The 2015 Canada Winter Games came to a close on March 1, with a fantastic Closing Ceremony celebration at the University of Northern British Columbia.
Team BC was proud to be the host province for these Games, the first time the Canada Winter Games have ever been held in British Columbia. After two weeks of incredible athletic accomplishments, community spirit, and cultural pride Team BC athletes, coaches, managers and mission staff headed back to their home communities to share their successes and experiences.
249 athletes showcased their commitment to sport through 88 podium performances including 21 gold, 34 silver, and 33 bronze medals. Team BC was third in the overall medal count behind Quebec with 141 medals and Ontario with 111 medals. The Canada Games also calculate flag points to track the overall team performance not just medal counts. Team BC had 270 points also placing the team third behind Quebec and Ontario.
“We are incredibly proud of our athletes who each contributed to achieving the performance goal of a top three finish,” said Rob Needham, Team BC Chef de Mission. “Our entire team were tremendous ambassadors both on and off the field of play representing Team BC and the province at these home Games.”
141 BC Games alumni were part of Team BC at these Games and represented 57% of the athletes. Of the 88 medals earned, BC Games alumni won (or contributed to) 54 or 61% of Team BC’s medals.
Eleven northern BC athletes won or contributed to 14 medals including a magical run of four medals for Prince George’s Emily Dickson (2012 BC Winter Games) in biathlon in week one, a surprise and well deserved bronze medal for Justin Hampole (2014 BC Winter Games) in figure skating.
Dickson and her three biathlon relay teammates, Claire LaPointe (Prince George), Tekarra Banser (West Kelowna), and Jennah Smailes (West Kelowna) won the gold medal at the Games and they are all BC Games alumni.
“BC Games was a really important stepping stone in my career in biathlon so far,” said Dickson. “To be able to go to that event really set me up well so I was no so overwhelmed when I got to such a large multisport event as the Canada Winter Games. I was able to focus more on my event and definitely learned from that previous experience.”
Outside of the field of play, Team BC athletes showed that they are leaders and ambassador for sport and in their communities. They contributed to the Team BC legacy projects that supported Big Brothers and Big Sisters Prince George and raised awareness to end bullying through the Pink Shirt Day campaign.
The Canada Games Council announced on March 1, that Team BC was chosen for the second consecutive Games as the recipient of the Claude Hardy Award which is bestowed upon the Provincial or Territorial Mission Team that best exhibits leadership, cooperation, integrity and esprit de corps. For the first time ever, the award was shared between two provinces with Team Saskatchewan as the other recipient.
“We could not be more proud of all of Team BC and especially our BC Games alumni,” said Kelly Mann, President and CEO of the BC Games Society. “With Team BC now under the responsibilities of our organization, we can see the tremendous connection and pathway of athletes, coaches, and administrators moving through the sport system.”
Team BC will take part in the 2015 Western Canada Summer Games in Wood Buffalo, Alberta from August 7 to 16. The 2017 Canada Summer Games will be in Winnipeg and the next Canada Winter Games will be held in Red Deer in 2019.