Master Athletes

Check out the latest SIRC Newsletter on Master Athletes!

A Master Athlete is anyone over the age of 35 and competitive. As baby boomers age the number of athletes competing later in life will be on the rise. Age group events become the new challenge as there is the chance every few years to be at the top of your game and still blow away most of the competition like running a sub-3hr marathon at age 70. Master Athletes are awe-inspiring but have different needs that should be recognized. If you are not ready to hang in your competitive hat check out how to tweak your program to stay at the top of your game well into the golden years!

http://sirc.ca/newsletters/august10/index.html

Race Tactics

Using smart thinking in your races can often help you shave seconds off your time. An interesting article from Running Times talks about using a few simple tactics to increase your racing success. While the context for the article is running, they can be applied in a variety of sporting environments.

• Run the tangents. Be aware of the race route and choose the most efficient line to shave off a few seconds. The shortest distance on a curving road, is to travel from inside corner to inside corner.

• Pass with authority. Don’t just ease by a competitor, fly by them and make them question their own physical state.

• Pass wide. Passing wide on a straight stretch of the route prevents other racers from latching on to your surge without adding too much in the way of distance.

• Surging early and often. Don’t be afraid to surge early in a race to create gaps, quite often they are maintained throughout the race. Throw in another surge shortly after the first one, the gap you make may well be enough to get you permanently ahead.

• Sneak a peek. While you shouldn’t be looking back at your competitors (it may be seen as a sign of tiredness), sneaking a peek with a quick glance while going around corners should give you valuable information while leaving your competitors unaware.

• Steal their move. If you sense a competitor is about to make their move, “steal” it and do it first making them respond. Taking control of the move takes the impetus away from them.

• Surge on corners. A great place to take advantage, surging through corners when most slow down to negotiate them forces your competitors to change gears to catch up. Just keep your cadence fast and your stride short.

• Surge at the top and bottom of every hill. Many runners slow down over the crest of a hill and slow down at the bottom, take advantage of this surging over the top of the hill and carrying your momentum at the bottom to surge through the flat.

Thinking through your strategic moves can give you many advantages in your race technique. So remember to train your mind as well as your body for your next race.

Order the full article from SIRC: McMillan, Greg (2009). Shaving Seconds & Rousting Rivals. Running Times (372), 18.

Better Post-Competition Recovery

Research tells us that we should pay just as much attention to our post-race/post-competition routines as we do to our pre-race/pre-competition routines. Why is this? Simply stated, the sooner you return your body to its pre-competition state and give it the attention it requires to recoup later the same day, the sooner you will be ready for more hard training. It also helps reduce stiffness and soreness that may occur later in the day.

Your muscles are most receptive to refueling and other recovery strategies for the first 30-60 minutes after strenuous exertion. While this is often easy to remember after an intense workout, it is often forgotten in our competition planning. So what can be a good recovery plan? The following strategies were recommended in a recent article in the SIRC Collection:

• Immediately post-competition/race, have some sport drink or other easily tolerated source of calories before starting a cool-down jog.
• After cooling down, refuel further with food and drink you brought to the race. This food can be specifically targeted to your body’s needs as opposed to relying on whatever offerings the event has provided.
• Do some gentle stretching before and after driving home.
• Later that day do a light aerobic workout, followed by more stretching.

So next time the competition heats up, don’t forget to plan for the appropriate cool down afterwards.

Reference: Fraioli, Mario (2010). Post-Race Recovery. Goal: Recover Quickly From Your Morning Road Race. Running Times (373), 21.

2011 Canada Games

The 2011 Canada Winter Games start in just 3 days time with the Opening Ceremony slated for Friday, 12 February 2011 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. And wow, how far the Games have come! It all started in the winter of 1967 in Quebec City as part of Canada's Centennial celebrations, when 1800 athletes from 10 provinces and two territories joined together in what was to become the first of many of the largest multi-sport competitions for young athletes in Canada. 2011 will be the 23rd Canada Games, alternating between winter and summer every 2 years.

Besides being a national celebration for sport and culture, the Canada Games provide that all important stepping stone and experience in the development of athletes in the Canadian sports system. Since 1967, over 100,000 athletes have participated in the Games with hundreds of thousands having been involved in try-outs and qualifying events. For some, it’s the highlight of their athletic career, while for others, it’s just the beginning.

