Gulf Islands Secondary School Improv team won the national championships in Ottawa Saturday night for the first time ever.
Jason Donaldson has been the coach of the GISS Improv team since he began teaching drama at the high school.
In past years GISS has made it to the competition as the Vancouver Island rep or a wild card but never has one of his teams made it to the finals. "I can't believe it, I don't even think it's even completely registered and sunk in yet. It's so overwhelming. Tremendous pride it's out first time making it the finals and we won."
This year his six students ranging from grade 9 to grade 12 made it and managed to win by only 1 point! The students are Kane O'Scalleigh, Fiona Pirie, Shaye Steele, Melanie Gregory-Worsell, Amelia McCluskey and Peter Hoskins.
The Canadian Improv Games are a national theatre competition that started in Ottawa in 1977.
Over the years a number of notable Canadian performers have got their start on the CIG stage including Sandra Oh, Seth Rogan, Alanis Morissette and Tatiana Maslany. Having started in 1977 means that this year is the Fortieth Anniversary of the competition.
Fifteen teams from across Canada compete during the week and on Saturday night five school competed for the championship.