Minister announces mission staff for 2005 Canada Games

Tourism, Culture and Recreation Minister Paul Shelley today announced the 18 members of the Newfoundland and Labrador mission staff for the 2005 Canada Summer Games. The games will be held in Regina, Saskatchewan from August 6-20, 2005.

"The Newfoundland and Labrador mission staff will assist our athletes, coaches and managers in a variety of areas over the coming months as they prepare for the upcoming Canada Summer Games," said Minister Shelley. "Mission staff will also play an important role during the games. They will accompany the team to Saskatchewan and provide whatever assistance necessary, including media assistance, family contact and support during the games."

Glenn Littlejohn will again head up the Newfoundland and Labrador team as Chef de Mission while Dave Feener will serve as Assistant Chef de Mission. Other members of the mission staff are: Patti Thorne, Roger McGrath, Michelle Healey, Sherri Wicks, Clayton Welsh, John Hill, Gary Furlong, Kevin Pittman, Jacinta Bruce, Joe Lake, Allan Skanes, Rose Ryan, Diann Hogarth, Peter Hickman, Doreen Hamlyn and Gary Martin.

Team Newfoundland and Labrador will compete in a total of 14 sports at the games and will send a total of 18 teams in athletics, baseball, basketball (male and female), swimming, soccer (male and female), rugby, softball (male and female), tennis, cycling, rowing, sailing, diving and volleyball (male and female). The Newfoundland and Labrador contingent will include 400 people, including athletes, coaches, managers and mission staff.

The Canada Games began in 1967 and Newfoundland and Labrador has been represented in every games since. The province hosted the 1977 Canada Summer Games in St. John's and the 1999 Canada Winter Games in Corner Brook. The games in Corner Brook were our most successful ever with the province winning 19 medals. The games are held every two years, alternating summer and winter and are the largest multi-sport event held in the country. Some 4,000 athletes, coaches and managers will compete at the 2005 Canada Summer Games in Regina.

Media contact: Tansy Mundon, Communications, (709) 729-0928.

Backgrounder
Newfoundland and Labrador Mission Staff
2005 Canada Summer Games

Glenn Littlejohn - Chef de Mission

Mr. Littlejohn is a recreation and sport consultant with the Recreation and Sport Division, Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation. This will be his second time as Chef de Mission. He was the Chef de Mission for the 2003 Canada Winter Games in Bathurst - Campbellton, New Brunswick and previously was the Assistant Chef de Mission for the 2001 and 1999 Canada Games. Glenn brings a wealth of experience and knowledge in the administration and organization of Team Newfoundland and Labrador.

Dave Feener - Assistant Chef de Mission

Mr. Feener is the regional recreation and sport consultant for the Avalon region for the Recreation and Sport Division, Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, and is a four-time member of the Newfoundland and Labrador mission staff. Mr. Feener brings an unique perspective to the games contingent as he has attended the Canada Games as both an athlete and coach. This will be an asset to coaches and athletes as they look for direction and leadership leading up to the games.

Patti Thorne

Ms. Thorne is a recreation and sport consultant with the Recreation and Sport Division, Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation and has previous mission staff experience as Assistant Chef de Mission for the 1999 Canada Winter Games in Corner Brook and three previous mission staff appointments. Patti is the provincial coordinator for the Newfoundland and Labrador Games Program.

Roger McGrath

Mr. McGrath is a program coordinator for the Recreation and Sport Division, Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation and has served on the mission staff for both the 2001 and 2003 Canada Games. He has been involved as a sport volunteer for many years in the city of Mount Pearl and is known for the endless hours of organizational work he has done with soccer and minor hockey in the city of Mount Pearl.

Michelle Healey

Ms. Healey is a service program coordinator at Memorial University of Newfoundland and a former recreation director in the Goulds. She is a three-time member of our mission staff and will assist with communications and media during the games. Michelle is a former Canada Games athlete and has dedicated many volunteer hours to her sport of basketball as a coach and official.

Sherri Wicks

Ms. Wicks is the past president of the Provincial Diving Association and was a former games athlete and manager. Sherri has dedicated many years to the sport of diving and her enthusiasm and energy will make her a valuable member of our mission staff.

Clayton Welsh

Mr. Welsh is a native of Grand Bank and a former president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Soccer Association. He is the regional recreation and sport consultant for the Burin - Bonavista Peninsula and was the Assistant Chef de Mission for the 2003 Canada Winter Games in New Brunswick.

John Hill

Mr. Hill is a member of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary and a former coach, manager and athlete of the province�s Canada Games Program. His strong leadership and knowledge of the Canada Games will be an asset to the Newfoundland and Labrador team as they prepare for the games.

Gary Furlong

Mr. Furlong is the recreation director with the Town of Labrador City and was the sport coordinator for the 1999 Canada Winter Games in Corner Brook and, as well, was involved with the 1999 Pan Am Games. He was a former Canada Games athlete and participated in the sport of baseball. His knowledge in sport scheduling and facility analysis will be a great asset to our team.

Kevin Pittman

Mr. Pittman is an educator and former president of School Sport Newfoundland and Labrador. A native of the Burin Peninsula, Kevin will bring a strong administrative presence to our staff as we prepare for the games in Regina.

Jacinta Bruce

Ms. Bruce, a native of Long Harbour, is a former athlete and coach of our 1997 Canada Games Softball team. A physical education teacher, she brings to our staff knowledge of team preparation and will assist in the area of team travel prior to the games.

Joe Lake

Mr. Lake is a long time volunteer with many sports in the province but is best known for his work in the sports of basketball and softball. He is a former manager of the Newfoundland and Labrador Canada Games basketball team and is chair of the Newfoundland and Labrador Basketball Hall of Fame committee.

Allan Skanes

Mr. Skanes, a native of Corner Brook, has been an umpire in the sport of baseball and is recognized as one of the best in the province. He was a member of the 1999 Canada Winter Games host society in Corner Brook and brings a wealth of experience to the mission team.

Rose Ryan

Ms. Ryan is a board member of School Sport Newfoundland and Labrador representing the Stephenville area. Ms. Ryan has been involved with athletics and was one of the coaches for the western region at the 2000 Newfoundland and Labrador Games in Mount Pearl. Her organizational abilities will be of great value in marshaling the province�s west coast athletes.

Diann Hogarth

Ms. Hogarth is a former manager of the Newfoundland and Labrador athletic team at the1997 Canada Games and has been involved with athletics at the provincial level for many years. A dedicated volunteer, Ms. Hogarth will bring an array of skills and knowledge as the team prepares for the 2005 games.

Peter Hickman

Mr. Hickman is a past president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Volleyball Association, serving the association for seven years. He is a former Canada Games athlete competing in both summer and winter games in 1977 and 1979. He brings expertise to the mission team in the areas of organization and team preparation and looks forward to the challenge.

Doreen Hamlyn

Ms. Hamlyn has been a dedicated volunteer in the rowing community and continues to serve the association in an executive capacity. She was the team manager for our 2001 Canada Games team and her knowledge in the area of transportation will be invaluable as the Newfoundland and Labrador Team prepares for the games.

Gary Martin

Mr. Martin is a former coach for the Newfoundland and Labrador 1999 Canada Games female hockey team and a long-time soccer official in the city of Mount Pearl. He has given endless hours of his time to various organizations and events in the city and his organizational abilities will be a great asset to our mission team.

2004 03 01                                        10:05 a.m.