History of The Okee Dokee Tournament
The Sunday Hotel Mixed Slo-Pitch League according to legend, started in 1981 with 6 teams. The Somass, Kingsway, King Ed, Beaufort, and The Arlington Hotels had teams. Fairway Taxi also had a team to drive everyone home after a day on the field. Teams were looking for a place to hang out on Sundays and have a social. This was back in the day when all pubs were closed on Sundays. In 1988 Bob Leyland and his team traveled to Comox to a Tournament called Nautical Days. It was there while his team was sitting around the campfire, the idea came up…..Let’s have a Tournament of our own in Port Alberni on Canada Day Long Weekend. The Okee Dokee Tournament was started the following year.
The Okee Dokee started in July of 1989 with 14 teams attending. The Lucky`s were the first team to win the Tournament. They were a team from Sayward made up of mostly one family….The McLeans. 24 teams entered in the 2nd year, and the 3rd year saw the event grow to 40 teams. It was turning into a great event for the whole community, with all the local businesses benefiting from all the volunteers hard work. From what I understand it has always been run as a Non-Profit event. All the monies raised were in return givin back to the teams in the way of prizes.
Some funds were donated to local charities and groups who volunteered over the weekend of the event. In the early 90`s Arlina Mckenzie with help from Bob Leyland and Michelle Sawyer took over the running of the tournament. For 10+ years Arlina and her team kept up the tradition of The Okee Dokee being a great tournament. Many out of town teams looked forward to the Tournament, and attended annually. In 2005 the League and Tournament were handed over to Mike O’Donovan and his team of volunteers. Mike has carried on the tradition of a well run event with the help of Michelle Jamieson, Wayne Demoskoff, Jack Payne…. and I know I have left out a few……..From all of Us……Thanks to All of You!!
WELCOME TO FUNTASTICALBERNI 2015, and will do our best to keep the tradition going for the community of Port Alberni. We are looking forward to growing the event each year. If you see any of the past tournament directors out and about over the weekend….Thank them for all their efforts over the past years.
To Everyone, from all of us.