The following is being distributed at the request of School Sports Newfoundland and Labrador:

Annual general meeting held

School Sports Newfoundland and Labrador held its annual general meeting this past weekend at the Battery Hotel in St. John’s. During the meeting, a number of policies were discussed and changes made to improve the way school sport programs are delivered to the schools in our province. The sport of ball hockey was also added as a new sponsored sport within School Sports Newfoundland and Labrador.

All provincial tournaments for the 2004-05 school year were open for bids at this meeting with schools given the opportunity to bid according to a rotational order. In total, School Sports Newfoundland and Labrador will sponsor 37 island or provincial championships, and declare 45 provincial champions throughout the 2004-05 school year.

The most exciting announcement of the weekend was the funding that has been made available to establish a Junior High Festival of Sport Program within our schools. This new concept, based entirely on participation and sportsmanship, will be launched in the schools starting in the 2004-05 school year.

Elections were held for two positions on the Board of Directors. Dennis Lush was re-elected as Vice-President Administration and Phil Griffiths was re-elected as Vice-President Tournament/Technical. Rosemary Ryan from Stephenville takes on the new role of Vice-President Junior High, and Gerald Wheeler continues his second year in the term as President.

The annual award banquet was held in conjunction with the AGM and all the top student-athletes, coaches, administrators and schools were honored. Paul Shelley, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation addressed the delegates and guests, reinforcing the importance of school sports and government’s excitement over the new Festival of Sport. The minister also presented the Coach of the Year Award, as well as the 3A School of the Year to Baie Verte High, where he once taught.

Media contact: Karen Richard, (709) 729-2795

2004 06 02 3:45 p.m.