Veronica Palmer wins gold at Karate Canada National Championships, secures spot on Team Canada for PanAm Championship

By Haylee Winger
The Rooke School of Karate is celebrating a major achievement as Veronica Palmer secured a Gold Medal in Kumite (sparring) at the National Karate Championships held recently in Richmond, BC. This victory marks Palmer’s third appearance at Nationals, having previously earned silver in the same division last year. The win also marks her second consecutive year on Team Canada, following her participation in the PanAm Championship in Brazil last year. Palmer’s outstanding performance has earned her an invitation to represent Team Canada at the upcoming PanAm Championship in Paraguay this August.
Palmer, a Second-Degree Junior Black Belt, demonstrated exceptional skill in Kumite, dominating her division to take the top spot on the podium. Her success is a testament to both her personal dedication and the high-level training provided by the Rooke School of Karate.
This year’s competition saw three students from the Rooke School of Karate attend Nationals: Veronica Palmer, along with Vera and Doris Trkulja, both Brown Belts, who were competing for the first time at this prestigious event. While Vera and Doris did not place in their respective divisions, both showcased strong performances and potential for future competitions.
“We are incredibly proud of all the girls and their performances,” said Steven Rooke, owner and head instructor at the Rooke School of Karate. “As a small martial arts school in a small town, to have athletes competing at both national and international levels is a great success for instructors and me personally. It’s pretty cool for a small dojo and a small town.”
Rooke added, “I’ve had a martial arts karate school in Morinville for 19 years. The last few years, we’ve had students interested in participating in competition-level events. We have been a part of Karate Alberta for 9 years, and over the last four or five years, we’ve had several students compete at the national level.”

The Rooke School of Karate is committed to helping students grow in confidence, skill, and discipline—whether they’re training for high-level competition or just starting their martial arts journey. This year’s National Championships were a proud moment for the dojo, reflecting the supportive environment that encourages all students to reach their personal best.
The entire Rooke School of Karate team is excited to support Palmer as she competes for Team Canada at the PanAm Championship in August.
As Palmer prepares to represent the nation on the international stage once again, her journey serves as an inspiration to young martial artists in Morinville and beyond showing that with hard work, dedication, and community support, even athletes from small towns can achieve big dreams.