Building Community and Opening Doors to Biathlon: Biathlon BC’s Northern Tour
Last weekend, Biathlon BC wrapped up an inspiring Northern BC tour led by Avery Levesque, with one clear goal: get more people trying biathlon and build lasting community around the sport. By bringing coaching education, school programs, and hands-on biathlon experiences directly to local communities, the tour focused on lowering barriers to entry and creating welcoming sessions for people of all ages and backgrounds to get involved.
The tour kicked off in Smithers, where Avery delivered a community coaching workshop for seven local coaches — building local capacity so clubs can continue growing biathlon long after the tour rolled on. This was followed by an on-snow biathlon demo with curious and motivated club members, sparking fresh energy and interest in the community.
In Burns Lake, Avery worked alongside coach Karen and saw firsthand the great foundation already in place. Eight participants — most brand new to shooting — learned safe firearm handling and biathlon fundamentals. With supportive coaching and a positive environment, participants quickly gained confidence and left excited to continue.
Next stop: Quesnel. A lively biathlon demo for SDP participants and coaches highlighted just how accessible and fun biathlon can be when introduced in a welcoming setting. Smiles, curiosity, and plenty of “when can we do this again?” moments followed.
In Williams Lake, unseasonably warm and rainy weather damaged parts of the stadium — but it didn’t dampen enthusiasm. A dedicated group still came out to learn and participate, showing the passion that exists for growing the sport even in challenging conditions.
One of the biggest days of the tour came in 100 Mile House, where more than 50 people tried biathlon for the first time. Local media joined in, and reporter Patrick even stepped onto the range himself — helping share the excitement of biathlon with the wider community.
From there, Avery headed west to Tatla Lake, delivering a school biathlon day for elementary and junior secondary students. Fourteen students and staff enjoyed a full day of skiing and shooting instruction. The following day, local ski club members and community participants took part, further expanding access to the sport.
The tour wrapped up in Tweedsmuir Provincial Park, where 75 community members gathered under bluebird skies for a biathlon day and community potluck — a perfect celebration of connection, inclusion, and shared experience.
Impact at a Glance
• 7 coaches supported through community coach education
• 250+ people directly introduced to biathlon across Northern BC
• Students, SDP participants, club members, coaches, and community members engaged
• Dozens of first-time shooters introduced to safe firearm handling
• Strong partnerships built with schools, clubs, and local organizations
What stood out throughout the tour was the spirit of the biathlon community — welcoming, supportive, and eager to invite new people in. This tour showed what happens when clubs, volunteers, and coaches intentionally open doors and create positive first experiences.
By continuing to focus on sport accessibility and community-driven programming, Biathlon BC is growing the sport across the province — one new athlete, one new coach, and one new community at a time.
And honestly, we’re stoked to see how many more people we can get into biathlon next.
Roddy Ward
General Manager
Biathlon BC