Today, the Honourable Dwight Ball, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, along with the Honourable Lisa Dempster, Minister of Children, Seniors and Social Development, Mark Browne, Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation and MHA for Placentia West – Bellevue, and Betty Parsley, MHA Harbour Main, honoured Olympic gold and bronze medalist Kaetlyn Osmond, a native of Marystown, and Paralympic silver medalist Liam Hickey, St. John’s, on their accomplishments at the highest levels of international athletic competition.
In recognition of their accomplishments, the Provincial Government will be renaming the Burin Peninsula Highway from Red Harbour to Marystown Osmond Way and the Holyrood Access Road will become Liam Hickey Drive.
Kaetlyn Osmond along with teammates Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford, Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, Patrick Chan and Gabrielle Daleman won Canada’s first gold of the 2018 Olympic Games in the team event on February 12. She followed up with a bronze medal in women’s singles marking the first time a Canadian has won an Olympic medal in the event since 2010.
Since the Olympics, Kaetlyn Osmond competed at the 2018 World Figure Skating Championships in Milan, Italy, finishing at the top of the podium. Her gold winning performance was the first time a Canadian woman has won the championship in 45 years.
Liam Hickey won a silver medal in para ice hockey as a member of Team Canada which reached the gold medal game for the first time since 2006. Team Canada finished the tournament with four wins and a silver medal in the thrilling final game against Team USA, which went into overtime. He had six goals and five assists over the course of the tournament, including an assist on Canada’s only goal in the final game.
Liam was also one of three athletes on the 2018 Canadian Paralympic Team to compete at both a summer and winter Paralympic Games. He represented Canada in wheelchair basketball at the Rio 2016 Paralympics.
The Town of Marystown will be hosting a number of events tomorrow (Saturday, April 14) to recognize Kaetlyn Osmond during her return visit to her hometown. Last month, a motorcade and meet and greet at Liam Hickey’s home rink, Paradise Double Ice Complex, were held to celebrate his return.
Quotes
“This has been an outstanding year for our athletes on the world stage. This province is incredibly proud of Kaetlyn and Liam’s accomplishments and I know they have inspired countless young people throughout our province, our country and the world. They are wonderful role models and show that you can achieve the best through perseverance, dedication and hard work.”
Honourable Dwight Ball
Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador
“The 2018 Olympics and Paralympics were absolutely thrilling and I was eagerly watching Kaetlyn and Liam’s successes. Both athletes join the ranks of elite company who have not only had the privilege to compete internationally, but to earn medals for their talent and perseverance. I wish them the very best in their future endeavours, and I am sure both Kaetlyn and Liam will continue to captivate us all at future events.”
Honourable Lisa Dempster
Minister of Children, Seniors and Social Development
“Kaetlyn Osmond is one of the most decorated and accomplished athletes from Newfoundland and Labrador. She has inspired countless young boys and girls in our province, and proven that no matter if you are from Medicine Hat, Montreal, or Marystown, you can compete on the world stage and reach the greatest heights. We are all proud of her accomplishments and eagerly await her homecoming in Marystown this weekend. We salute the determination of athletes like Kaetlyn and Liam, superb role models for aspiring Olympians and Paralympians!”
Mark Browne
MHA for Placentia West – Belleville
“As the MHA for Harbour Main, it fills me with great pride to see the Holyrood Access Road be renamed in honour of Liam Hickey given his roots in this district. Liam’s success as a Paralympian in not one, but two sports, is so inspiring to other athletes in the province, and this honour bestowed upon him is most deserving.”
Betty Parsley
MHA for Harbour Main
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Olympic gold and bronze medalist Kaetlyn Osmond, and Paralympic silver medalist Liam Hickey, were honoured at Confederation Building on Friday, April 13, 2018.
Olympic gold and bronze medalist Kaetlyn Osmond, and Paralympic silver medalist Liam Hickey, were honoured at Confederation Building on Friday, April 13, 2018.
Olympic gold and bronze medalist Kaetlyn Osmond, and Paralympic silver medalist Liam Hickey, were honoured at Confederation Building on Friday, April 13, 2018.
Learn more Pyeongchang 2018 Olympics and Paralympics – www.pyeongchang2018.com/en/index
Team Canada – olympic.ca/
Liam Hickey’s Canadian Paralympic Team Profile: games.paralympic.ca/team-canada/liam-hickey
Liam Hickey’s 2018 Paralympic Games Profile – www.paralympic.org/athletes/biographies?country=Canada
2018 Winter Paralympics – www.paralympic.org/
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Media contacts
Michelle Cannizzaro
Office of the Premier
709-729-3960
michellecannizzaro@gov.nl.ca
Gina MacArthur
Children, Seniors and Social Development
709-729-3768, 730-2977
GinaMacarthur@gov.nl.ca
Tara Planke
Constituency Assistant for
Mark Browne, MHA for Placentia West – Bellevue
709-279-2912
taraplanke@gov.nl.ca
Kristina George
Government Members Office
709-729-5306
kristinageorge@gov.nl.ca