T1D Tournament ready for first annual in Vauxhall

Posted on November 12, 2026 by Vauxhall Advance

By Cole Parkinson
Vauxhall Advance

Come this weekend, Vauxhall will see plenty of volleyball players come to town for the first annual T1D volleyball tournament. Looking to support those with Type 1 Diabetes, the T1D tournament will see all of the proceeds going towards diabetes research.

“Type 1 diabetes has been a huge part of my life. I was diagnosed when I was just two years old, and I’ve now been living with it for 26 years. Six years after my diagnosis, my sister was also diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of 17. Diabetes has always been something close to our family, with both of our grandparents having Type 2 diabetes and even our childhood dog being diagnosed with diabetes,” explained Adeline Kress, an organizer of the tournament. “The idea for the tournament actually came after my husband, Owen, and I participated in the STARS Volleyball Tournament. We had such a great time that we started talking about how fun it would be to organize a tournament of our own. As we talked more about it, we realized that if we were going to put the time and effort into hosting something like this, why not make it about something bigger than just volleyball? That’s when the idea of supporting Type 1 diabetes came to life, and the T1D Tourney was born.”

In organizing this tournament, the group is hopeful to not only raise money, but also awareness. With volleyball being such an important sport in Taber and Vauxhall, it made sense to get a tournament put together.

“Having lived with Type 1 diabetes for 26 years, I know firsthand the physical, emotional and mental challenges that come with it. It’s a disease that requires constant attention, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There are no breaks, no days off and no vacations from diabetes. Every meal, activity, illness and even something as simple as the weather can affect your blood sugar. It’s something that is constantly in the back of your mind, even when nobody else realizes it. I’ve been fortunate enough to see some incredible advancements in diabetes technology and treatment throughout my lifetime, but the reality is that there is still no cure,” continued Kress. “We wanted to take something we both love, bring people together and turn it into an opportunity to raise awareness and give back to a cause that has impacted our family so personally. Our hope is that this tournament becomes something we can continue to grow year after year, bringing communities together while making a difference for those living with Type 1 diabetes.”

It may be the first kick at the can for the T1D Tournament, but numbers are strong. Registration closed on Oct. 12, and the tournament saw quite a few teams sign up from all around southern Alberta.

“For our very first year, we’re incredibly excited to have 13 teams registered. We have teams coming from Vauxhall, Taber, Lethbridge, Brooks, and even as far as Nanton. When we first started planning this tournament, we really didn’t know what to expect or how much interest there would be. We had this big idea, but actually watching it come together has been something else entirely,” added Kress. “One of the most incredible parts of organizing this event has been seeing just how supportive our communities are. We’ve had local businesses step up with sponsorships, individuals and businesses donate some amazing items for our silent auction, and volunteers offer their time to help us pull everything together. Not to mention, The Coulee Cafe and Catering and Badlands Bar Services have stepped up in such incredible ways at the very last minute. Their willingness to jump in and help when we needed it most has meant more to us than we can put into words, and we truly can’t thank them enough. It’s honestly been overwhelming in the best possible way. We couldn’t do this without the generosity of everyone who has supported us, and we’re incredibly grateful.”

On top of games being played, the weekend will offer plenty of things to do. On top of the usual tournament offerings, the group says the weekend will bring tons of entertainment from start to finish.

“The tournament itself is only one part of the weekend. We’re also hosting a banquet, complete with a silent auction, entertainment and a presentation about Type 1 diabetes. We really wanted to create an opportunity for people to come together off the court as well, enjoy an evening out and learn a little more about the disease they’re helping support. If people leave the weekend knowing even one thing about Type 1 diabetes that they didn’t know before, we consider that a win.

For something that started as a simple conversation between my husband and me, it’s pretty incredible to see how much it has grown. We’re so proud of what we’ve been able to put together for our first year, and we’re even more grateful for the people who have helped make it happen,” said Kress. “We’re hoping to bring back a little bit of that nostalgic feeling of playing in high school volleyball tournaments. We want the gyms filled with energy, good competition, hype-up music, laughter and, most importantly, people having a great time. We have different divisions to accommodate different levels of volleyball experience, so whether teams are coming out for some friendly competition or looking to take home the win, we hope there’s something for everyone.”

Competing for a tournament win will no doubt be on the minds of many of the teams, but the conversation around diabetes is just as crucial. They have set a total fund goal for the tournament, and hopes are high that they can hit it when all is said and done.

“While we absolutely want everyone to enjoy a great weekend of volleyball, we also hope they remember that they’re playing for something much bigger than a win or a loss. Our goal for this first tournament is to raise $10,000 for Breakthrough T1D, an organization dedicated to advancing research, improving treatments and ultimately finding cures for Type 1 diabetes. Every team that registers, every sponsor that contributes, every volunteer who gives their time, and every person who comes out to support the event is helping us work toward that goal. And it’s not just about helping my sister or me. It’s about supporting the more than 300,000 Canadians living with Type 1 diabetes, along with their families and loved ones who experience the challenges of this disease alongside them,” explained Kress.

At the end of the day, Kress is hopeful this tournament is just another jumping-off point in regard to discussion around diabetes and the challenges it brings. Getting the community together for a great cause and some discussion is a great reason to start this tournament, Kress says, and they are eager to see where it goes in the future.

“Living with Type 1 diabetes can sometimes feel isolating because so much of what goes into managing it is invisible to everyone else. Events like this are a reminder that there’s an entire community of people willing to show up, support one another and make a difference. We hope people leave the tournament having had a great time, made some memories, learned something new about Type 1 diabetes and felt proud to have contributed to something meaningful.

At the end of the day, if we can bring people together through volleyball, raise awareness, support research and have a little fun along the way, then we’ve accomplished exactly what we set out to do. And hopefully, this is just the beginning of something that continues to grow and make a difference for years to come,” continued Kress.

The T1D Tournament runs Nov. 13-15 in Vauxhall.