187 BC Games alumni featured on Team BC for 2015 Western Canada Summer Games
Author: BC Games Society/Thursday, July 23, 2015/Categories: 2015 News, Alumni
British Columbia is sending a contingent of 427 athletes, coaches, managers, and mission staff to the 2015 Western Canada Summer Games in Wood Buffalo, Alberta. BC Games alumni feature prominently and represent 44% of the team. 138 athletes have previously competed at a BC Winter or BC Summer Games with an additional 28 coaches, 12 managers, and 9 mission staff members who are also alumni. Every alumnus brings with them the valuable experience of previously competing at multi-sport Games.
Canoe Kayak athlete Alex Brent (Dewdney) was named as the Team BC flag bearer for the Western Canada Summer Games Opening Ceremony. Brent competed at the 2012 BC Summer Games in Surrey for the Fraser Valley (Zone 3) and won an astounding seven medals.
“The BC Games were a stepping stone for me,” said Brent. “It was my first multi-sport games that I competed in and laid the framework for me to compete at the Canada Summer Games the following year and now the Western Canada Summer Games.”
The BC Winter and BC Summer Games are the first multisport experience for young athletes in British Columbia and it is an important stepping stone to competitions like the Western Canada Summer Games, Canada Games and ultimately the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
At the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, 74 athletes on Team Canada had previously competed at the BC Games or for Team BC. Evan Dunfee (Richmond) who won gold in race walk, is a 2004 BC Summer Games and 2007 Western Canada Summer Games alumnus. Emily Overholt (West Vancouver) won three medals at the Pan Am Games in swimming and is an alumnus of the 2010 BC Summer Games and the 2013 Canada Summer Games.
BC Games alumni, who are part of Team BC, will be presented with a special recognition card and pin at the 2015 Western Canada Summer Games to symbolize their significant achievement.
“The BC Games Society is incredibly proud to have played a role in the development of these athletes,” said Kelly Mann, President and CEO of the BC Games Society. “The depth of Team BC speaks to the strength and coordination of the British Columbia sport system. We look forward to seeing the results of our BC Games alumni in Wood Buffalo.”
Follow all the news, results, and stories from Team BC at the 2015 Western Canada Summer Games at www.teambc.org