Ministerial Statement – Minister Congratulates Special Olympics Canada Winter Games Team

  • Children, Seniors and Social Development

March 3, 2020

The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Lisa Dempster, Minister of Children, Seniors and Social Development:

Mr. Speaker, I rise in this Honourable House today to congratulate Team Newfoundland and Labrador on their recent success at the 2020 Special Olympics Canada National Winter Games in Thunder Bay, Ontario.

From February 24 to 29, we watched as 44 talented athletes gave their all and made our province proud.

Mr. Speaker, Team Newfoundland and Labrador returned home Sunday, bringing with them more than 40 medals.

In Snowshoeing:

  • Bradley Murphy (St. John’s – club: Mount Pearl)
  • Floressa Harris (Gander – club: Gander Wings)
  • Crystal Young (CBS – club: CBS Brightstars)
  • Philip Beales (Corner Brook  – club: Corner Brook Vikings)
  • Jessica Summers (St. John’s – club: Mount Pearl)
  • David Horne (Mount Pearl – club: Mount Pearl)
  • Robert Moore (Western Bay – club: Tri-Con Gentle Giants)
  • Johnny Philpott (Gander – club: Gander Wings)
  • Zachary Dean (CBS – club: CBS Brightstars)

In Cross Country Skiing:

  • Michael Budden (Stephenville – club: Bay St. George Bravehearts)
  • Sarah Brown (Gander – club: Gander Wings)
  • Ryan Drover (Portugal Cove-St. Philips – club: Mount Pearl)
  • Jody Lawrence (Wabush – club: Lab West Big Landers)
  • Hannah Samuelson (Portugal Cove-St. Philips – club: St. John’s Explorers)

In Speed Skating, Brandon Park (McIvers – club: Corner Brook Vikings) won a Gold and two Silver

In Singles 5-Pin Bowling

  • Michael Power (St. John’s – club: St. John’s Explorers), Brian Shea (St. John’s – club: St. John’s Explorers) and Kevin Wiseman (Witless Bay –  club: St. John’s Explorers) won Gold, and
  • Kayla Sceviour (Colliers Riverhead – club: CBS Brightstars) won Bronze.

And Gary Wicks, Kim O’Neill, Tony Kryitsis, Margaret McNeil, and Joshua Gardner won Gold in Curling. (Grand Falls-Windsor – club: Exploits Hurricanes)

Congratulations to all the medalists. You have earned these medals through hard work, perseverance and determination.

Mr. Speaker, the Special Olympics Motto is “Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”

I would also like to congratulate all the members of Team Newfoundland and Labrador for their spirit and bravery in competing at the Games. We are so proud of all of you.

To the staff and volunteers of Special Olympics Newfoundland and Labrador, the mission staff, parents, coaches and sponsors, thank you for your commitment to our athletes, and to the future of sport in our province. You have certainly played an important role in their success.

I invite all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to join with me in congratulating Team Newfoundland and Labrador on a successful Special Olympics Winter Games.

Thank you.

2020 03 03 2:45 pm