News Release

FREDERICTON (GNB) – The provincial government today announced the members of the team that will represent New Brunswick at the upcoming La Francophonie Games.

"I congratulate all of the athletes, artists and staff members chosen to represent our province at this event," said Healthy and Inclusive Communities Minister Dorothy Shephard.

The VIIth La Francophonie Games will be held in Nice, France, from Sept 7 to 15.

"It is always an honour for New Brunswick, the only officially bilingual province in Canada, to participate in the Games of La Francophonie," said Paul Robichaud, minister responsible for La Francophonie. "The young New Brunswickers who qualified to represent our province at the games demonstrate exceptional skills and talents."

Held every four years, the Games bring together more than 3,000 young people representing the members states and governments of La Francophonie to take part in sports and cultural competitions.

"The members of Team Canada – New Brunswick are cultural and sports ambassadors for our province," said Tourism, Heritage and Culture Minister Trevor Holder. "I am proud of them, and I urge all New Brunswickers to join me in wishing them every success in France in September."

New Brunswick will be represented in three sports disciplines by the following athletes:

Athletics

●    Grace Annear of Hampton (800 m).
●    Réjean Chiasson of Tilley Road (marathon).
●    Nadine Frost of Bocabec (1,500 m).
●    Lydia Frost of Bocabec (1,500 m).
●    Adam Gaudes of Fredericton (800 m).
●    Caleb Jones of Saint John (javelin throw).
●    Geneviève Lalonde of Moncton (3,000 m steeplechase).
●    Elizabeth McDonald of Oromocto (hammer throw).
 
Coach: Steve LeBlanc of Riverview.
    
Wrestling
    
●    Samantha Stewart of Fredericton (under 55 kg).
●    Brittany Dillman of Fredericton (under 59 kg).
●    Morgan St-Laurent of Fredericton (under 66 kg).
●    Shawn Daye-Finley of Fredericton (under 74 kg).
●    Grayson St-Laurent of Fredericton (under 84 kg).
●    Thomas MacRae of Fredericton (under 96 kg).
●    Charles Thoms of Fredericton (under 120 kg).
 
Coaches: Michel Côté of Bathurst and Don Ryan of Maugerville.
    
Judo
    
●    Martine Chenhall of Saint John (under 63 kg – women).
●    Joshua Shannon of Saint John (under 66 kg – men).
●    Maxime Raymond of Kedgwick (under 81 kg – men).
●    Miguel Raymond of Kedgwick (under 90 kg – men).
●    Marc Fortner of Fredericton (under 100 kg – men).
 
Coach: Fred Blaney of Fredericton.
    
In the cultural disciplines, New Brunswick will be represented in the following categories:
    
●    Storytelling by Kevin Arseneau of Robertville.
●    Literature by Pierre-André Doucet of Moncton.
●    Painting by Sarah Jones of Saint John.
●    Photography by Jaret Beliveau of Memramcook.
 
The athletes and artists on Team Canada – New Brunswick will be supported by the following mission staff:
●        
●    Chef de delegation: Roger Duval of Fredericton.
●    Chef de mission: Jean-Luc Benoit of Fredericton.
●    Assistant chef de mission responsible for sport: Jason Arseneault of Eel River Crossing.
●    Assistant chef de mission responsible for culture: Bunthivy Nou of Fredericton.
●    Mission staff member: Mélanie Arsenault of Miramichi.
●    Mission staff member: Eric Larocque of Moncton.
●    Head of communications: Normand Léger of Dieppe.
●    Medical staff – physiotherapist: Monique LeBlanc of Moncton.
●    Medical staff – physiotherapist: Bertrand Bélanger of Edmundston.
 
The Team Canada – New Brunswick website for La Francophonie Games will be updated to provide the latest news and to share photographs of the events at the Games.