Of course the athletes receive medals, but as a provincial or territorial team, they compete for all the marbles, which is the Canada Games Flag. Points are awarded in every sport based on performance and participation and the team with the greatest number of points from all events is declared the champion and presented with the Canada Games Flag. Team Ontario has practically owned the Canada Games Flag since the beginning, winning all but four Flags (Quebec has won the Flag three times in 1975, 1979, 2003, and British Columbia won it once in 1973).

The legacy the Games leave is not just for the athletes, but for the city that hosts the events. Over 300 new and existing sports venues have benefited from hosting a Canada Games, with 500 venues being upgraded to national standards so that they may host other national and world class events.

Join in on the celebration of the Games this year (schedule)! In addition to the television broadcast coverage on TSN and RDS, for the first time ever, the Canada Games will also feature live webstreaming coverage for the majority of the sports on the program.

For more information on the Canada Games check out SIRC’s Canada Games 2011 page.

Hello from Halifax!

Canada Games 2011 Kick Off
by Michele Walker, SIRC

After many years in the planning, the 2011 Canada Winter Games in Nova Scotia gets kicked off tonight with its Opening Ceremony which will be held in the Halifax Metro Centre.

About 3,200 athletes from 800 Canadian communities will compete over the next 16 days in 22 sports. A unique aspect of the Canada Games is how it splits its sports programs into two separate weeks. In Week 1, there will be 11 sports taking place consisting of about 1,500 athletes. In Week 2, there will be 12 sports and an estimated 1,800 athletes. Halifax also expects that over the next two weeks there will be 7,000 to 10,000 visitors, who are expected to come and cheer the athletes on.

The Canada Winter Games has a budget of $46 million. Many of the 13 competition venues are in downtown Halifax, but the biathlon, cross-country skiing and snowboarding events will be held at Ski Martock ,while freestyle and alpine skiing are at Ski Wentworth. Ringette will be played at Cole Harbour Place, with short-track speedskating and figure skating at the St. Margaret’s Centre in Upper Tantallon, and target shooting and archery at Sackville High. Curling events will be hosted by the Mayflower Curling Club.

For tonight’s Opening Ceremony, Prime Minister Stephen Harper will speak to the Halifax Metro Centre crowd, and Halifax native JRDN, an R&B singer and former St. Francis Xavier basketball star will sing the national anthem with francophone artist Elyse Delaney. Tonight’s two-hour event will be broadcast live on TSN2. The Closing Ceremony on February 27 at 1 p.m. will also be held at the Halifax Metro Centre, and will be shown on TSN. The budget for the two entertainment ceremonies is about $600,000.

Check out SIRC's Canada Games 2011 webpage for more information!

Hello from Halifax!

It's time to shine
by Chris Morrissey Chief Executive Officer – 2011 Canada Winter Games Host Society

Opening day. Wow. For many of us, it’s been a long time coming, to say the least. Seems like yesterday we were getting our Board of Directors in place and choosing our venues.

But now, the athletes have arrived, the dress rehearsals are done, and the chefs and mission teams are already hard at work.

Staff and volunteers have taken their responsibilities very seriously – from developing the sport schedule, fitting out our venues, to lining up talent for Celebration Square. It’s been tough slogging – countless hours of overtime and literally thousands of meetings and planning documents. But I’m so proud of the team.

The past few weeks, we’ve felt the city come alive. Signage is up, volunteers are ready. The Oval has brought people together in a way that nobody expected.

I think we’ve raised the bar in many ways, as the host for the 2011 Games, and we can’t wait to showcase our work to the athletes and spectators.

Bring on the athletes. We’re ready to host the country. We’re ready to shine.

Check out SIRC's Canada Games 2011 webpage for more information!

Hello From Halifax!

by Brandie Adams - SIRC Reference Librarian

"Some of you are posed for glory but we can not know who; not the champions or the victory dances which will ensue. Already tonight some athletes are organizing strategies; it takes desire of a certain kind to get to these finish lines. " – Tania Davis

Let the Games Begin! Friday night was celebration night in Halifax with the Opening Ceremonies of the Canada Games. There was electricity in the air as the crowd prepared for the athletes to enter the Halifax Metro Centre. Host, Rich Aucoin kept the crowd going as athletes and coaches from 13 provinces and territories entered the arena. Once everyone settled down (as much as they could) Stephen Harper declared the Games officially opened.

