2019 Canada Winter Games
Blackfalds welcomes Canada Winter Games Torch Relay
Blackfalds, Alberta (January 22, 2019) – Blackfalds is gearing up to welcome the Canada Winter Games as the MNP Canada Games Torch Relay arrives in Town on Tuesday, January 29, now on its final leg prior to the games in Red Deer from February 15 to March 3. We encourage you to join us, with the runners, to celebrate the spirit of the games together.
Six local runners will carry the Torch through the town of Blackfalds on January 29th along with dignitaries from MNP and Canada Winter Games along with Waskasoo, the Games Mascot.
Here’s the schedule at Abbey Centre (4500 Womacks Rd):
Torch Relay – 3:30 pm
Ceremony – 4:30 pm
For the first time in the Canada Games’ 52 year history, the torch will make its way across Canada stopping in nearly 50 communities along the way. The torch relay embodies the Canada Games’ motto of Unity through Sport as Canadians from coast to coast have engaged in torch relay activities in their communities.
Prior to its run through Alberta, the Torch Relay has visited over 20 communities across the nation. The spirit of the torch relay is being shared with Albertans and Canadians to celebrate the significant accomplishments of the torchbearers who are outstanding leaders in youth, sport and community development.
In Blackfalds the MNP Canada Games Torchbearers are:
Heather Buelow, Byron Hackett, Chris Overacker, Robert Thompson, Rachel Weppler and Richard Poole.
For the complete MNP Canada Games Torch Relay schedule and information of torchbearers, please visit www.canadagames.ca/2019/mnptorchrelay.
For further details visit the Town website by clicking here.
Each torchbearer will run between around 200 m to 1km and the torch design is light enough to be carried even by children.
Torchbearer bios January 29 – Blackfalds
Heather Buelow
Heather Buelow has owned Dancer’s Edge Studio for the past 16 years. With over 500 students enrolled at the studio, she enjoys spreading her love of dance and interacting with all the students. The studio is very community driven and you can quite often find them volunteering or performing at different events. Miss Heather gives back to her community whenever possible and loves what the town of Blackfalds stands for.
Byron Hackett
Byron Hackett moved to Red Deer in 2016 and has been welcomed by the sports community with open arms. As the sports reporter at the Red Deer Advocate, Byron has taken great pride in telling the stories of up-and-coming central Alberta athletes and sharing their accomplishments with as many people as possible.
Chris Overacker
Chris Overacker has been involved in his community, Blackfalds, since moving here 15 years ago. He served on the Minor Hockey board for 8 years, where he was President and Coach/Player development representative. Currently, Chris is the President of minor baseball and started AA baseball in Blackfalds; he has coached both for the past 14 years. He has also been a volunteer badminton and basketball coach.
Robert Thompson
Robert Thompson raises his family, and lives and works in central Alberta. He is involved in his four children’s activities including soccer, pond hockey, pee wee football, skiing, 4H, skating and other interests. At 54, Robert’s life changed. After suffering from a heart attack, he saw that he needed to lead a healthier life, so he began to exercise and eat healthier. Through running, he has inspired others.
Rachel Weppler
Rachel Weppler resides in Blackfalds with her husband and daughter. She is a member of the M’Chigeeng First Nation and is a teacher at Ermineskin Elementary School in Maskwacis. Growing up in a First Nations community, Rachel knew she wanted to work with indigenous youth. Since she began teaching at Ermineskin Elementary school, she has been involved with the sports programs.
Richard Poole
Richard Poole has represented the Town of Blackfalds for over a decade as a Councillor and as Mayor. He continues to volunteer at many Town functions and is committed to encouraging sports and volunteerism within his community. Mayor Poole is proud to know many of the citizens who are offering their assistance in the upcoming Games.
Click here for more stories about the 2019 Canada Winter Games.
2019 Canada Winter Games
Red Deer’s Lyn Radford joins new Chair Catriona Le May Doan on Canada Games Council
News release from the Canada Games Council
Hall of Fame Athlete Elected Chair of Canada Games Council Board of Directors
The Canada Games Council (CGC) is thrilled to announce the election of Canadian sport legend Catriona Le May Doan as Chair of the organization’s Board of Directors. Joining Le May Doan in officer positions are Vice-Chair Sean O’Donnell, Treasurer Sheri Somerville and Secretary Lyn Radford.
