Tourism, Culture and Recreation
June 30, 2010

2011 Canada Winter Games Mission Staff Named

An 18-member mission staff will guide more than 300 provincial athletes as they prepare for the upcoming 2011 Canada Winter Games, being held February 11-27, 2011, in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

"The members of the mission staff will work together to assist Team Newfoundland and Labrador's young athletes as they prepare to compete in the country's premier amateur athletic competition," said the Honourable Terry French, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation. "The time, effort and support these volunteers put forth will no doubt play an important role in the team's experience at the games."

The team will be lead by Chef de Mission Michelle Healey of St. Joseph's, St. Mary's Bay, along with Assistant Chefs de Mission Glenn Littlejohn of Bay Roberts and Rod Snow of Mount Pearl, who were named to the positions late last year. Other members are Karen Sherriffs of St. John's, Dave Feener of St. John's, Gary Martin of Mount Pearl, Ellis Coles of Paradise, Dave Tilley of Conception Bay South, Jamie Jewers of Little Heart's Ease, Barry Jenkins of Conception Bay South, Allison Sturge of St. John's, Trevor Paine of Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Denise May of Corner Brook, Laura Cole of Outer Cove, Mike Summers of St. John's, Roger McGrath of Mount Pearl, Holly Grant of St. John's, and Brian Ash of Conception Bay South.

Held every two years, alternating summer and winter, the Canada Games were established in 1967, and Newfoundland and Labrador has been represented at every games since. The province hosted the 1977 Canada Summer Games in St. John's and the 1999 Canada Winter Games in Corner Brook.
For more information about the 2011 Canada Winter Games, visit: www.canadagames2011.ca/en/home/default.aspx

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Media contact:
Debbie Marnell
Communications Specialist
Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation
709-729-0585, 699-9048
debbiemarnell@gov.nl.ca

BACKGROUNDER

2011 Team Newfoundland and Labrador Mission Staff

Michelle Healey (Chef de Mission)
Michelle Healey is a graduate of Memorial University with both a bachelors (honours) and masters of physical education. From 1991 to 1996, she was a dedicated member of Memorial University's Sea-Hawks women's basketball team. In 1989, she played with Team Newfoundland and Labrador's basketball team at the Canada Summer Games in Saskatchewan. Since 1999, Ms. Healey has been a volunteer member of the Team Newfoundland and Labrador mission staff and, excluding the 2007 Canada Winter Games in the Yukon, she has attended all the Games since that time. Ms. Healey was appointed Assistant Chef de Mission for the 2009 Canada Summer Games in Prince Edward Island. Ms. Healey is currently the director of athletics at Memorial University.

Glenn Littlejohn (Assistant Chef de Mission)
A recreation and sport consultant with the Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, Glenn Littlejohn has been involved in the Canada Games Program for more than 28 years, including 10 years directly involved in the overall co-ordination of Team Newfoundland and Labrador. As an athlete, he represented Newfoundland and Labrador in softball at the 1981 Canada Summer Games in Thunder Bay, Ontario. In 1989, he coached the province's female softball team at the Canada Summer Games in Saskatchewan. In 1993, Mr. Littlejohn was appointed to Team Newfoundland and Labrador's mission staff for the first time. Since then, he has been named Assistant Chef de Mission for the 1999 and 2001 Games, and Chef de Mission for the 2003 and 2005 Games.　

Rod Snow (Assistant Chef de Mission)
Rod 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. In addition, Mr. Snow 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.

Brian Ash
Brian Ash is a retired educator and has long been the face of table tennis in the province. Currently president of Newfoundland and Labrador Table Tennis Association and past coach of five Canada Games teams, this will be his second time as a member of the mission staff.

Ellis Coles
Ellis Coles is a physical education teacher with the Eastern School District who grew up in Grand Bank playing soccer. Last year, he received an Excellence in Teaching Award — one of three awarded across the country. Mr. Coles' involvement in several sports, and his excellent organizational skills, make him a natural choice for the mission staff.

Laura Cole
Laura Cole was coach of the 2003 and 2007 Canada Games synchronized swim teams. A member of the coach management team of Synchro Canada, Ms. Cole is seen as a leader and innovator in her sport. Her ability to speak both official languages and her overall knowledge of Canada Games makes her a valued member of the mission staff.

Dave Feener
A recreation and sport consultant with the Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, Mr. Feener is a former athlete, coach and Assistant Chef de Mission with Team Newfoundland and Labrador. This will be his eighth games and his experience in all facets of the Canada Games operations will be asset to all team members.

Holly Grant
Holly Grant, a certified sport nutrition consultant, supports Canada Games teams and events in the area of nutritional health. Ms. Grant's work with Team Newfoundland and Labrador will assist the athletes to remain healthy and perform at optimum levels. This will be her first Canada Games experience.

Barry Jenkins
Barry Jenkins, a school administrator in Conception Bay South, is a life-long volunteer who has received national recognition as one of 30 outstanding principals in the country. His strength is in team building and bringing people together — a vital need for the success of any team.

Jamie Jewers
A teacher by profession, Jamie Jewers is also a former athlete, assistant coach and mission team member; someone who brings out energy in everyone she meets. Her work with athletes in a small school of 75 was rewarded with a 4A Provincial Volleyball Championship Her ability to relate to young athletes, and her willingness to learn from them, will benefit Team Newfoundland and Labrador in 2011.

Gary Martin
A life-long volunteer in his home community of Mount Pearl, Gary Martin was the coach of the 1999 Canada Games Team Newfoundland and Labrador female hockey team. He was part of the mission staff in 2005 in Regina.

Denise May
Denise May is a human resource manager with Western Health and a true sport volunteer. She has served in many roles with the sports of alpine skiing, triathlon and gymnastics, bringing national and international events to the west coast of the province. Her experience with the 1999 Canada Games brings leadership and expertise to the team in a variety of areas. She was also one of the head officials in the sport of triathlon at the 2009 Canada Summer Games.

Roger McGrath
Roger McGrath is a financial officer with the Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation. This will be his sixth Canada Games. A life-long sport volunteer in the City of Mount Pearl, Mr. McGrath's financial administration skills will be an asset to the team. In addition, his knowledge in the areas of transportation for athletes to and from Games will be a great asset.

Trevor Paine
A regional recreation consultant with the Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation in Labrador, Mr. Paine is a four-time member of Team Newfoundland and Labrador's mission staff. His broad sport background, along with his experience with logistics and accommodations, with be of great benefit.

Karen Sherriffs
A special projects co-ordinator with the City of St. John's, this will be Karen Sherriffs' third time as a member of Team Newfoundland and Labrador's mission staff. She was part of the staff for the 1999 Canada Winter Games in Corner Brook and again in 2007 in Whitehorse. She brings a variety of skills to the team, particularly in the areas of logistics and planning.

Allison Sturge
A former Canada Games hockey goalkeeper who now works as a behavior management specialist with Eastern Health, Allison Sturge's ability to combine sport and her profession in behavior management will greatly benefit Team Newfoundland and Labrador. She is an individual who will assist the team in their preparation, and how to deal with the issues and expectations that comes with competing in the Canada Games.

Mike Summers
A member of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary who has participated in the Canada Games as an athlete and official in the sport of boxing, Mike Summers' experience in dealing with people and situations enhances the mission staff's ability to respond to a variety of needs prior to, and during, the games. A pillar in the boxing community, he continues to provide leadership as the provincial president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Amateur Boxing Association.