‘It’s a great honour’ – Winnipeg Free Press

Kelly and Sandy Taylor called it one of the greatest feats of their lives.

However, bringing the biggest event on the world archery calendar to Winnipeg wasn't easy.

The six-year process began in Madrid in 2019 and ended last summer in Forks. The Taylors were in Spain to watch their son Austin shoot at the World Youth Archery Championships when Kelly, then vice-president of Manitoba Archery, got the idea that Winnipeg would one day host a global competition.

MICHAELA MCKENZIE / FREE PRESS

Sandy (left) and Kelly Taylor were named this week's recipients of the 2025 Manitoba Archery President's Award for their instrumental roles in bringing the World Youth Archery Championships to Winnipeg last summer.

He shared the idea with other Manitoba parents in attendance, but was met with vocal doubts.

To be fair, Winnipeg has hosted a few national competitions in the past, but this was a completely different beast. Kelly, however, is adamant that the provincial capital is prepared to handle such an event.

“I said, ‘You know, we could do it in Winnipeg,’ and the answer was, ‘No, you can’t do it in Winnipeg. That's too much money, it will never come to Winnipeg. What are you doing?” he said.

“Well, an event that never happened in Winnipeg has come to Winnipeg.”

“An event that has never happened in Winnipeg has come to Winnipeg.”

While others laughed at the idea, Sandy was encouraged by her husband's ambitions. Meanwhile, Winnipeg's economic development and tourism department had completely given up on his idea, and Archery Manitoba and Archery Canada also thought he had hit the bull's eye.

“Why can't we do this?” – Sandy said. “If Virden can host curling, why can’t Winnipeg host a youth archery event?”

More than half a century later, the Taylors' persistence culminated in a successful competition that landed nearly 500 young athletes from 64 countries in Winnipeg in August. For this, they were recently announced as recipients of the 2025 Manitoba Archery President's Award, which recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to archery at the international, national or provincial level.

“Behind every mediocre man there is a great woman,” Kelly said of his wife.

While Kelly served as event chair, Sandy played an integral role throughout the process, serving as volunteer chair, through which she recruited and managed 150 volunteers.

More importantly, she unwaveringly supported her husband, who at some points doubted the feasibility of such a large-scale undertaking. Sandy's voice was a soothing voice during these difficult times, especially when it came time for Kelly to apply to host the event in Winnipeg.

“It’s funny because when I first mentioned it, she was right behind it, and it seemed like every time I expressed doubt, she was always there and pushing,” Kelly said. “She was instrumental in moving this project forward and keeping my vision alive.”

Meanwhile, Kelly said watching the final day of the event was the highlight of his volunteer career.

The 2025 World Youth Archery Championships were originally supposed to be a four-day event with more than 560 athletes competing, but a looming Air Canada strike forced dozens of competitors to pull out days before the competition began. The turbulence infuriated event organizers, who rushed to reconfigure the event and turned the tournament into a two-day event.

“I've seen the ups and downs from a 'Let's do this' standpoint, and then when it happens, it's crazy because the Air Canada strike really threw a wrench into the schedule. But I've also seen the commitment,” Sandy said of her husband, noting that they barely saw each other that week as they were both working nonstop.

“Throughout those six years, from start to finish, it was rewarding to see the dream he was pushing forward come true when he saw her standing that day in Forks.”

Kelly added: “What struck me most was that in this world, where we have such divisions now at the archery range, those divisions completely melted away. Belarusians were shooting next to Israelis. People from Japan were shooting next to people from Thailand, and everyone was just enjoying archery and not even thinking about any politics, which the world really doesn't need right now.”