Spring 2015 ALBERTA 55 PLUS FOR ACTIVE ALBERTANS SG_jiAlberta55Plus_MEDOC_AD_Mar2015FINAL.pdf 1 2015-03-12 11:40 AM MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT Greetings everyone, can you believe the great in May. We would spring weather we are having since the Alberta encourage anyone 55 plus Winter Games in Lethbridge? Thanks interested in the to the Alberta Sport Connection, The City of organizational part Lethbridge and their Games Committee, along of our group to with the many volunteers and sponsors, we were plan to attend and able to experience another successful Games. maybe put your Thanks to all who were able to participate name forward to and congratulations to those who were able take on a volunteer to take home a medal. Unfortunately, due to position. the very nice weather and no snow we had to cancel the cross country ski and alpine ski Stay active. events. We do apologize to the participants in those events who did not get to attend the games. Our new focus will be the Alberta 55 Yours in health, plus Summer Games in Strathmore in July. Be sure to check the playoff dates in your zone, for the events you are interested in. Also coming Vernon Hafso very soon is the annual AGM of Alberta 55 plus, President Alberta 55 plus TABLE OF CONTENTS Message from the President ...................... 3 Zone 1 ........................................................... 2 Zone 2 ........................................................... 4 Zone 3 ........................................................... 7 Zone 4 ......................................................... 10 Zone 5 ......................................................... 13 Zone 6 ......................................................... 17 Zone 7 ......................................................... 23 FOLLOW US ON Zone 8 ......................................................... 25 Playoff Schedule ....................................... 26 Zone 1 Qualifying Schedule ..................... 29 Zone 2 Qualifying Schedule ..................... 29 Zone 3 Qualifying Schedule ..................... 29 Zone 4 Qualifying Schedule ..................... 29 Zone 5 Qualifying Schedule ..................... 29 Zone 6 Qualifying Schedule ..................... 29 Alberta 55 plus has a Facebook page. “Like Us” to be kept up-to-date on Zone 7 Qualifying Schedule ..................... 29 upcoming events, interact with friends Zone 8 Qualifying Schedule ..................... 29 across the province, post pictures from Canadian Publication Mail Agreement #4950208 the Games and your events, and just have fun! Be sure to search for “Alberta Return Undeliverable Canadian Addresses to: Percy Page Centre, 11759 Groat Road 55 plus” and find our page! Edmonton, Alberta T5M 3K6 1 ZONE 1 The City of Lethbridge and surrounding ENMAX Centre which was also host to the communities played host to the Alberta 55 Opening Ceremonies. plus Winter Games, held February 19-21, 2015. Preparations for hosting this event began in All of the events with the exception of Alpine 2013 with the Lethbridge 2015 Alberta 55 plus Skiing scheduled for Castle Mountain and Games Society bringing together an energetic Cross-Country Skiing scheduled for Allison group of volunteers. Creek were held in the City of Lethbridge itself. Unfortunately, Mother Nature had ideas of The theme for this year’s games was “Warm her own and the two Skiing events had to be Your Heart” with the Vision “To inspire all cancelled due to lack of snow. The first women’s ages to engage in a healthy lifestyle through soccer event in Games history was held with sport, recreation and culture, while creating teams from Zones 1, 3 and 6 competing. memories, fun, friendships and community spirit”. A logo for the games was designed to Day 1 of the 2015 Winter Games saw all events show the city’s most famous landmark – The High being held at various venues throughout Level Bridge – with the beauty of a snowflake. Lethbridge, with a buzz of activity everywhere. The arms of the snowflake are representative At the end of Day 1, participants were treated of each of the 8 zones participating in the to a special variety show presented at New Games. West Theatre. The Games were started with traditional torch Competition continued through Saturday relay on Wednesday, February 18th at the (Day 2) with many close games and even University of Lethbridge indoor track. Sixteen some tie-breakers. Medals were presented in three-generational groups were invited to badminton, carpet bowling, carts, duplicate share their active living and healthy lifestyle bridge, euchre, five-pin bowling, snooker, stories and from this, multi-generational groups scrabble and table shuffleboard. Soccer, ice were chosen as torch bearers. One family was hockey and ice curling events concluded on a four-generation group – Lorna Vandervalk Sunday. (secretary for Zone 1), Carol Hamilton, Carmen McNamara and Nick McNamara. The torch A special banquet and dance was held on was lit by Lethbridge