The positive atmosphere following the Ceremonies rolled on to the downtown streets. Leaving the Metro Centre you could hear echoes from people chanting for their home province or territory.

Great things are sure to come over the next two weeks!

Check out SIRC's Canada Games 2011 webpage for more information!

Hello From Halifax!

by Brandie Adams, SIRC Reference Librarian

The SIRC Mobile Resource Centre is up and running at Coach House in the Delta Barrington. Partnering with Coaches of Canada our goal is to connect with Canada Games coaches by providing a fantastic lounge for them to use over the next few weeks. To help make this happen Wayne Parro (Coaches of Canada) and Brandie Adams (SIRC) headed to the Chef de Mission meeting early this morning to raise awareness of Coach House and the resources they could access.

What is available at Coach House?

• Coaching publications from FIT, Routledge, HK, CAAWS, Thinkfirst.ca
• Meeting area (comfortable chairs, couches and tables)
• Wireless!
• Coaches of Canada information
• TVs (follow what's happening around the world)
• SIRC Reference Librarian to answer questions
• Coaches of Canada speaker series (to be announced soon)

With Wayne or Brandie around there is often lively conversation. This afternoon we had a great chat with a NB Coach on continuing education programs for coaches in Canada. We hope that you stop by to visit the Coach House.

Check out SIRC's Canada Games 2011 webpage for more information!

Hello from Halifax!

The loudest and the proudest!
by Team PEI, Canada Games 2011

PEI may not top the medal table in Halifax – two or three of any colour would be nice – but there is no prouder group of athletes here competing in Halifax.

The excitement generated by our group has been unbelievable so far. From a high energy athletes rally last week to Thursday’s departure right through to yesterday’s Opening Ceremony, Island athletes have been singing and celebrating like no other. The smiles have not left their faces.

One of the most popular items has been the PEI vuvuzela. The scourge of TV viewers during the soccer World Cup, the vuvu has added an extra dimension to the energy and dynamism of PEI athletes. Already they are a hot trading item and our athletes our holding out for the highest prices!

A word from PEI too on the outstanding Opening Ceremonies, and a big well done to the Host Society on the great job so far. We are having a great time, are looking forward to the competition, and making the friendships that we know will be forged over the next two weeks.

A word of warning though – we may be small, but we are mighty, and Team PEI, behind the smiles and the laughter, is here to give its all. Nothing will be left behind on the field of play.

Long live the Canada Games!

Check out SIRC's Canada Games webpage for more information!

Hello from Halifax!

by Brandie Adams, SIRC Reference Librarian

Today was a great day at the 2011 Halifax Canada Games. The athletes experienced fast times at the Canada Games Oval. Was it the sun? Was it the fabulous crowd? Was it the warm weather? Does it matter? It was a fantastic time with people surrounding the oval, filling the stands and standing on the snowbanks outside the gates to catch a glimpse of the long track skaters.

The same could be seen at the wheelchair basketball games held at Citadel High School. During the Quebec-Saskatchewan game the crowd was making lots of noise for the athletes. You could see teams from other provinces in the stands cheering their fellow athletes on. What a great display of sportsmanship.

Currently SIRC is busy at Coach House with people stopping by at the end of the day. One theme that is emerging is they are interested in coach development and continuing education (and having fun at the end of their long day).

Check out SIRC's Canada Games webpage for more information!

Hello from Halifax!

Celebrating Nova Scotia Day!

by Brandie Adams, SIRC Reference Librarian

Today was Nova Scotia Day and what a day it was! The Games started early with Artistic Gymnastics, Biathlon, Curling, Freestyle skiing, Hockey, Long Track Speed Skating, Ringette, Short Track Speed Skating, Squash, Target Shooting and Wheelchair Basketball all competing around the city.

In the evening “Celebration Square at Night” was alive as crowds of people streamed into the Square to show their love for the province. Everyone cheered for the Canada Games athletes who medaled today as they took centre stage. This was just a warm up for Joel Plaskett & The Emergency, a well-known group from Halifax. JPE set the bar very high for the shows that will take place in Celebration Square over the next few weeks.

Tonight also kicked off the professional development series at Coach House. Gary Ness spoke to coaches about the National Coaching Institute. Additional speakers for this week include Mark Smith, Wayne Parro, Ken Bagnell and Sheilagh Croxon.

Check out SIRC's Canada Games webpage for more information!

Hello from Halifax!

Team Sask Canada Winter Games 2011
by Briana Bolduc, Team Saskatchewan Mission Staff

We are about halfway through the first week of the 2011 Canada Winter Games and boy is it an experience. My name is Briana Bolduc and I am Mission Staff for Team Sask. This is my first time ever experiencing the Games and I thought I would share my perspective as a newcomer.

This week has been a blur. We do not count the days by the date or what day of the week it is, but rather what day of the Games it is. When people outside of the Games are excited about the weekend, we do not even realize that it is no longer the work week. When they start the work week, it still feels like the weekend.

The people of Nova Scotia are amazing; we get honks, waves, and people stopping us on the street to tell us how great our jackets look. (Yes, they are pretty cool.) I have been welcomed to the city by a countless number of people. I would like to say on behalf of Team Sask that we feel very much at home in Halifax, thank you.

We have had a few hard fought losses so far, but also a few wins. As of right now we have two medals in Target Shooting; gold and silver. Our athletes are fighting hard and being amazing ambassadors of Saskatchewan.

So far I am having a great experience. Halifax is doing a great job in hosting!

Check out SIRC's Canada Games webpage for more information!

Hello from Halifax!

Designing the medals for the Canada Games!
by Michele Walker, SIRC

Besides competing for the Canada Games Flag as a proud member of the winning province at the 2011 Canada Winter Games in Halifax, Nova Scotia, it’s fair to say that most athletes really want to win a medal. Gold, of course, is best. But there are times when circumstances dictate that winning the bronze or silver medal, can feel like gold! Maybe an athlete is sick on competition day, didn’t sleep well, is just coming off an injury, or just got beat by a better competitor that day – no matter the circumstances, making the podium can be so rewarding. So truth be told, winning a medal of any colour really is the highest achievement for an athlete at the Canada Games. In Halifax, over 1065 medals will be awarded throughout the 18 days of competition.

But before medals of any colour can be awarded, they first have to be designed. In Canada Games tradition, there is an open competition to design the medals for the Games. Not an easy task really, as potential designers have to take into consideration the unique nature, theme, culture and spirit of Nova Scotia and the 2011 Games themselves. After 90 submissions were received by the Host Society, the design of two Halifax university students Marlon Solis and Amber Whyley, was chosen and the medals were unveiled on August 16, 2010. The distinctive shape of the medals represents the beauty of the province, which has been shaped by the sea. The design features an etched theme depicting interlocking athletic figures in motion to convey athletic spirit, unity and diversity and includes a ribbon loop inspired by the gates of the Halifax Public Gardens.

The 2011 Games medals for the Halifax Games were produced by Charm Diamond Centres, who also made the medals for the 2003 Games in Bathurst, New Brunswick, and the 2001 Canada Games in London, Ontario.

Check out SIRC's Canada Games webpage for more information!

Hello from Halifax!

Change is Imminent
by Michele Walker, SIRC

When a city is awarded the Canada Games, there is no doubt change is imminent.

Businesses stock up on more supplies. Staff get extra hours. Hotels are fully booked at a time of year that most would not be. There are more flights in and out of your city.

Schools change their schedule. In fact, one of the biggest changes affects everyone in the entire region. Moving the school spring break to February and closing schools for an additional week follows the practice for previous Winter Games. The last three provinces and territories to host the games -- New Brunswick (2003), Yukon (2007) and Newfoundland and Labrador (1999) -- moved March break and closed schools in the host region to accommodate the Games. To ensure students in the Halifax region do not lose valuable class time in 2011, the school year started early and will end late going through to June 30, 2011. Christmas break was shortened, and one teacher professional development day had to be rescheduled.

But the most interesting ‘change’ is that of ‘change over’ day in the middle of the Games. Unique to multi-sporting events in the world is the fact that the Canada Games hosts half its sports in Week One and the other half in Week Two. This means that missions staffs have to be moving athletes in and out of the host city twice. Those athletes who enjoyed the Opening Ceremony are not even in town to attend the Closing Ceremony, which is enjoyed by the Week Two sport athletes. The Local Organizing Committee in Halifax has to reset venues for a whole new batch of sports, set up new venues, and not to mention the complete cleaning of the Athlete’s Village top to bottom so it’s as fresh and clean as it can be and ready to host a whole new group of athletes and coaches.

