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The Official Team Newsletter for the 2007 Jeux du Games March 2006 Welcome from the Chef de Mission ~ Blair McIntosh

elcome everyone to Team Ontario 2007. I am very honoured and excited to have been selected as the Chef de W Mission for Team Ontario at the 2007 Canada Winter Games. The are this country’s premier multi-sport event. It will be the first time in the history of the Games that they will be hosted in a Territory. The City of and the is well on their way to organizing a historic and successful Games on Vision Statement behalf of our country. Yukon people are proud to be hosting the 2007 Canada Winter Our goal as Team Ontario is to provide each and every one of our athletes, coaches Games, celebrating excellence, our northern cultures and traditions, and managers with an incredible experience at the Games. We will strive to assist our and creating lasting legacies for participants in any way possible so that they can perform to the best of their ability, the benefit of future generations. with dignity, humility, fair play and a feeling of pride in representing our Province in the pursuit of the Canada Games Flag. Over the next 11 months our Mission Staff Be sure to visit the Canada will put forth an incredible amount of volunteer time and energy in preparation for Games Council’s website: these Games. We will keep you updated on the selection of our teams, stories of our www.canadagames.ca athletes, facts about the history of Ontario athletes and their athletic careers, schedules and many other facets of the Games. And the Whitehorse website: www.2007canadagames.ca I look forward to communicating with everyone on a regular basis on the planning and organization of Team Ontario 2007. Please send your comments and articles to the Team 2007 TEAM ONTARIO MISSION TEAM SPORTS Ontario Communications Mission Staff Week 1 Week 2 Committee at: John Sims Speed Skating [email protected] Dave Saad Shooting Squash

Christine Craig Judo Michelle Comeau, Chair Guy Napert-Frenette Laura Jarvis NAP NAP-Alpine Cheryl Finn Wendy Morgan Curling (Women) Figure Skating Marc Seguin Kellie Hinnells Ringette Gymnastics John Sims Guy Napert-Frenette Curling (Men) Erin Hamilton Free Style Skiing Wheelchair Basketball Cheryl Finn Synchro Swim Table Tennis Marc Seguin Hockey (Men) X-Country Skiing Steve Sevor Snowboarding Boxing Jill White Badminton Hockey (Women) Stephanie Johnston Biathlon Heather Ambrose Archery Fencing

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The Whitehorse 2007 Canada Winter Games Venues VANIER CATHOLIC SECONDARY SCHOOL Alpine: 330 or 340 metre vertical drop on Dan’s Descent 16 Duke St. Snowboarding: Half-Pipe and Parallel Giant Slalom on Mogul Shooting and Fencing Run Hardwood gym floor – 17m x 35m Distance From Athletes Village: 18 km (22 minutes) Operated by the Government of Yukon, Department of Education Upgrades: Distance From Athletes Village: 8 km (18 minutes) Snow making extended to top of Dan's Descent Upgrades for Shooting: New or expand chalet Construct firing points and back stops (all portable) Convert maintenance facility into temporary ski storage, wax- Increase target lighting to 1000 LUX ing, and tuning Temporary mobile units to house officials and volunteers PORTER CREEK SECONDARY SCHOOL lounges 1405 Hickory St. Tents for athletes, coaches, and volunteers warming Wheelchair Basketball and Archery Alpine: Wheelchair: 25.8m x 44m gymnasium widening and levelling on upper portion of race course Archery: 25.8m x 44m gymnasiums with 10 double shooting lanes Freestyle: measuring 160cm wide 1 new run for moguls, levelling and steepening work for aerials Operated by the Government of Yukon – Department of Education Snowboarding: Distance From Athletes Village: 5km (10 minutes) Development of a half-pipe Upgrades for Wheelchair Basketball: Operated by the Great Northern Ski Society New score clock with 30 second clocks Proposed upgrades to portable bleachers/seating GREY MOUNTAIN Grey Mountain Dr. CANADA GAMES CENTRE Biathlon 200 Hamilton Blvd. Trails ranging from 1km – 5km Artistic Gymnastics, Badminton, Fig- Distance From Athletes Village: 12 km (20 minutes) ure Skating, Hockey, Ringette, Judo, Upgrades: Speed Skating - Short Track, Synchro Continued maintenance & minor upgrades Swimming and Table Tennis A parking lot (minimum 50 stalls) to be developed Operated by the City of Whitehorse Wax testing area Distance From Athletes Village: 3 km Spectator area with seating needs to be developed (7 minutes) MT. McINTYRE RECREATION CENTRE Sports Places Details 1 Sumanik Dr. Artistic Gymnastics Fieldhouse 1 Curling and Cross Country Skiing Curling - Eight (8) sheets of ice Judo Fieldhouse 2 (2) side by side 8 m. x 8 m. fighting surfaces total- Cross Country Skiing - 1.5 km, 2.5 km, and 7.5 km loop ling 26m. x 14m. includ- Operated by the City of Whitehorse ing safety area Distance From Athletes Village: 3.5 km (9 minutes) Upgrades for curling: Badminton Fieldhouse 2 Cameras & monitors far end of 8 sheets of ice Synchro Swimming Pool 8 lane pool, 25 m. x 17.5 Upgrades for Cross Country Skiing: m general improvements and widening of trails water temperature be- more meeting/lounge space for athletes, coaches and officials tween 26°C and 29°C temporary trailers for ski waxing and storage Short Track Olympic Ice 100’ x 200’ ice surface good quality PA system Speed Skating improve course markings Figure Skating Olympic Ice 100’ x 200’ ice surface spectator viewing area & public washrooms in stadium

