Tourism, Culture, Heritage, Sport and Consumer Protection Minister Ron Lemieux and Jeff Hnatiuk, president and CEO, Sport Manitoba, today welcomed home Team Manitoba and praised their efforts at the Canada Winter Games in Prince George, B.C.
“It’s always inspiring to see our athletes train so hard for these competitions and proudly represent our province at the games,” Minister Lemieux said. “We look forward to hosting the Canada Summer Games in 2017 so we can show the rest of the country Manitoba truly is where Canada’s heart beats.”
“The Canada Games has a tremendous, positive impact on sport and personal development and as such are a high priority for us,” said Hnatiuk. “We look forward to watching our team succeed not just in future national/international competition, but in life.”
Manitoba finished in sixth place at the Canada Winter Games with 16 medals, consisting of six gold, three silver and seven bronze. This includes a double gold win from archer Keenan Brown, in addition to wins in men’s curling, ringette, long-track speed skating and target shooting. Jesse Bachinksy brings home a silver and bronze medal from para cross-country skiing and the judo squad collected an impressive haul of seven medals.
Brown carried the flag into the games for Team Manitoba, leading a contingent that included 209 athletes, 70 coaches and managers, and 21 mission staff. Willem Pops, a silver-medal winning athlete from judo was the province’s flag-bearer for the game’s closing ceremonies.
Winnipeg will host the 2017 Canada Summer Games from July 28 to Aug. 13. The 2017 Games will celebrate its 50th birthday the same year Canada celebrates its 150th anniversary of Confederation. The first Canada Games took place in Quebec City in 1967.
