From broom closet to big league: Kajaks co-founders celebrate 65 years of community track and field

With an all-time roster of 50 Olympians, including reigning world champions Camryn Rogers and Evan Dunfee, the Kajaks Track and Field Club in Richmond has a lot to celebrate at its 65th anniversary gala on Saturday night.

While co-founders Diane and Doug Clement, aged 90 and 93 respectively, are fiercely proud of the high achievers who have carried Kajaks' colours to the world stage, they are most eager to brag about the club's grassroots philosophy that has made winners of the thousands of members over the years.

"Our job as coaches and leaders was to try and create situations in which someone can grow," said Doug. "And that goes from medal winners to the very modest performers, that they create value, they try to be their very best … and create something that carries over into all parts of their lives and their children’s lives and their children to come." 

The Clements, former Canadian Olympic runners themselves, can count multiple Kajaks families with two or three generations of participants.

Diane Clement, former Olympian and pioneer for women in sports, to receive Order of Canada

The club's origin story dates back to 1961, when the newlyweds settled in Richmond and were asked to a meeting in a broom closet that doubled as the office for the city’s recreation director, Eileen Gibson.

"These were the early days of the City of Richmond," Doug said with a laugh. "[Eileen] said, 'Look, if you build a track club, we’ll build you a facility.'"

A Kajaks runner takes the lead at the 2026 B.C. Elementary Track and Field Championships at Clement Track in Richmond. (Brian Cliff/Kajaks)

And so it was that Minoru Park, a former thoroughbred horse racing track and airstrip, became the home of the "Kajaks," derived from the Haida