Henri Lorieau Memorial Tournament: Honouring a Legacy Through Baseball and Community
From June 26-29, the annual Henri Lorieau Memorial Tournament returned to WRSSBA, bringing together players, families, volunteers, and the community for a weekend of exciting baseball and heartfelt memories in honour of one of our association’s most beloved past presidents, Henri Lorieau.
The tournament welcomed eight 8U teams from across the Lower Mainland, providing the perfect opportunity to kick off the summer baseball season. For many young athletes, it was their very first tournament experience—a milestone they’ll remember for years to come and the perfect way to begin their baseball journey.
The weekend opened with a special exhibition game featuring our own WRSSBA Challenger Program players. The spirited Girls vs. Boys matchup showcased incredible sportsmanship, determination, and plenty of smiles. Fittingly, the game ended in a tie, giving everyone a chance to celebrate an outstanding season together in front of a cheering crowd of family, friends, and supporters.
One of the many traditions that makes this tournament so special is the atmosphere Henri himself inspired. Every game features a live announcer, bringing excitement to every inning and every big play. In true Henri fashion, each player is given a unique nickname that is used throughout the tournament, creating lasting memories and plenty of laughs. Music filled the park between innings and games, while coaches embraced another beloved Henri tradition by sporting colourful Hawaiian shirts all weekend long.
Off the field, the community came together in full force. The popular 50/50 draw and gift basket raffle generated tremendous excitement, while our volunteer-run concession kept players, families, and fans fueled with hundreds of hot dogs, slushies, and sweet treats throughout the four-day event.
The championship game delivered an unforgettable finish as Mount Seymour edged out Hastings in a thrilling contest that went to an extra inning. It was a fitting conclusion to an incredible weekend of baseball. Following the final out, players from both teams gathered to celebrate the tournament together, proudly wearing fake mustaches in Henri’s honour—a tradition that brought smiles to everyone and perfectly captured the fun-loving spirit he shared with so many.
Beyond the baseball, the tournament once again demonstrated the incredible generosity of our baseball community. Through tournament registrations, generous donations, concession sales, the 50/50 draw, and the gift basket raffle, the event raised more than $11,000.
These proceeds will be shared between two organizations that held special meaning for Henri and our association:
- Challenger Baseball BC
- BC Cancer Foundation
Events like this simply wouldn’t be possible without the dedication of our incredible volunteers and the Henri Lorieau Memorial Tournament Committee. This year’s committee included Henri’s family members, close friends, and WRSSBA members: Julie Lorieau, John Hogg, Carl Sloback, Nicole Lorieau, Mark Lorieau, Chantelle Lorieau, Jordan Broatch, and Gabe Embley. The countless hours they invested before and during the tournament created an unforgettable experience for every player, coach, volunteer, and family in attendance.
A special thank you also goes to the White Rock Parks Department, whose outstanding work preparing the fields helped ensure everything was ready for another memorable tournament.
Thank you to every team, volunteer, sponsor, donor, and supporter who helped make this year’s Henri Lorieau Memorial Tournament such a tremendous success. Henri’s legacy continues to shine, and we know he would have been smiling all weekend long.
If you would like to contribute to the BC Cancer Foundation in honour of Henri Lorieau, you can do so here:
To learn more about the BC Challenger Baseball Program, visit:
