‘Spectacular:’ B.C. Winter Games in Greater Vernon come to a close
After three days of fun and competition, the Greater Vernon B.C. Winter Games wrapped up this afternoon in Greater Vernon.
The final medals were handed out Sunday afternoon, and the 900 athletes and 400 coaches and officials in 15 sports have headed back to their home communities.
Games vice-president Cindy Masters summed up how it went in one word.
“Spectacular. We are so happy with all of our volunteers and the athletes. It was just a spectacular event,” Masters told Vernon Matters.
President Nicky Dunlop agreed.
“There were no issues at all. Everything went really smoothly.”
Dunlop said her highlight of the weekend was wheelchair basketball at Lavington Elementary.
“That’s my community and my son’s school, and I was able to MC the awards presentation today. The athletes signed a basketball and gave it to me and I was so touched to be a part of it,” Dunlop remarked.
Fraser River (Zone 4) won the most medals with 99 including 35 gold. Vancouver-Coastal (Zone 5) was second with 89 medals and the host Thompson-Okanagan (Zone 2) was third with 80 medals including 28 gold, 27 silver and 25 bronze.
Click here for the results.
Paige Purcell from Alpine Skiing, Tyson Popove from Freestyle Skiing, and Colton McHatten from Snowboarding are three of the 16 recipients of the BC Games Leadership Bursary. Supported by Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities, the bursary aims to recognize participants under 19 who have achieved in academics and sport while going above and beyond in their communities through leadership and volunteer activities. (Photo credit: BC Games)There was no closing ceremony but a closing celebration video link will be posted on bcgames.org later today.
About 1,500 volunteers helped stage the Games and they were honoured at an appreciation event at the Rec Centre this afternoon.
“A big wow! said Masters when asked about the impact and efforts of the volunteers. “Yet again, Vernon stepped up in such a huge way.”
B.C. Games volunteers are thanked at an appreciation event at the Vernon Rec Centre Sunday afternoon. (Brian Martin/Vernon Matters photo)Dunlop sent out a big thumbs up to the community.
“Whether it’s the volunteers, businesses or the people that came out to watch, we just want to thank the entire community for all the support because, really, it was everybody who pulled this off.”
Langley karate athlete Derrick Cruz was presented with the W.R. Bennett Award for Athletic Excellence on Sunday in recognition of his outstanding achievements on and off the mat.
The award recognizes one athlete at each BC Winter and BC Summer Games who demonstrates athletic achievement and leadership and includes a $2500 bursary.
Langley karate athlete Derrick Cruz was presented with the W.R. Bennett Award for Athletic Excellence on Sunday by Games president Nicky Dunlop. (BC Games photo)The event was officially called the 2022 BC Winter Games as it was originally set for February 2022, but was postponed due to COVID-19 and other factors like wildfires and floods.
The economic spinoff from the Games is estimated at $1.2 million with Dunlop and Masters noting how busy local restaurants were over the weekend.
“We couldn’t get a reservation anywhere,” Masters remarked.
Karate at Kal Secondary (BC Games photo)During the Games, sixteen participants (two per zone) were selected to receive a $1,000 bursary to support their future sport or educational pursuits. Below are all the recipients who received the BC Games Leadership Bursary.
Jack D’Amico and Carmina Barone (owners of the local Canadian Tire store) presented the awards to the following recipients:
Paige Purcell – Bonnington – Alpine Skiing
Tyson Popove – Campbell River – Freestyle Skiing
Colton McHatten – Sun Peaks – Snowboarding
Markus Tai – Richmond – Archery
Gabriel Janz – Nelson – Biathlon
Gwenyth Kerr – Comox – Biathlon
Tanner McConkey – Prince George – Cross Country
Audrey Allister Ordonez – Chilliwack – Figure Skating
Julia Pedley Chan – New Westminster – Figure Skating
Taisiya Kasum – Smithers – Figure Skating
Soren Andreassen – Chilliwack – Judo
Maksym Klymenko – Coquitlam – Judo
Amanda Lee – Vancouver – Karate
Claire Penner – Coldstream – Ringette
Molly Mertin – Terrace – Ringette
Addison Paulson – Prince George – Ringette
Archery at Vernon Secondary School (BC Games photo)BC Games facts:
- Greater Vernon hosted the BC Winter Games in 1992 and 2012, as well as the 1982 BC Summer Games.
- Competitors represent eight geographic zones: Kootenays (Zone 1), Thompson-Okanagan (Zone 2), Fraser Valley (Zone 3), Fraser River (Zone 4), Vancouver-Coastal (Zone 5), Vancouver Island-Central Coast (Zone 6), North West (Zone 7) and Cariboo-North East (Zone 8).
- The 895 athletes, 300 coaches and 140 officials attending the Games are from 122 communities across the province and represent 84 constituencies in B.C. Competing in 15 different sports, most athletes are attending their first multi-sport Games.
- To date, 40 communities have hosted BC Winter and/or BC Summer Games.
- Greater Vernon 2022 BC Winter Games participants are competing in alpine skiing, archery, artistic gymnastics, badminton, biathlon, cross country skiing (including para), curling, figure skating, freestyle skiing, judo, karate, rhythmic gymnastics, ringette, snowboarding, and wheelchair basketball.
I had another honour to present medals to incredible Champions of Artistic Gymnastics who won in BC Winter Games Vernon. It was proud moment for champions, coaches, families & us. Congratulations to all athletes, whether you got the medal or not, you all are winners, well done!
pic.twitter.com/zsNSja0XxQ— Harwinder Sandhu (@MLA_Sandhu) March 25, 2023