John Long, Club President
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John started playing volleyball in his native Switzerland. In Canada, his playing experience includes setting for the U of T Varsity Blues, playing in the Ontario A/AA leagues, and, finally, competing at the Golden Masters level in the USVBA National Championships.
After graduating from the University of Toronto, John taught physical education for 31 years in Etobicoke Middle Schools, coaching numerous volleyball, track & field, cross-country championship teams before retiring in 1998.
John and his wife, Valerie, founded The Etobicoke Volleyball Association - Toronto West in 1969. Since then, John and Val spent much of their life managing the club and coaching male and female teams from Age Division 12U to Sr. AA calibre. John's program of effective club funding has made it possible for Toronto West to maintain membership fees at a reasonable level during times of escalating costs.
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Over the past decades, John has also served on the OVA Region 5 Board of Directors, conducted clinics for referees, and officiated at competitions ranging from local to international levels of play.
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In 2015, John and Val were inducted into the Ontario Volleyball Association's Hall of Fame. In 2016, Valerie retired from volleyball due to declining health.
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While still coaching the WINGS (15U Girls), John's focus is presently on administration and elite club development with the help of his son Byron and the dedicated T-WEST volunteers and coaching staff.
Kay Zala
Kay is a Director of the Toronto West Volleyball Club and serves as Corporate Secretary. Kay has a BSc and extensive experience in the screen printing/apparel retail business since 1970. Over the past decades, Kay has also served as T-WEST Equipment Manager. Kay continues to lead an active life of leadership in Seniors' wellness programs in the Mississauga Indian Community.
George Kenins
George has served as the Toronto West Volleyball Club's Vice-President since 1983. George has been a key contributor to the club's success over the past forty years. During the earlier years, George was one of the Toronto West's top left-handed setters, and later on a successful coach for many of our youth teams. George also served the community as a inspired high school volleyball coach and music teacher at Richview CI. Over the years, George has also excelled in the Latvian Community as a Concert Cellist, a renowned Composer, Orchestral Director and presently as International Cultural Ambassador for Latvia.
