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The following is being distributed at the request of 1999 Canada Winter Games Host Society: Chefs gives Canada Games host society passing grade Chefs de mission representatives from the 10 provinces and the two territories of Canada gave the 1999 Canada Winter Games Host Society a passing grade late last month as they held the first of two chefs de mission seminars. The chefs de mission are the managers for each Canada Games provincial/territorial team of athletes, coaches and managers. They ensure that the host society's preparations are adequate for their teams needs, represent their team with the host society, media, and other stakeholders, and help develop logistical and organizational plans for maximum performance by Canada Games athletes. The seminar consisted of a day and a half of venue tours and a day and a half of presentations by each of the 13 divisional vice presidents, who updated the chefs on the divisions progress to date and upcoming plans. The Corner Brook Host Society proved to be flexible in their plans as old man winter dropped a fierce storm into the scheduled day and a half of venue tours. The host society had to rearrange schedules and venue stops and notify volunteers to maximize the limited time frame of the chefs' visit. Andre Gallant, Canada Games Council Director of Sport, praised the performance of the host committee. "If we have that kind of resourcefulness next winter and end up in this situation, we're not going to have any problems," he said. The host society received rave reviews from the chefs de mission. Claude Hardy, chef de mission for Quebec, spoke on behalf of the chefs during the wind down of the seminar and had some very motivating words for the host society, noting they were very impressed with what they experienced during the two days. Like all chefs in attendance, Hardy is a seasoned Canada Games participant, having attended all but one since their inception in 1967, and has represented Quebec as an athlete, coach and chef de mission. Hardy noted that the host society is not trying to reinvent the wheel but is learning from the experiences of others. He applauded their efforts, saying they had the right approach to this mega project. "Planning a Canada Games is very stressful and one of the most important legacies is the human legacy, successfully building a project around the community and the partners," he said. Venues, the equipment, the language services, the presenters, the hospitality, the positive atmosphere, and the leadership skills were all favourably received, as were the plans for remaining games infrastructure. They include the 27 foot high facility to be built in four months to host badminton, rhythmic and artistic gymnastics, and the athlete's bunkhouses which will be transported from the Hibernia Bull Arm Site. The chefs were impressed with the unique cluster of venues where the majority of the 21 sports will take place within walking distance of the athlete's accommodations. The facts that the world-class Marble Mountain skiing venue is 12 minutes drive from the athlete's village and a modern cross country ski park is a 10 minute drive away, were both very well received. Tex Seaborn, vice chair and vice president sport for the 1999 Canada Winter Games, wrapped up the two days saying that the gathering was a great yardstick for the Corner Brook Host Society. Seaborn thanked the chefs for identifying some of the challenges and assisting the host society with practical suggestions on how to resolve them. He added that the kind words from the chefs won't make the host society complacent and the host society looks forward to their return visit for the second chefs de mission seminar in October 22-24, 1998. Tourism, Culture and Recreation Minister Sandra Kelly, congratulated the 1999 Canada Winter Games Host Society on executing a very successful seminar for the chefs. "This marks a significant milestone as the host society gets closer to their dream of staging Canada's most prestigious amateur sport and cultural event - the Canada Games," Kelly said. She praised the efforts of the planning committee and their part in building awareness of the province. "The 1999 Canada Winter Games will give our province excellent national exposure,and will be a wonderful complement to our departmental marketing endeavours," Kelly added. Kelly said that the 1999 Canada Winter Games can indeed serve as a catalyst to entice other organizations or groups, sports events and tourism endeavours to the province. "The 1999 Canada Winter Games, along with other tourism initiatives, can all help ensure Newfoundland and Labrador is not, Canada's best kept tourism secret." The nation will descend on the western region of Newfoundland from February 20 - March 6, 1999 when it hosts Canada's premier amateur sportsfest. Contact:
1998 02 05 10:20 a.m.
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