The TORONTO WEST volleyball club was founded in 1969. The club started with a Ladies’ Intermediate team and, in 1973-74, added a Men’s team. Since the 1976-77 season, TORONTO WEST has included many boys and girls age division teams in its programming. Since 1990, TORONTO WEST has exclusively delivered youth programs. TORONTO WEST services the Western GTA by providing developmental and competitive programs for boys and girls from ages 10 through 17.
Val Long Honorary Director and Head Coach – Retired
Val served Toronto West as a technical and inspirational leader from 1969 to 2007 before retiring in 2017. Val’s tenacious and enthusiastic engagement in coaching Toronto West athletes and teams resulted in the club winning multiple Provincial and National Championships, and also developed many players of National and International renown. In 2015, John and Val were inducted into the Ontario Volleyball Hall of Fame for their founding and developing of Toronto West Volleyball Club.
TORONTO WEST is in the business of educating people. Each individual member is encouraged to develop a strong desire for the “Pursuit of Excellence”. We strive to enhance each athlete’s capabilities in making sound decisions, not only for him/herself but for the sake of fellow team and club members as well. Technically, our focus is competitive, with a major goal to strive for championships.
The modern world demands that we be confident when making decisions. Constant change and a wide variety of options challenges this confidence, society today does not support or tolerate mediocrity and demands excellence from all individuals.
TORONTO WEST provides each athlete with meaningful life-related experiences and a chance to meet new people and make good friends. In return, it is expected that each individual member be responsible regarding his/her contribution to the team/club and dedicate much energy to the perpetuation of the club which has helped create this desire for the “Pursuit of Excellence”.
To uncover within each member a feeling of accomplishment, applicable to life. Instill a feeling of mutual respect for every individual. Make sure time spent at volleyball is quality rather than just quantity – a worthy use of time. Discovering and developing our and others’ capabilities and interests. Overcome our own social, mental and physical inadequacies that negatively affect our own and others progress. Give each other recognition for jobs well done on a regular basis, and take pride in what we do. Self-discipline ourselves and be responsible for our actions that affect team/club activities. Be safety conscious for ourselves and others. Practice human relationships. Organize our time well to eliminate conflicts with school, home and jobs. In summary, the philosophy of TORONTO WEST sees volleyball, as a medium for aiding in the development of a positive self-image for each club member within a team and club situation.
We emphasize hard work, responsibility, dedication, self-discipline, good organizational skills, excellent physical fitness, and sound basic volleyball techniques and tactics.
We encourage humanistic attitudes (everyone being accepted for what they are- -we all try to help each other grow and develop into more caring people, socializing with team and club members at gatherings, trips, doing summer training, or playing in fun tournaments, etc.) Not least of all, we emphasize having fun by using our leisure time actively.
During the past 2022-2023 season, Toronto WEST fielded seven competitive (REP) teams consisting of over 100 players, coaches, volunteers and support staff. Our REP teams compete most successfully in the Ontario Elite Volleyball Leagues and won 5 GOLD, 2 SILVER and 1 BRONZE medal at Ontario and Canadian Open Championships combined. We are most proud of our athletes and coachers!
Other seasonal highlights included the 18U HAWKS competing in the 37 th LAS VEGAS CLASSIC and the 16U FALCONS, the 17U TALONS and the 18U HAWKS traveling in early November to La Belle Province to show their best play at the QUEBEC JUNIOR OPEN. The TLS RAPTORS and CONDORS rounded out the season with a SILVER MEDAL performance at the EMPIRE STATE SPRING FLING in Buffalo NY.
Over the past five decades, our top teams have successfully completed in many major Quebec and US events with excellent placements in the 1983 Quebec Open (Gold in 1983, Bronze in 2006 and 2007, Silver in 2008 and 2009), Penn State (Silver in 2009), Rochester CANAM (Gold in 2006), East Coast US Championships (Silver in 2009) and Las Vegas in 2008, 2011, 2014 and 2018 as well as the 1989 Senior US NATIONALS in Toledo, Ohio.
Many Toronto WEST members have trained hard and have been selected for Regional Provincial, Junior National and Senior National Teams; notably ELIZABETH JUNGER, ALEX KETRZYNSKI, STELIO DE ROCCO, DANIEL DEARING, JOHN CANJAR, and MARKO MILENKOVIC (Coach). Many have earned Canadian University and NCAA scholarships, played professionally in many parts of the world, and even gone on to compete in the OLYMPICS, including the above mentioned as well as CHRISTIAN KULD, VILIS OZOLS, CHRISTINE POLLITT, CALEIGH CRUICKSHANK and most recently, NICOLE MILOSEVIC who now as a U17 plays OPPOSITE on the SPORTING LISBON U23 Women’s team.
During the summer, Toronto WEST players are engaged in beach volleyball training and play (from mid-May to the end of August) plyometric, speed and indoor skill and position training from May 27 to August 19 and the traditional T-WEST TRAINING & TRYOUT CAMP (August 28-31) which rounds out the summer programs.
John started playing volleyball in his native Switzerland. In Canada, his playing experience includes setting for the U of T Varsity Blues, playing in the Ontario A/AA leagues, and, finally, competing at the Golden Masters level in the 1989 USVBA National Championships. After graduating from the University of Toronto, John taught physical education for 31 years in Etobicoke Middle Schools, coaching numerous volleyball, track & field, cross-country championship teams before retiring in 1998. John and his wife, Valerie, founded The Etobicoke Volleyball Association – Toronto West in 1969. Since then, John and Val spent much of their life managing the club and coaching male and female teams from Age Division 12U to Sr. AA calibre. John’s program of effective club funding has made it possible for Toronto West to maintain membership fees at a reasonable level during times of escalating costs. Over the past decades, John has also served on the OVA Region 5 Board of Directors, conducted clinics for referees, and officiated at competitions ranging from local to international levels of play. While still coaching the CONDORS (14U Girls), John’s focus is presently on administration and elite club development with the help of his son Byron and the dedicated T-WEST volunteers and coaching staff.
George has served as the Toronto West Volleyball Club’s Vice-President since 1983. George has been a key contributor to the club’s success over the past forty years. During the earlier years, George was one of the Toronto West’s top left-handed setters, and later on a successful coach for many of our youth teams. George also served the community as a inspired high school volleyball coach and music teacher at Richview CI. Over the years, George has also excelled in the Latvian Community as a Concert Cellist, a renowned Composer, Orchestral Director and presently as International Cultural Ambassador for Latvia.
Kay is a Director of the Toronto West Volleyball Club and serves as Corporate Secretary. Kay has a BSc and extensive experience in the screen printing/apparel retail business since 1970. Over the past decades, Kay has also served as T-WEST Equipment Manager. Kay continues to lead an active life of leadership in Seniors’ wellness programs in the Mississauga Indian Community.
