Lora-Lee Murray isn’t a life-long archer. In fact, the now president of BC Archery and national medalist only started shooting after her daughter picked up the sport.
“For a year-and-a-half, I sat in the background, and then I thought, ‘I want to try that,’” Murray said.
Murray is also set to become an international competitor, when she (hopefully) travels to Nova Scotia later this year to compete at a Pan-American masters event.
The full-time paramedic also finds time to help out with the Quesnel River Archers, in addition to her work as an executive of BC Archery. This is her second year as the head of the provincial organization.
“I just decided, what the heck,” Murray said of her decision to become president of BC Archery.
“They’re always saying that we need to do something and help out, they need voices, so I put my name forward and here I am.”
Murray said one of the priorities for BC Archery in 2022 was to increase awareness and participation for their para-athletes.
“There are not enough opportunities in that avenue, so BC Archery is hoping to start a Paralympic clinic, and try to recruit some new athletes,” she said.
READ MORE: Quesnel archer disappointed after BC Winter Games cancelled
As president, Murray oversees the work of the rest of the executive. Archery in B.C. is divided into indoors, outdoors and 3-D, where archers shoot at targets shaped like animals.
While there were a few archery clubs across the province that were able to adapt to COVID-19, including the Quesnel River Archers, many clubs across were left scrambling.
As Murray was speaking, local junior archers were shooting at the Quesnel River Archer’s downtown range.
“We used our space, made dividers, recruited for outdoors,” she said of the local club’s efforts, adding the club in Prince George was also able to adapt.
“The problem is most of our clubs are based in schools, so when schools got shut down, clubs got shut down.”
Murray was disappointed that the 2022 BC Winter games were cancelled, but hopes the games in Vernon might be able to go ahead in 2023, noting a Quesnel archer, Kayden D’Entremont had qualified for the Cariboo-North East team. Quesnel is set to host the BC Winter games in 2024.
Quesnel will get some practice at hosting archery events, as the city is set to host the 2022 BC Indoor Provincials at the Quesnel Curling Club in April.
“This is our warm-up, hopefully getting the community excited for us,” Murray said.
“(The BC Winter games) are huge for our community.”
Murray encourages everyone to come out and try archery.
“It’s a really diverse sport,” she said.
“You can take it wherever you want, it’s a lifetime sport.”
More information on the Quesnel River Archers can be found on their Facebook page.
Do you know someone in the Quesnel area who is worthy of being called a Hometown Hero? Send your suggestions to editor@quesnelobserver.com to give that recognition.
HOMETOWN HEROES: Top golf instructor returns to Quesnel
Do you have something to add to this story, or something else we should report on? Email: cassidy.dankochik@quesnelobserver.com
@GimliJetsMan
cassidy.dankochik@quesnelobserver.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
