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2019 Canada Winter Games

Volunteering for the Canada Games has been inspiring!

Published

6 years ago

7 minute read

We’ve had an amazing two weeks volunteering as physiotherapists at the 2019 Canada Winter Games.  All of us -Lynsie, Kara, Nicki and Leanne – we are tired but inspired!

Through the 2 week period, we dedicated about 140 hours between us to assist the athletes. We have been working at the “polyclinic” where the athletes can seek treatment between training and competition. We are also at venues to assess injuries or assist with taping and such. We are having a great time and so pleased to be part of the Games.

This is Our Moment! Enjoy the Games!

We get asked a lot of questions when we’re out working in public like this so we thought we’d include some of them here for your convenience.  You can find out more, along with contact information by clicking this link.
How do I make an appointment for physiotherapy? Does my doctor have to refer me?

Physiotherapists in Alberta are primary caregivers in our health care system. This means that you have direct access to physiotherapy without needing to be referred by your doctor. Anyone needing help to optimize their health can phone and book a physiotherapy assessment at our clinic. If you have a complex medical history or a specific medical concern, you may want to first see your doctor to rule out a medical root of your problem.

I’ve never been for physio…what happens during a physiotherapy assessment?

When you first attend our clinic, you will be asked for general information such as address and family doctor by our receptionist. You will then be taken to a private cubicle and introduced to your physiotherapist. Your physio will ask you questions about your injury/problem as well as your general health. You will then be evaluated regarding your specific problem. The therapist will look at such things as your posture, movement, joint and muscle mobility. This may require some disrobing so you may want to bring a tank top and shorts depending on the area being treated.

Once the physical examination is complete, the therapist will explain your diagnosis and discuss the best treatment options. You will talk about your expectations and goals of treatment. Often a treatment is performed with the initial assessment, if time allows. You are always encouraged to ask questions as your understanding of the injury is crucial in allowing you to improve. You may be given a home program and plan for follow-up.

What kind of training do physiotherapists have?

Physiotherapists/Physical therapists in Canada have a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree in physiotherapy from an accredited university. Only therapists with these credentials are allowed to call themselves physio/physical therapists. After university, physiotherapists improve their skills through experience, learning from their fellow therapists, and by taking post graduate courses in areas of interest or towards specific skills such as manual therapy or IMS. Physiotherapy is a government regulated profession which means that we have a licensing body that is in place to protect the public. You can find out more about the regulation of physiotherapy through the College of Physical Therapists of Alberta (www.cpta.ab.ca).

How do I pay for physiotherapy?

Many people have extended health benefits through their employment or private health insurance. Most of these plans will cover some or all of your physiotherapy assessment and treatments. You may wish to contact your plan advisor to ask for your specific health benefit plan details. Examples of extended health plans may be Great West Life, Blue Cross, Manulife, ASEBP…to name a few. Venus, our office manager, is also very knowledgeable about these plans and may be able to assist you. Call Venus at 403-356-9789, or email at [email protected]

Many benefit plans allow direct billing. This means that we will bill your treatment cost directly to your insurer for you. Some insurance plans to not allow this. If this is the case, we bill you for your treatment and you submit your invoice to your plan for reimbursement. We accept cash, visa, mastercard, and debit transactions.

Do I have to do my exercises?

Yes! While therapists at Pursuit Physiotherapy use their manual skills and other modalities to help you with your problem, your active participation in your treatment is crucial to your recovery. We do not pretend to fix people! We want to give you tools necessary to manage your problem. We are more than happy to teach you how to do that and use treatments such as manual muscle or joint mobilization, electrical or thermal modalities, needling, etc to help accelerate your recovery.

How many times will I need to go for treatment?

This varies considerably. Part of the philosophy of the physiotherapy profession is to give the patient tools to be as independent as possible in their treatment. We have you attend for treatments when you need hands-on care or regular follow up. We educate you on exercises and modifications in your movement or activities to allow you to continue to improve at home. We strive to have you back to your activities as efficiently as possible and do not believe that everyone requires frequent or ongoing treatment.

Pursuit Physiotherapy in Red Deer, promotes balanced, healthy living through dedicated, individualized physical therapy for those in pain, unable to participate fully in their daily activities, wanting to maximize their function for work or sport, and wanting to prevent potential problems.

Quality care. Quality Life.

If something is affecting your quality of life, then we want to help you to optimize your function and minimize your pain.

We are located at 110, 2840 Bremner Avenue in Red Deer. Call us anytime at 403-356-9789.

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Volunteering for the Canada Games has been inspiring!

2019 Canada Winter Games

Gift that keeps giving: 35 Alberta non-profits funded through the 2019 Canada Winter Games Legacy Fund

Published on May 18, 2021

By

From the Canada Games Council

LEGACIES OF THE 2019 CANADA WINTER GAMES CONTINUE TO GROW

Legacy Fund Society awards legacy funds to not-for-profits across Alberta

The 2019 Canada Winter Games Legacy Fund Society has awarded the financial legacy from the 2019 Games to not-for-profit sport and community organizations across Alberta.

