The 31st Annual Paul Sanghera Indoor Soccer Tournament, sponsored by the Vancouver Police Department, was hosted by Windermere on April 8 and 9. The tournament opened with a beautiful rendition of Oh Canada sung by Windermere student Angelika Escabarte.  

The first game saw the Windermere Warriors and The Vancouver Police Soccer Club tie at 1:1. Ten secondary teams from all over the district played in this year's tournament but, it was Churchill that came out on top. David Thompson placed second and Kitsilano took third. The Vancouver Police Department soccer club finished fifth.

The purpose of the annual tournament is to combine sportsmanship with education. Seven $500 scholarships will be awarded, totalling $3500 towards recipients' post-secondary education.

The Tournament was established in 1984 to honour the life of Paul Sanghera, a Vancouver Police Constable killed in the line of duty on January 8^th, 1982.       

Remembering Paul Sanghera

Paul Sanghera grew up in Richmond and went to Richmond High School. He was remembered as a tenacious and keen athlete who enjoyed soccer and played on the Vancouver Police soccer team.

On January 8th, 1982, Constable Paul Sanghera and his partner were working together on patrol, on a snowy night in East Vancouver.

At 1:00 a.m., they stopped to investigate an abandoned car at the side of the road at E. 57th and Argyle Street. They both got out of their marked police car to examine the abandoned vehicle and to look for the registration papers in the glove box. They stood beside the abandoned vehicle and decided that the other constable would return to their police vehicle to call for a tow truck.

As the other constable radioed in the tow truck request, Constable Sanghera remained beside the abandoned vehicle. Without any warning, a pickup truck suddenly came around the corner and lost control on the icy street. The truck struck the abandoned vehicle and Constable Sanghera. The 22 year old Constable died at the scene.

The driver was found not at fault, there were no charges and the accident was blamed on the weather conditions.

His death is commemorated every year at the Paul Sanghera Soccer Tournament in April.