This past month, Sherbrooke, Quebec hosted the Canada Summer Games 2013, where athletes from across British Columbia eagerly represented our province.
Athletes from every corner of the country trained vigorously and brought their best efforts to the games.
Our athletes from B.C. and specifically from Kelowna, brought home medals in a wide range of sports.
Samuel Harris of Kelowna brought home gold medals in multiple rowing events.
Rostam Turner, a graduate of Kelowna Secondary School, earned bronze in the decathlon.
B.C.’s men’s volleyball team, including Leigh Goossen and Kyle Joslin of Kelowna and Scott Plocktis of West Kelowna, also earned bronze medals.
Team B.C.’s women’s volleyball team, including Becki Kosinski and Kaitlynn Given of Kelowna, fought their way to a silver medal finish.
Congratulations to all the athletes and thank you for representing our province with your hard work, dedication and sportsmanship this summer. It makes us all proud to be so well represented on the national stage and to see our hometown athletes succeed.
You don’t need to be a nationally-ranked athlete to participate in sports in Kelowna and through Community Gaming Grants the provincial government is taking steps to make local sports teams and recreational activities more accessible.
Most recently, the Kelowna Youth Soccer Association, Central Okanagan Sailing Association, the Okanagan Branch of the Disabled Sailing Association of B.C., West Kelowna Minor Hockey Association and the Telemark Nordic Club received funding to help continue providing Kelowna residents with opportunities to get and stay active.
You can find more information on Community Gaming Grants at http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/gaming/.
Sporting organizations do more than just provide our community with a way to develop athletic skill and keep healthy with regular exercise. Being a part of a team helps to teach our children the value of sportsmanship, teamwork, cooperation and hard work. These are skills that they will take with them into the new school year and carry with them throughout their lives.
Whichever sport may be your favourite, take these last days of summer to get out and get exercise with your family and friends and enjoy all that Kelowna has to offer.
Have a safe and enjoyable Labour Day long weekend and look for opportunities in our community to stay active and healthy as fall arrives.
Steve Thomson is the MLA for Kelowna-Mission.
steve.thomson.mla@leg.bc.ca www.stevethomsonmla.bc.ca
