Mission Staff Chosen for Games
Eighteen volunteers from all walks of life have been chosen as members of the mission staff for Team Nova Scotia in the 2003 Canada Winter Games.
The Games will be held from Feb. 22 to March 8 in Bathurst- Campbellton, N.B. About 320 Nova Scotia athletes, coaches and managers are expected to participate.
"Nova Scotia is unique at the Games because we have the only fully volunteer mission staff in the country," said Rodney MacDonald, Minister responsible for the Sport and Recreation Commission. "We're able to recruit talented, dedicated volunteers who serve the athletes well. In return, they gain friendships, personal growth and the experience of a lifetime."
Mission staff co-ordinate the participation of Team Nova Scotia in each Canada Games. They help prepare athletes, coaches and managers; assist with registration; arrange transportation and provide support throughout the event.
"We've selected a strong team of professional, committed Nova Scotians who have backgrounds in sport and in community leadership," said Pascal Roberge, chef de mission for the 2003 team. "They each bring skills and experience to the group that will ultimately help our athletes perform to the best of their ability."
Mr. Roberge, of Dartmouth, is a territory manager for Nestlé Canada. He served on the mission staff in 1999 and 2001 and has worked with the Canada Games Council.
Assistant chef de mission Russell MacDonald, of Sydney, is a co- ordinator of programs for the Cape Breton-Victoria Regional School Board. He served on the mission staff in 2001 and is preparing to assume the role of chef for the 2005 Summer Games in Regina, Sask.
Mr. MacDonald, Mr. Roberge and their colleagues on the 2001 mission staff were recognized by their peers at the Summer Games in London, Ont., where they won the inaugural Claude Hardy Award. It is presented to the provincial or territorial mission staff who best exhibit leadership, co-operation, integrity and esprit de corps.
The award honours Claude Hardy, a long-serving chef de mission for Team Quebec. He died after the 1999 Games in Cornerbrook, Nfld.
For the 2003 Games, Mr. Roberge and Mr. MacDonald will lead 16 other volunteer mission staff from across Nova Scotia:
- Michael Almond, Hammonds Plains, Halifax Regional Municipality
- Patsy Blais, Sydney River, Cape Breton Regional Municipality
- Michel Caron, Halifax Regional Municipality
- Duncan Cross, Bedford, Halifax Regional Municipality
- Anitra Dagley, Windsor, Hants Co.
- Carol Davis-Jamieson, Dartmouth, Halifax Regional Municipality
- Bette El-Hawary, Halifax Regional Municipality
- Angela Hill, Halifax Regional Municipality
- Bev Hugenholtz, Halifax Regional Municipality
- Glenn Johnston, Halifax Regional Municipality
- Gary Linthorne, Pleasantville, Lunenburg Co.
- Cathy MacDonald, Bridgewater, Lunenburg Co.
- Joseph MacDonald, Dartmouth, Halifax Regional Municipality
- Ed Matchett, New Germany, Lunenburg Co.
- Adèle Poirier, Halifax Regional Municipality
- Phil Redden, Antigonish, Antigonish Co.
Mr. Linthorne, Ms. MacDonald and Mr. Matchett have served as mission staff for previous Games. The 2003 Games will be the first for the other volunteers.
Team Nova Scotia mission staff are overseen by the Canada Games Management Group. The group is the first non-government group in Canada to manage a team in the Games. It is volunteer-driven and works in partnership with sport organizations.
Team Nova Scotia is funded by the Nova Scotia Sport and Recreation Commission. The Atlantic Lottery Corporation sponsors Team Atlantic -- supporting all teams from Atlantic Canada for the 2003 Games.