby.
“She loved it immediately. You could tell it was her game.”
Moleschi has been a driving force behind the Canadian Women’s team, Pritchard added.
“I think she’s the shortest on the team, but you’d never know it by the way she plays,” Pritchard added. “She’s also a really sweet person and I am so happy for her. Wherever she goes after this, she will give back and help with the sport.”
Having someone in the Olympics is such a positive thing for Williams Lake, Pritchard said.
“This is something to be so proud of.”
During the council meeting Mayor Walt Cobb also reminded the public of the upcoming barbecue taking place at Taylor Made Cakes and Sweets being hosted by Dale and Brenda Taylor on Saturday, July 23, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. to fundraise for Moleschi.
“I encourage the community to get out there and support Kayla,” Cobb said. “Whatever we can do as a community to help her is great.”
All-Ways Travel and high school rugby coach and city councillor Jason Ryll have set up an account at TD Canada Trust where funds can be donated to help Moleschi in her travels.