Local students and badminton enthusiasts got an opportunity to learn from a pro recently.
Anna Rice, who is a former Olympic, Commonwealth, Pan American and Canada Winter Games competitor, visited northern communities as a part of an 11-day BC badminton road show.
Rice visited the schools of Skeena Secondary and Thornhill Junior on Sept. 30 where she held assemblies about healthy living and teamed up with teachers at the schools to offer some badminton basics during gym classes.
She explained part of her purpose in the north was to promote the sport of badminton, but another is as an ambassador for Healthy Families BC, a
program that supports physical activity and healthy eating to promote physical and mental well-being.
During her assembly, Rice encouraged students to get exercise four times a week and watch their intake of sodium.
The next day Rice was off to Smithers to host a coaching conference before returning to Terrace to spend the day with the local badminton club Oct. 2.
She said the conference was on how important local coaches are to the sporting community.
“They are the ones who get kids active and help them fall in love with sports,” Rice explained.
Back in Terrace, the next day, Oct. 2, Rice hosted clinics for juniors and adults at the Thornhill Junior Secondary school gym, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
She said the clinics went great, with a positive turnout and a lot of community support.
“There is a lot of potential for badminton here,” Rice said. “and some future Olympians too.”
Having travelled to more than 50 countries in her life with badminton, Rice said it was nice to visit the north of her own province, an area she had never travelled to before. She said it was a great tour with friendly people in a beautiful area.
Norm Perry, from the Terrace badminton club, said the season is going well. He mentioned the club is even at capacity with its junior members.