Hockey Regulation Ice 200' x 85' ice surface TAKHINI ARENA Ringette Regulation Ice 200' x 85' ice surface 345 Range Rd. Events / Sports: Hockey and Ringette ice surface 200’ x 85’ BETTER BODIES CENTRE Venue Fact: Operated by the City of Whitehorse 122 Industrial Rd. Distance From Athletes Village: 2 km (4 minutes) Squash Upgrades: Playcon built courts End of period goal lights Distance From Athletes Village: 3 km (7 minutes) Additional referee room Privately Owned Additional plug ins in dressing room

MT. SIMA F.H. COLLINS SECONDARY SCHOOL Mt. Sima Rd. 1001 Lewes Blvd. Freestyle Skiing, Alpine Skiing, Snowboarding Freestyle: Moguls - 200 m. with 24° + 1-2°; Aerials - 155 m. (Continued on page 3) Page 2 Team Ontario 2007

The Whitehorse 2007 Canada Winter Games Venues

(Continued from page 2) Distance From Athletes Village: 6.5km (15 minutes) Upgrades: New Oval being constructed Events / Sports: Long Track Speed Skating and Boxing Long Track Speed Skating: 400 m. outdoor skating oval track, 5TH ARENA 182m. x 70 m. track dimensions, 7 – 10 cm. Ice thickness (natural Shipyards Park, 2nd Avenue ice with snow beams around outside circumference) Events / Sports: Men’s Hockey Boxing: 24 x 24 ring including apron Ice surface 200’ x 85’ Operated by the Government of Yukon – Department of Education Canada Games 2007 Mission Staff Profile ~ Marc Seguin Marc Seguin joins Team Ontario as a rookie member for the Now residing in Bolton, Ontario with his wife Angelina, Marc 2007 Canada Winter Games Mission Staff. is currently working with the Ministry of Health Promotion – Sport and Recreation Branch as a Sport and Recreation Con- Marc has been an active participant in sport all his life partici- sultant to develop the Quest for Gold Program. The program pating in a variety of sports as an athlete, coach and administra- will provide direct financial assistance to athletes, enhanced tor. Over the past few years he has had the opportunity to be a coaching opportunities and enhanced training / competitive part of many opportunities for Ontario’s armature athletes.

After graduating from Brock University with a bachelor of In his spare time he competes in , soccer, volleyball, Sport Management Degree, Marc has spent the past six years golf and basically anything else that comes his way. Marc is working with in the Canadian Sport System. After spending extremely excited to be part of the team and looks forward to two years working with Athletes CAN providing athletes ser- the opportunity of working with all members of team Ontario vices and developing athlete forums, Marc moved to Vancou- to make the 2007 Canada Winter Games a great experience for ver to join the ESTEEM Team program in a bid to launch Can- all. He will be Mission Staff for the sports of Men’s Ice ada 1st National Athlete Speakers Bureau in conjunction with Hockey and Cross Country Skiing in addition to his role on the 2010 Legacies Now and the 2010 Vancouver Olympic bid. Communications Team.

The Mascot Story of the 2007 Canada Winter Games On the cool crisp evening of January 25, 2005, something different happened: an Elder stood on a frozen lake checking traps. He looked up and saw three stars shining brightly on the horizon. He was fascinated by the Northern Lights dancing joyfully across a clear blue winter sky. Although always stunning, the lights were mysteriously distinct that night. Three very bright colors lit up the northern sky and a slight noise could be heard in the distance. “I wonder what that could be?” said the Elder out loud as he searched the snowy surface. As he turned around, he found himself gazing at three tiny whimpering husky puppies. They sat illuminated by the three shining colors of the Northern Lights. The purple, green and blue glittering streams of light had delivered the unique puppies as a gift to the earth.

The Elder took the puppies underneath his parka to keep them warm. He knew that these furry critters were given to us by the Northern Lights and they were too important for him to keep for himself. He sent each puppy to a dear northern friend of his. He trusted that they would be trained to cherish friendship, sportsmanship and willpower, the three qualities needed for them to fulfill their destiny. One grew up in the Yukon, one in the and one in . Although they were sad to be separated, the puppies took full advantage of their surroundings, knowing that one day they would be together again.

