January 19, 1998
(Tourism, Culture and Recreation)

1999 games holding first Chef de Mission Seminar

Chefs de mission representatives from the 10 provinces and the two territories of Canada will be in Corner Brook next week for the first of two chef de mission seminars to be hosted by the 1999 Canada Winter Games Host Society. This seminar will run from January 21-25, 1998.

The chefs de mission have nothing to do with cooking. "Chef de mission" is a French term for leader or head of the delegation. The chefs de mission are the coordinators for each Canada Games provincial/territorial team of athletes, coaches, and managers. The chefs are appointed by the provincial/territorial governments and usually work within the sport division for their government. His/her role is to administer and coordinate the team's business, ranging from organizing travel schedules to ensuring athletes and coaches are informed and receive support. They also act to ensure that the host society's preparations are adequate to the team's needs, to represent the team with the host society, the media, and other stakeholders, and to develop logistical and organizational infrastructures for maximum performance by athletes during the Canada Games. To assist in all this, each chef also recruits a number of mission staff, who are usually well experienced in the field of competitive sport.

The chefs de mission meetings serve to act as an early pre games evaluation for the host society. Provincial/territorial chefs de mission provide the host society with direct feedback both prior to and during the event. Chefs play an essential role in the success of the games by identifying problem areas and assisting the host society with practical suggestions on how to resolve them. The host society and the chefs will work together to plan and execute a games that meet the varying needs of participants; all planning, procedures, and policies are designed to ensure that the games are "tuned" to maximizing personal bests for all athletes and teams.

In addition, the host society and chefs will work together on a number of joint projects - care and comfort for provincial/territorial VIP's, the role of VIP's in ceremonies, pageantry, cultural programs, provision of information, liaison to the media, and in accessing provincial/territorial services.

Tex Seaborn, vice chair and vice president sport stated: "The chefs bring extensive experience with them in multi-sport events and like the host society have as their goal the `best Canada Games' possible for all participants. The 1999 host society looks forward to the chefs comments and suggestions and looks forward to working with them to make 1999 a unique and successful event."

The host society's first seminar will consist 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 will update the chefs on the divisions progress to date and upcoming plans.

Jimmy Tee has been appointed the chef de mission of the host Newfoundland and Labrador contingent. Jimmy currently works as a sport consultant for the province. He brings a wealth of experience to the position as he has been on the province's mission staff since 1986 and was chef de mission at the past three Canada Games.

The nation will descend on the western region of Newfoundland from February 20 - March 6, 1999 when it hosts Canada's premier amateur sportsfest.

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