FREDERICTON (GNB) – Members of the Team New Brunswick mission staff for the 2019 Canada Winter Games were announced today by Tourism, Heritage and Culture Minister John Ames.

The mission staff will provide administrative and logistical support to more than 300 athletes, coaches and managers before and during the Games, which will take place in Red Deer, Alta., from Feb. 15 to March 3, 2019.

“As the minister responsible for sport and recreation, I am proud to welcome this group of individuals who have been selected as mission staff for Team NB,” said Ames. “I thank all the volunteers who are dedicating their time and talents to this important event.”

The department had issued a call for experienced individuals interested in being part of the mission staff. The selected candidates will work with chef de mission Nicole Smith and the assistant chefs de mission to ensure the needs of the participants are addressed.

"The Canada Games Council and the local organizing committee are working hard to provide a first-class competitive experience for the participants,” said Smith. “We are coming off an incredibly successful showing at the last Canada Summer Games, and we will be ready to compete in Red Deer.”

Sports on the competition calendar for New Brunswick include alpine skiing, archery, badminton, biathlon, boxing, cross-country skiing, curling, figure skating, gymnastics, trampoline, hockey, judo, ringette, speedskating, squash, synchronized swimming and wheelchair basketball.

Mission staff for the Canada Winter Games include:

Chef de mission:

  • Nicole Smith (Fredericton)

Assistant chefs de mission:

  • Jason Arseneault (New Maryland)
  • Christine Powers-Tomsons (Fredericton)

Media and communications:

  • Bruce Macfarlane (Fredericton)
  • Fran Harris (Fredericton)
  • Kevin Lunn (Hanwell)

Operations and logistics:

  • Meaghan Donahue Wies (Fredericton)
  • Jean-Luc Benoit (Dieppe)
  • Eddie Rutanga (Moncton)
  • Jacques Robichaud (Richibucto)

Medical liaison:

  • Karine Meunier-Pelletier (Dalhousie)

Sport liaisons:

  • Daniel Cyr (Edmundston)
  • Bruce Guitard (Charlo)
  • Steve Harris (Fredericton)
  • Monica Hitchcock (Grand Bay-Westfield)
  • Serge Manuel (Moncton)
  • Darcy McKillop (Fredericton)
  • Manon Ouellette (Fredericton)
  • Sky Perley (Tobique)
  • Jamie Shanks (Oromocto)

The Canada Games are a national multi-sport competition with participation from every province and territory. The Games are held every two years, alternating between winter and summer. The next Canada Winter Games will bring together about 4,000 athletes, coaches and managers to compete in 19 sports.

28-05-18