When Viiu Kanep first started playing volleyball in Canada after emigrating from Estonia during World War II, there were nine players a side and you could touch the ball twice in a row. “It's incredible to see the standard of volleyball that is now played at the university level — it's grown by leaps and bounds. It's been wonderful to play a role in the development process,” she said.
In recognition of her outstanding commitment to volleyball, women's athletics and the entire Faculty, a new scholarship in women's volleyball has been named in her honour.
An outstanding intercollegiate athlete in both archery and volleyball, Kanep was also involved in every imaginable intramural sport, from basketball to bowling. A leader both on and off the court, Kanep served on the Women's Athletic Directorate and upon her graduation in 1962, she was selected as the inaugural winner of the Benson Award, which is presented to a graduating student for outstanding ability in athletics and scholarship. In 1991 Kanep's tremendous athletic career was recognized with her induction into U of T's Sports Hall of Fame.
Her success in sport outside of the Varsity Blues is equally worthy of mention. Kanep was a member of six national championship volleyball teams and was a national-level referee in both volleyball and basketball. She continued to be heavily involved in sport as a teacher in the Peel secondary school system until her retirement in 1996.
As an alumna, Kanep has been an incredible resource to the Faculty, serving on various committees and boards, including a term as president of the Women's T-Holder's Association from 1986-89. “U of T was so good to me as an undergrad”, she said. “I did every sport you possibly could and enjoyed it so much. I wanted to be involved as an alumna to make sure others had the same experience I did“.
(This article appeared originally in the fall 2004 issue of “Pursuit”, a publication of the Faculty of Physical Education and Health, University of Toronto, and is reprinted here with permission.)