Check out SIRC's Canada Games webpage for more information!

Hello from Halifax!

By Brandie Adams, SIRC Reference Librarian

The action at the Canada Games is happening everywhere. Whether you are in the stands watching hockey, at the Canada Games Centre watching gymnastics or at Ski Wentworth catching up on freestyle skiing great sport can be seen. There are also concerts, forums, receptions and more to provide the Canada Games community the opportunity to meet and share ideas.

Tuesday night CAAWS hosted a reception for women in sport and physical activity. They are celebrating their 30th anniversary this year. The room was packed with people in support. While there SIRC had the opportunity to catch up with members of the Canada Games Council and AthletesCAN. One highlight was chatting with Kyle Shewfelt, the 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist in Artistic Gymnastics Floor Exercise. If you have the opportunity to meet Kyle you should take it. He is currently an AthletesCan ambassador but is also a speaker and momentum coach.

The first week is coming to an end. You can feel that Halifax has embraced the Canada Games and there are signs of it everywhere. Huge posters on sidewalks and buildings, recognizable swag of volunteers, Canada Games staff and Team clothing (especially Team Manitoba in black/yellow/white retro) can be seen on the streets. It can be heard around the city how friendly everyone is and how great the volunteers are. The East Coast is keeping up their reputation at being a welcoming host.

Check out SIRC's Canada Games webpage for more information!

(Photo compliments of Canada Games)

Hello from Halifax!

My Experience at the Canada Winter Games
By Marcia Filgiano, Squash, Team Quebec

A week ago today I flew into Halifax with Team Quebec feeling slightly nervous, a little tired, but most of all excited. Many people had told me that the Canada Winter Games are a one-of-a-kind, exhilarating experience and, after a week, I can truly say that the Games have met and surpassed my expectations.

As a squash player, very few people know or understand my sport: after the Opening Ceremonies on Friday night, I felt like my performance was important in the Games and I truly felt like one of Canada’s top athletes.

Although competing every day becomes very tiring, the cafeteria is always open to us whether it is for “grazing” food, a salad, or a hardy hot meal. In addition, the warm and welcoming groups of volunteers are always around and they help organize many activities such as ice cream socials, movie nights, dances, concerts, and much more.

My favourite part of the CWG so far has been meeting all the athletes and artists from around Canada. I have met many players competing in various sports and I have created bonds that I believe I will never forget. It is a phenomenal experience and traveling as a team, cheering on every player, and wearing the Quebec colours have truly made me proud to be Canadian and to participate in the Canada Winter Games.

Check out SIRC's Canada Games webpage for more information!

Hello from Halifax!

Investing in the Pursuit of Excellence
by Pat Lechelt, Chef de Mission, Team Alberta
It was a remarkable opening week of competition at the 2011 Canada Winter Games in Halifax – Team Alberta racked up 39 medals, with 11 of them earned on the second day!

I am very proud of our athletes, and proud that the Government of Alberta has supported them by investing in international standard facilities at the Canmore Nordic Centre and Canada Olympic Park.

The investment in these Olympic legacy venues has paid dividends for Team Alberta’s young biathletes who swept the podium in all of the individual men’s races. Leading the charge was our flag bearer Scott Gow, taking home gold in all four of his races. In all, Alberta’s biathletes took the podium 11 times.

Week one success spread beyond the biathlon range. Speed skaters sprinted to 10 medals around the outdoor Oval,and our freestyle skiers showed great form with four podium finishes. Undefeated throughout the round-robin, ringette takes home silver, and women’s curling throws for gold tonight against BC. Alberta’s hockey men kept their medal streak alive as the only team to have medaled in six consecutive editions of the Games after a bronze medal win over BC.

Stay tuned for more great performances in week 2 for Team Alberta!

Get connected with Team Alberta at the 2011 Canada Winter Games in Halifax on Facebook . The Facebook page highlights athlete performances, photos, quotes, and provides information on Team Alberta’s progress in its quest for the podium.

Check out SIRC's Canada Games webpage for more information!

Hello from Halifax!

