Minister Congratulates Team Newfoundland and Labrador

The 2011 Canada Winter Games officially wrapped up in Halifax this past weekend and Team Newfoundland and Labrador (Team NL) are headed home with five medal wins - one silver and four bronze.

The Honourable Terry French, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, today congratulated Team NL for their performance at the games, and thanked the mission staff, coaches, managers, and volunteers for their incredible efforts.

“The entire contingent should be proud of their efforts and accomplishments at these games,” said Minister French. “I commend everyone on their dedication, perseverance, and hard work over the past two weeks and during the months of preparation leading up to this event. I’d especially like to highlight the tireless efforts of the team’s chef de mission, Michelle Healey, and assistant chefs, Glenn Littlejohn and Rod Snow. Their loyalty to this team has been greatly appreciated.”

Erica Noonan was Team NL’s flagbearer at the closing ceremonies. She won two-bronze medals in the para-Nordic women’s 1,000-metre sprint and para-Nordic women’s standing 2.5-kilometre freestyle races respectively. With these medals, Ms. Noonan has become the first athlete from the province to medal at both the summer and winter games. At the 2009 Canada Summer Games, she won three silver medals as a swimmer with a disability (SWAD) in the 100-metre breaststroke, 100-metre butterfly, and 200-metre individual medley.

Target Shooters Ben Taylor and Jason Harnum won a bronze in the team air rifle competition. Mr. Taylor also won a bronze in the individual air rifle competition. In addition, fellow target shooter Emma MeulenKamp won a silver medal in the individual air pistol competition.

The 2013 Canada Summer Games will be held in Sherbrooke, Quebec. For more information about Team NL and the 2011 Canada Winter Games, visit: www.teamnl.ca/

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Media contact:

Diana Quinton
Director of Communications
Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation
709-729-0928, 631-8155
DianaQuinton@gov.nl.ca 

2011 02 28                                                                         4:25 p.m.