“I am very excited and honoured to be taking on the role of Chair of the Canada Games Council,” said Le May Doan. “I have been a part of the Canada Games Movement for almost 42 years. The Canada Games were my first multi-sport Games and had a huge impact on my career and I continue to believe in and witness the power of the Canada Games in building sport in our country, but also strengthening our communities.”
A three-time Olympic medallist and icon in Canadian speed skating, Le May Doan is a true champion on and off the field of play. She is a tireless ambassador for the transformational power of sport and a distinguished member of Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame and the Canada Games Hall of Honour.
A Canada Games alum in both speed skating and athletics for Team Saskatchewan, Le May Doan is currently the President and CEO of Sport Calgary. She recently served as Team Canada’s Chef de Mission at the Olympic Winter Games in 2022.
A longtime CGC board member, Le May Doan takes over the reins from outgoing Chair Evan Johnston, who is stepping down after 10 years on the board as he takes on the new role as President and CEO of The Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company in January.
“On behalf of the entire Canada Games family, I’d like to thank Evan for his decade of volunteer service to the Canada Games Movement and his invaluable guidance and mentorship to our CGC Board and staff as Chair of the Canada Games Council,” said Kelly-Ann Paul, CGC President and CEO. “We are thrilled to welcome Catriona at the helm and know her strategic leadership will continue to solidify the foundation of our organization so that the Canada Games strengthen the fabric of our nation from coast to coast to coast.”
“I hope to continue the great work that Evan has done and I thank him for his leadership,” said Le May Doan. “I am looking forward to working with the incredible CGC team and our network of partners for the upcoming Games in St. John’s next summer, and then in Quebec City in 2027, where we will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Games. Together, we will continue to spark greatness in Canadians through the Canada Games.”
Those filling the remaining officer positions have all been on the CGC Board since 2022.
O’Donnell brings extensive executive experience in the federal public service and the Canadian sport system to the Vice-Chair role. Somerville is a business executive, entrepreneur, and award-winning PR consultant, all of which will serve her well as Treasurer. Radford brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in revenue generation for non-profit and sport organizations, as well as a Host Society leadership lens, to the role of Secretary.
The next Canada Summer Games take place from August 8-25, 2025 in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, while the next Canada Winter Games will unfold in Quebec City from February 27 to March 14, 2027.
About the Canada Games Council
The Canada Games Council, a private, non-profit organization, is the governing body for the Canada Games. Held once every two years, alternating between winter and summer, the Canada Games represent the highest level of national competition for up and coming Canadian athletes. The Games have been hosted in every province at least twice since their inception in Quebec City during Canada’s Centennial in 1967. The Games are proud of their contribution to Canada’s sport development system, in addition to their lasting legacy of sport facilities, community pride and national unity. The organization of the Canada Games is made possible through the tireless dedication of local Host Societies and the contribution and support of the federal, provincial/territorial and host municipal governments.
2019 Canada Winter Games
Gift that keeps giving: 35 Alberta non-profits funded through the 2019 Canada Winter Games Legacy Fund
From the Canada Games Council
LEGACIES OF THE 2019 CANADA WINTER GAMES CONTINUE TO GROW
Legacy Fund Society awards legacy funds to not-for-profits across Alberta
The 2019 Canada Winter Games Legacy Fund Society has awarded the financial legacy from the 2019 Games to not-for-profit sport and community organizations across Alberta.
“The Legacy Fund Society is pleased to announce that we have awarded $655,000 in grants to 35 not-for-profit sport and community organizations across Alberta,” said Guy Pelletier, Legacy Fund Society Chair. “The grants support a wide variety of projects across the province. These organizations and their respective projects build on the numerous legacies of the 2019 Games.”
Through a grant application process in early 2021, the Legacy Fund Society received and reviewed funding requests for 200 projects from nearly 150 organizations at a value of over $7.1 million.
“The response to our call for applications was phenomenal. There was no shortage of meaningful and innovative projects,” said Pelletier.
“The 2019 Canada Games in Red Deer were truly transformative and continue to foster meaningful legacies across Alberta,” said Kelly-Ann Paul, Senior Vice-President of Host Relations at the Canada Games Council. “These legacy grants will enrich and uplift organizations and communities as we strive to strengthen the fabric of Canada through the power of sport.”
Requests for funding were reviewed and evaluated based on their alignment with the values of the 2019 Games and distributed in four categories: athlete and coach or official development; infrastructure or equipment development or acquisition; sport development capacity building; and non-sport or discretionary projects.
The following is a listing of the organizations who were awarded funding:
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