Mayor Chris Spearman Saturday night at the ENMAX Centre with who circled the track with his family and the entertainment being provided by the Tom and various multi-generational families carried it Curt Band. around the track. The final medal count had Zone 3 in the lead Torch bearers were honoured prior to the with 12 Gold, 10 Silver and 12 Bronze; Zone 1 cauldron being lit at the Opening Ceremonies with 6 Gold, 11 Silver and 10 Bronze; Zone 6 with on Thursday the 19th by George Gemer, 13 Gold, 4 Silver, 3 Bronze; Zone 4 with 7 Gold, national track and field coach and Hall 3 Silver, 6 Bronze; Zone 2 with 1 Gold, 5 Silver, 6 of Fame inductee; Jim Stacey, two-time Bronze; Zone 5 with 3 Gold, 8 Silver, 2 Bronze; Olympian; and Taylor McDonald, 2014 World Zone 8 with 2 Gold, 3 Silver and 2 Bronze; and Junior Champion Curler. Zone 7 with 1 Gold, 1 Silver and 4 Bronze. Over 1100 participants attended the A full list of participants and medalists is participant registration at the Lethbridge available at www.AlbertaGames.com. The 2 ZONE 1 Badminton Players that played in our Zone 1 Playoffs to participate in the Alberta 55 Plus Games 2015 and Ron Kincade that ran the Playoffs in Lethbridge. First row left to right: Gemma Gagne, GOLD 75+; Ann Ceaser, GOLD 75+; Chris Burton, GOLD 55+; Martha Nance, GOLD 65+; Tzako Kinjo,65+; Matt Kurio, GOLD 75+. Second row left to right: Ron Kincade, PLAYOFF COORDINATOR; Dan Perry, GOLD 80+; Marv Kirchner, GOLD 80+; Rick Melvin, GOLD 65+; Jerry Riemann, GOLD 65+; Len Whyte, GOLD 75+; Kent Toone, SILVER 55+. Missing from picture: Sharon Fogtmann, GOLD 55+; Paul Fogtmann, GOLD 55+; Warren Murray, GOLD 55+; and Marc Mousseau, SILVER 55+. Photography Club has provided photos Monday February 2, 2015. This year the two for participants and volunteers for viewing year term of Vice President and Secretary were at www.2015alberta55pluswintergames. up for nomination. Clay Olsen was nominated ca website. These pictures are free for another 2 year term as Vice President, for download for personal use. There accepted and was declared Vice President. are more photos available on the Lorna Vandervalk was nominated for another 2015alberta55pluswintergames Facebook 2 year term as Secretary, accepted and was page. declared Secretary. Zone 1 was presented with the Lieutenant Life Time Memberships are to be presented to Governor Cup which is awarded to the Zone Larry Evans and Al Jackson, both with over 20 showing the greatest improvement from the years of dedication to Sunny South 55 Plus. previous Alberta 55 Plus Winter Games. The Zone 1 Winter Games Rally took place Zone 1 held their Annual General Meeting on immediately following the Zone 1 AGM. 3 ZONE 2 Zone 2 President’s Notes sole objective. To have these two groups in the same competition sets up a questionable The Winter Games have come and gone, and situation. Hopefully this will be addressed when we offer congratulations to the medal winners the review of the senior games is completed. and condolences to the skiing participants that had their games cancelled due to lack of We now turn our energies to the upcoming snow. Summer Games being hosted by Strathmore this July 16 - 19. The playoffs are scheduled Thank you to everyone that came out to make to begin April14th, so be on the look-out for for very successful Winter Games playoffs. The the notices listing the dates for each game’s participation level was up: both in quantity and zone playoff. Check the list for games you are quality. Our zone winners kept us in the middle interested in, and, participation in more than of the pack at the provincial games, bringing one game is encouraged. If you are not into home 1 gold, 5 silver and 6 bronze. competing, maybe volunteering to help at the games might be your choice. The Games For most that attended, it was a socializing are in Zone 2, our Zone, so we want to put all event as well as competition. An interesting efforts into making this the best games ever. note is that the games’ participants consist of Competition is during the game, before and the comradery group that play once a week or after the game look at cooperation as the new less, for entertainment and exercise, and then strategy for survival. This is “Our Time to Shine.” there are the elite players that go out three or more times every week, with winning being the Dave Neustaeter News The playoffs leading up to the games were held in Canmore, Kananaskis, Okotoks, Cochrane, On Saturday, January 31st, we held our Zone Airdrie, Sundre, Carstairs, Drumheller and 2 Pep Rally for the Lethbridge Winter Games Olds. We had great turnouts with 39 bowlers at the South Fish Creek Recreation Complex competing and 14 qualifying for the games. in Calgary. There were about ninety people Sandstone Lanes in Drumheller was a great present at the event and Dave Turnbull gave a venue and Linda Traquair did an excellent great presentation on the games, the venues, job organizing this event. The ice curling was transportation, accommodation, etc.