News Release

FREDERICTON (GNB) – The following statement was issued by Healthy and Inclusive Communities Minister Dorothy Shephard on Team NB's showing at the 2013 Canada Summer Games in Sherbrooke, Que.:

I congratulate all the athletes and para-athletes who represented New Brunswick during the Canada Summer Games. I cannot tell you how proud we are for bringing home 16 medals.

During the preceding two weeks, we were sitting on the edge of our seats as we saw you wrestle, row, run, jump, throw or roll your way to medals.

Many athletes achieved personal best performances and set provincial records. We were particularly impressed when Geneviève Lalonde shattered the Games record and the Canadian record in the 2,000-metre steeplechase.
 
The success of Team NB resulted in a second-place finish in the race for the Centennial Cup, which determines the most improved province from Games to Games. This is a testament to the overall work of the athletes and their individual achievements.

All these accomplishments validate the provincial government's investments in sport during the past few years. These medals are proof that we are going in the right direction when it comes to athlete development. Increased funding through the Athlete Assistance Program is helping more athletes move toward a place on a senior national team.

We are also reaping the benefits of the Coaching Employment Program, put into place in 2011. There have been notable improvements in sports – such as fencing, track and field and rowing – where we have funded organizations to hire full-time coaches.

The provincial government’s investments in sports infrastructure have also helped Canada Games results. For example, the new stadium in Moncton and renovations to the Canada Games Stadium in Saint John provide great training venues as well as places to showcase national and international talent. Having such quality sport venues is important, and most of the athletes who won medals during the Games were able to do their training in the province.

It is our hope that the success of these Games will be a springboard for even greater successes. We hope, moreover, that our investments continue to develop a quality sport system, aligned with the Canadian Sport for Life model, which provides opportunities from the grass-roots to the international arena.

Finally, I thank the coaches, managers, mission staff and volunteers for their diligent work and dedication prior to and during the Games.