Who Rocks The House? BC Rocks the House!
By Team BC Mission Staff

That has been the recurring chant throughout the week-and-a-half that we have been competing at the Canada Winter Games. Accompanied by the waving of the popular scarves bearing the same slogan, along with a variety of noisemakers thoughtfully provided to the parents and fans of Team BC’s athletes, the words have been resonating around the venues. We wouldn’t say that is the reason that Team BC was farther ahead in the medal and flag point standings at the end of Week One than it was four years ago in Whitehorse. But it sure hasn’t hurt!

For most of the athletes this is their first experience of competing at a multi-sport Games, and they are taking the opportunity to get out to cheer on their fellow Team BC athletes. Our boxers have become some of Team BC’s most visible and vocal cheerleaders, and were instrumental in changing the usually staid atmosphere at table tennis.

Besides answering the question posed by our Games hosts, “What will you bring?” with solid performances by its athletes, Team BC also answered, “We are bringing the warmth of our hearts”, in the form of its legacy project, “Hands Across the Country”.

On the anniversary of the opening of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver and Whistler Team BC held a media conference to present the hundreds donated items of warm clothing it had collected in BC, to the Boys & Girls Club of East Dartmouth. It was Team BC’s way of demonstrating its social responsibility.

Check out SIRC's Canada Games webpage for more information!

Hello from Halifax!

The Closing Ceremony Nears

By Michele Walker, SIRC

In a few days time (Sunday, February 27 to be exact), the Closing Ceremony for the 2011 Canada Winter Games will be held at 1 p.m. (local time) at the Halifax Metro Centre. The televised show will celebrate the achievements of the Games, creating an incredibly festive atmosphere and featuring performances as unique as the 2,700 athletes who were participating in the Games.

But how is the Closing Ceremony so different from the Opening Ceremony? Well, technically, it’s not really. There is music and flags and speeches and traditions honoured. There is a production schedule and television broadcasts. There are ticket holders, and athletes, and distinguished guests. At the Opening Ceremony there is also that tumultuous build-up along with the hopes for a trouble and incident free two weeks of competition and organization. There is that unwritten pre-cursor that if the Opening goes well, the Games will go well. Go party, have fun (but not too much) then get serious and back to business! That’s a lot of pressure for everyone involved.

But the great thing about the Closing Ceremony is that it has so much more of a relaxed celebratory feeling. That feeling you get when you survived a high pressure situation (especially for the organizers), and the athletes truly have the pressure off of them now. Everyone gets to cherish their results and more importantly, the new friends they made from across the country. The Closing Ceremony just seems to be more fun for everyone involved, more relaxed and dare we say, actually a bit more enjoyable.

And with that comes the sadness that it’s time for everyone to leave. The curtain is drawn. The Games are now history. Only to do it again in two years time at the 2013 Canada Summer Games in Sherbrooke, Quebec!

Check out SIRC's Canada Games webpage for more information!

Hello from Halifax!

Farewell to Halifax & the 2011 Canada Games
by Michele Walker, SIRC

The 2011 Canada Winter Games are now officially closed and Halifax has bid farewell to their guests. The Games' 90-minute Closing Ceremony featured a variety of East Coast musical performers and the traditional parade of athletes, with the Games' torch being marched in by a group of Nova Scotia medal winners and handed over to the officials in charge of hosting the next Games in 2013 in Sherbrooke, Quebec.

Quebec easily finished in first place in the overall medal standings earning 137 points for their hardware, 27 more than the runner up Ontario (British Columbia finished in third place with 88 points). But it was the powerhouse team from Ontario that once again, for the 19th time in 23 Games, who won the Canada Games Flag – for the most points accumulated by scores recorded by every athlete that participates in an event, not just the top 3 finishes (they had 312 points to Quebec’s 301).

Nova Scotia took the Centennial Cup, which is awarded to the team that shows the biggest improvement over their performance in the last Winter Games. They improved from zero gold medals to five, and from seven total medals in 2007 to 12 in 2011 (four of their medals were in boxing which is a shame for their program because boxing is being removed from the Canada Games program).

And it was also the host province of Nova Scotia that won the Jack Pelech Award which goes to the team who showed the best competitive performance, good sportsmanship and spirit of fair play!

The next Canada Games will take place in the summer of 2013 in Sherbrooke, Quebec followed by the next winter Games in 2015 in Prince George, British Columbia.

Way to go Halifax! Well done!