Day after day, they learned about the different cultures of their respective territory. Soon the huskies were the most athletic, friendly and intelligent creatures ever having been sent from the sky. Almost a year after they appeared to the Elder on the frozen lake, they were ready to reunite in order to spread the word about the great events that will soon unravel north of the 60th parallel.

Today, the huskies wear traditionally designed northern parkas and put a face to the three northern Canadian territories hosting the 2007 Whitehorse Canada Winter Games. Promoting courage, strength and kindness, the three Canada Games dogs will begin the journeys they were born to pursue. The Northern Lights will guide them as they use the skills taught to them by the northern people. Over both tundra and land, climbing mountains and crossing frozen lakes, they will deliver their message in person to communities throughout the North. With their friendship for each other and for all creations of nature, their sportsmanship and their incredible willpower, they will proudly represent the Whitehorse 2007 Canada Winter Games.

*The story of the three 2007 Canada Winter Games mascots is an amalgamation of short stories composed by very talented local northern school children.* Team Ontario 2007 Page 3

Canada Games Alumni Well Represented at Olympics Canada Games Alumni represent 52% of the athletes that will compete for the Canadian team at the in Turin, , in sports that are on the Canada Games program.

The fact that over 50% of the athletes competing in the Olympic Games in the sports on the Canada Games program have been to this Canadian multi-sport event before indicates how important the Canada Games are in the development of Canada’s next genera- tion national, international and Olympic champions, and how they fulfill the role the Canadian Sport Policy gave them. Overall, 74 Canada Games Alumni are in Turin at the moment and many of them are contenders for Olympic medals.

“Every second year, the Canada Games are well represented at the Olympics, generally accounting for close to a third of the total number of athletes on the Canadian team,” says Sue Hylland, President and CEO of the Canada Games Council. “When taking only those sports on the Canada Games program into consideration, this number generally escalates to close to 50%.”

As the percentage of alumni on Olympic teams continues to rise, it highlights how important the Canada Games can be in the development of our Canadian elite athletes.

Among the most renown alumni in Turin are Canadian Figure Skating Champi- ons Emmanuel Sandhu (1995), Canadian freestyle Skiers Deidra Dionne (1999), bronze medalist at the 2002 Olympic Games, and teammate (1999), and NHL player Chris Pronger (1991).

As the Canadian female hockey team worked to defend its Olympic title, it is comprised of 15 Canada Games Alumni, including (1995), (1991), (1995), (1995, 1997), (1999), Kim St-Pierre (1997), (1991), (2001), (2003) and Canada's flag-bearer for the opening ceremony (1985). Katie Weatherston shows off her gold medal at a recent In Speed Skating, the Canada Games will also be well represented, with many Canada Games Day in Thunder Bay. medal contenders. In in 2002, (1995, 2001), Éric Bédard (1995), Jonathan Guilmette (1995), Alanna Kraus (1991) and François-Louis Tremblay (1999) had all won medals, and they are back looking for more hardware. Many other skaters are expected to do well, including Canada Games Alumni Steven Elm (1991), Kristina Groves (1995), Michael Ireland (1991) and Shannon Rempel (1999).

Athletes aside, the Canadian delegation in Turin consists of alumni who have been to the Canada Games either as coaches, managers or mission staff members. Along with these 74 Olympic athletes are 15 Olympic coaches, 12 members of technical personnel and 11 Canadian team mission staff. (BOLD denotes Team Ontario Alumni)

Whitehorse, Yukon

Yukon Quick Facts: Yukon has a population of just over 31,000 people today Yukon dates back as far as the last Ice Age (approx. of which 22,000 reside in Whitehorse. 50,000 years). Whitehorse is the third largest city in Canada by area. Gold is 19 times heavier than water. The floral emblem of the Yukon is the Fireweed. The Dempster is the only public highway in North Amer- The official tree of the Yukon is the sub-alpine fir. ica to cross the Arctic Circle The Yukon Territory is large enough to hold the states of Whitehorse experiences annual temperature average daily California, Arizona, Delaware and West Virginia. lows of −22 °C in January. Record high temperature was The famous Yukon River is 2,200 miles (3,520 km) long. 34 °C in June 1969 and the lowest was −52 °C in January This is the home to fourteen First Nations, speaking eight 1947. Whitehorse has little precipitation with an average different languages. Gwich'in, Han, Upper Tanana, North- annual snowfall of 145 cm and 163 mm of rainfall. ern Tutchone, Southern Tutchone, Tlingit, Tagish and Although he grew up mostly in Dawson City, Canadian Kaska. Yukon First Nations’ rich culture and history in author Pierre Berton was born in Whitehorse.

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