Michelle Healey, director of athletics with Memorial University, has been appointed Chef de Mission for Team Newfoundland and Labrador for the 2011 Canada Winter Games, taking place February 11-27, 2011 in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

The Honourable Terry French, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, said this is the first time a chef de mission has been selected from outside the department. The move is designed to encourage more stakeholder partnership in the delivery of Provincial Government recreation and sport programming, which is among the goals identified in the province�s recreation and sport strategy, Active Healthy Newfoundland and Labrador.

"Being named chef de mission is quite an accomplishment," said Minister French. "With the previous experience Ms. Healey gained in her role as assistant chef de mission at the 2009 Canada Summer Games, and in her current position as the director of athletics with Memorial, I have every confidence she will lead Team Newfoundland and Labrador to great success at the 2011 Games."

Minister French has also named two assistant chefs de mission; Glenn Littlejohn, recreation and sport consultant with the Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, and Rod Snow, manager and high performance director with the Newfoundland and Labrador Sports Centre.

"As assistant chefs de mission, both Mr. Littlejohn and Mr. Snow will play an essential role in providing support and guidance to the province�s elite athletes as they compete in the Canada Games," said Minister French "This is also the first time two assistant chefs will join the chef de mission to make up the leadership of the mission staff. By adding a second assistant chef, whose primary focus will be on the preparation and training of the athletes and teams, we are providing the means for enhanced performance at the games.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Government is currently seeking 18 volunteers to become members of the mission staff. Working with Tourism, Culture and Recreation officials, mission staff will be responsible for all aspects of preparing Team Newfoundland and Labrador for the 2011 Canada Winter Games.

The Canada Games were established in 1967 and Newfoundland and Labrador has been represented at every event since. The games are held every two years, alternating summer and winter. The province hosted the 1977 Canada Summer Games in St. John's and the 1999 Canada Winter Games in Corner Brook.

Applications must be submitted by January 8, 2010.

For more information about the 2011 Canada Winter Games, visit: www.canadagames2011.ca/en/home/default.aspx

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Media contact:

Heather May
Director of Communications
Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation
709-729-0928, 697-5061
heathermay@gov.nl.ca 

Rod Snow, Assistant Chef de Mission
Mr. Snow is a former professional rugby player who played with the Canadian National Rugby Team from 1992 to 2007. In 2005, he returned to the province as a member of the Newfoundland Rock in their national championship winning season. He is currently the manager and high performance director for the Newfoundland and Labrador Sports Centre. Mr. Snow previously worked as the project manager on all phases of planning and construction of Newfoundland and Labrador Sports Centre. In addition, he was responsible for developing the province�s first high performance strength and conditioning program for Canada Games athletes in preparation for the 2009 Canada Summer Games. Mr. Snow has a bachelor of physical education and athletics from Memorial University.