On Art Hawkins and the Founding of Elimination Eights - by Maureen Hogue
Elimination Eights was created in 2002 by a man with a vision. Those of you who knew this man also knew that some of the things he came up with were quite off the wall. Art Hawkins' "vision" for Elimination Eights, though, was simple from the beginning: to create an event that was attended by all that loved Ultimate and to raise funds for charities. In particular, charities focused on cancer research were always on his radar. Although he didn't know that at the time, such charities were going to become of greater importance to him the very next year. That said, most of us are not quite convinced that E8s wasn't simply Art's excuse to to throw a great party... and get a chance to make huge vats of sangria! [Editor's Note: Art's original alternate title for Elimination Eights was "A Really Good Way To Spend A Fun Day Outside Playing Some Spirited Ultimate And Defeating A Team That Has More Players Than Yours"]

While no one else founded it with him and it was known as Art's event every year, it grew large enough that a few "helpers" (other than Spencer the dog) were always rounded up to assist with a barbecue, clean up, lugging Tupperware tubs of floating fruit across the fields, and general field duties. His scheduling of the event was quite good: it was always the July long weekend so how could you NOT come? Ultimate on a sunny day, barbecue, drinks, samosas, sangria, prizes, a Captain Canada appearance and charities getting a huge contribution... beautiful :) Good for him for doing it!

My estimate of the amount of money E8s has raised in its first decade is around $25,000. The team that won and the team that was voted to have the most spirit each got to pick a charity of their choice, with Art making a final third choice. With the exception of one year he always chose a cancer charity. During two of those years of tournaments (2003 and 2010) he was ill, fighting his own battle with the disease. Art died in November 2010, but the fact that the game, his tournament, and his spirit live on would be something he would definitely be proud to see.

UPDATE: In 2011, Kat Louman-Gardner, Marta Taylor and Rob Taylor took over running the tournament in Art's place. When they stepped down following the 2017 tournament, the total funds raised by E8s had topped $50,000, with the last donation from their time as TDs going to Ultimate Canada's Art Hawkins Development Fund. The tournament is now run by Steven Lane and Sarah Truong.
 

Past Winners
 
2022
Winner: Mike's Warriors (The Power of Hope Society)
Runner Up: ?
Spirit Winner: The Von Trapp Family Flingers (Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre Society)
TDs Charity: Cerebral Palsy Association of BC

2019
Winner: Cameron 99 (Alex's Lemonade Stand)
Runner Up: Bandana Cutters
Spirit Winner: 8ndgame (SPCA)
TDs Charity: Learning Buddies Network
 
2018
Winner: Sundays at Jacky's (Doctors Without Borders)
Runner Up: Bananas
Spirit Winner: Bananas (Jumpstart)
TDs Charity: BC SPCA
 
2017
Winner: Sports Fans (Art Hawkins Development Fund)
Runner Up: Banana Cutters
Spirit Winner: Protectors of the Human Race (Wildlife Rescue Society of BC)
TDs Charity: Helping Spirit Lodge Society

2016
Winner: Banana Cutters (BC Children's Hospital)
Runner Up: Phoenix Ultimate
Spirit Winner: Code Breakers (Vancouver Lookout Emergency Aid Society)
TDs Charity: MS Society of Canada

2015
Winner: Banana Cutters (Right to Play)
Runner Up: G-raffe A-ttack
Spirit Winner: Bye Bye Mon Cowboy (The Yes Summer Camps)
TDs Charity: Humanitarian Coalition for Nepal Earthquake Relief

2014
Winner: G-raffe A-ttack (Canadian Cancer Society)
Runner Up: Protectors of the Human Race
Spirit Winner: Protectors of the Human Race (The Elevation Project)
TDs Charity: Ultimate Peace

2013
Winner: Arnold (BC Children's Hospital)
Runner Up: Throbbin Sparkles
Spirit Winner: The Disclexics (BC Learning Centre for Children with Dyslexia)
TDs Charity: MS Society of Canada

2012
Winner: G-raffe A-ttack (Canadian Cancer Society)
Runner Up: The Iron Price
Spirit Winner: S.W.A.G. (Parkinson Society Canada)
TDs Charity: Lenami Godinez Avila Memorial Endowment Fund 

2011
Winner: G-raffe A-ttack
Runner Up: Seven Deadly Spins
Spirit Winner: Not awarded (money directed to Canadian Cancer Society in Art's memory)

2010 
Winner: Seven Deadly Spins (Unicef)
Runner Up: Croak, eh
Spirit Winner: ?

2009 
Winner: Seven Deadly Spins
Runner Up: Likastik ["Winter Olympliks"]
Spirit Winner: Likastik

2008 
Winner: Likastik ["Summer Olympliks"]
Runner Up: G-raffe A-ttack
Spirit Winner: ?

2007 
Winner: Seven Deadly Spins (Emma's Child Care Centre)
Runner Up: Likastik ["Team Sumo"] 
Spirit Winner: Likastik (BC Children's Hospital)

2006 
Winner: Seven Deadly Spins
Runner Up: Likastik ["Team World Cup"]
Spirit Winner: Likastik

2005 
Winner: Seven Deadly Spins
Runner Up: ?
Spirit Winner: ?

2004 
Winner: ?
Runner Up: Seven Deadly Spins
Spirit Winner: ?

2003 
Winner: ?
Runner Up: ?
Spirit Winner: ?

2002 
Winner: ?
Runner Up: ?
Spirit Winner: ?

If you know anything about the history of E8s that you would like to contribute to this page (especially information that can help us fill in all those question marks) please contact us and let us know!