Making his name in Canada's official national sport, Gary Gait's play drew the inevitable comparisons to hockey's Wayne Gretzky or basketball's Michael Jordan. A natural scorer who developed a knack for pulling off feats of athleticism not seen by most lacrosse watchers, Gary became the gold - or was that goal? - standard for attackers in the sport.

Whether it was shattering scoring records as a member of the Esquimalt Legion junior box team, scoring an NCAA-record 70 times in leading the Syracuse Orangemen to the 1988 national field lacrosse crown, or being the offensive sparkplug on title-winning Victoria Shamrocks and pro teams, Gary Gait set himself apart from the crowd.

Supported and complemented on the floor by twin brother Paul, he was an oft-unstoppable force from minor lacrosse through junior and at the college level, where the brothers led the Orange to three NCAA crowns. Back home the boys used their prowess on the field to help the Victoria Seasprays win two national championships, but went separate ways upon joining the senior box ranks.

Gary was already well into a successful professional career in the National Lacrosse League (three league titles, multiple league MVP awards) and had won two Mann Cup championships (1991, '97) and two Cup MVP awards (1990, '97) by the time he rejoined Paul for the Shamrocks' 50th anniversary season in 1999. The dynamic duo led the team that year and shared the Mann Cup MVP award as the 'Rocks won Gary's third and last senior box title at Memorial Arena.

Growing up in Fairfield in the 1920s, living life on and around the water was the norm for Alec Merriman. He spent many childhood days frolicking around Gonzales Beach and rowing on Foul Bay. As a youth, his interest in fishing saw him venture out on the waters outside the bay, where he would drop a hand line in the water angling for salmon, or wield a hand-made spear to hunt for rockfish.

He did his best to transfer his love for fishing to his comrades in the Canadian military during the Second World War, as well as to his new bride, Taffy, whom he met while serving overseas. Upon his return, he embarked on a career in newspapers, following in his father's footsteps. Naturally, he took on writing a fishing column, among other reporting duties, for the Victoria Daily Times. As his career flourished, he and his wife found themselves exploring around Vancouver Island, the perfect way to indulge his passion for the outdoors and fishing.

Over the years, his personal and professional experience visiting then-remote spots on the Island, and covering outdoor issues, helped to open up mainline logging roads to the public and create better access to areas off the beaten track. Merriman helped create legacies by successfully lobbying for the creation of provincial parks on the Island and through publication of seven road trip and backcountry recreation books. And the popular King Fisherman contest he instituted in 1960 helped instil a love of fishing in new generations.