“The Legacy Fund Society is pleased to announce that we have awarded $655,000 in grants to 35 not-for-profit sport and community organizations across Alberta,” said Guy Pelletier, Legacy Fund Society Chair. “The grants support a wide variety of projects across the province. These organizations and their respective projects build on the numerous legacies of the 2019 Games.”

Through a grant application process in early 2021, the Legacy Fund Society received and reviewed funding requests for 200 projects from nearly 150 organizations at a value of over $7.1 million.‍

“The response to our call for applications was phenomenal. There was no shortage of meaningful and innovative projects,” said Pelletier.

“The 2019 Canada Games in Red Deer were truly transformative and continue to foster meaningful legacies across Alberta,” said Kelly-Ann Paul, Senior Vice-President of Host Relations at the Canada Games Council. “These legacy grants will enrich and uplift organizations and communities as we strive to strengthen the fabric of Canada through the power of sport.”

Requests for funding were reviewed and evaluated based on their alignment with the values of the 2019 Games and distributed in four categories: athlete and coach or official development; infrastructure or equipment development or acquisition; sport development capacity building; and non-sport or discretionary projects.

The following is a listing of the organizations who were awarded funding:

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2019 Canada Winter Games

2019 Canada Winter Games Chair Lyn Radford Wins STC Sport Event Volunteer of the Year Award

Published on March 5, 2021

By

From the Canada Games Council

Lyn Radford, Chair of the 2019 Canada Winter Games, has been named the recipient of the 2020 Sport Tourism Canada (STC) Sport Event Volunteer of the Year Award.

The presentation of the 2020 PRESTIGE awards, postponed from last year, were hosted virtually as a gala on-line production. The presentation was hosted by Olympian, World Cup medallist and CBC Broadcaster Kelly VanderBeek.

The STC Sport Event Volunteer of the Year Award recognizes the outstanding contributions of an individual’s volunteer efforts during the hosting of one or more sport events in Canada in 2019.

Lyn Radford Background and Accomplishments

-Lyn Radford served as the Chair of the 2019 Canada Winter Games Host Society from 2014 – 2019

-Lyn oversaw the leadership, planning, execution, governance, and fundraising of the 2019 Canada Games, while serving as the primary spokesperson for the organization

-She is the first singular female Chairperson of a Host Society in Canada Games history

Lyn has volunteered her time to other major events throughout Red Deer and Alberta including the following:

  • 2003, 2006 and 2007 Bid Committee member for Alberta & Western Canada Games
  • Committee member for 2013 Memorial Cup Bid
  • Chair of the 2006 Alberta Summer Games
  • Directed the 2010 Olympic Torch Celebration
  • Served as a Director for 1998 Alberta Winter Games
  • Served as a Director for the 2004 and 2012 Scotties Tournament of Hearts
  • Served as a Director for the inaugural 2013 Tour of Alberta cycling race
  • Served as Capital Campaign Chair for Red Deer’s Ronald McDonald House
  • Founding member of both the Alberta Sport Development Centre – Central and the Red Deer Leadership Centre
  • Served on the Alberta Sport Connection as the Provincial Games Chair
  • Served as a Director on Red Deer College’s Board of Governors

Lyn has been recognized through various other awards including:

  • 2005 Alberta Centennial Medal for Volunteer Service
  • 2006 Toyota Never Quit Award
  • 2007 Mayors Award of Distinction for Volunteer Service
  • Red Deer’s 2009 Citizen of the Year
  • 2011 Women of Excellence Lifetime Achievement Award winner
  • Governor General of Canada 2012 Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal
  • 2019 City of Red Deer Lifetime Achievement Award
  • 2019 honorary bachelor of interdisciplinary studies degree
Quotes

“The 2019 Canada Winter Games were an incredible event that showcased our nation’s top amateur athletes and left behind a legacy of infrastructure, sustainability, and community pride in Red Deer. Lyn Radford was the driving force behind how successful these Games were, and we are grateful for the years of hard work and dedication she invested in the 2019 Canada Winter Games. The Canada Games are stronger than ever because of Lyn, and we’re thrilled that she’s being recognized for all of her accomplishments.”

Evan Johnston, Chair, Canada Games Council

“Congratulations to Lyn on being recognized  by Sport Tourism as the Sport Event Volunteer of the Year.  What a well deserved honor. Lyn has worked tirelessly as a volunteer for all of her adult life. No task is too small or too large for her to tackle. But the legacy of her volunteerism goes deeper than just her own involvement in a myriad of activities and events. She leads, motivates, encourages, cajoles and celebrates in such an infectious manner that the result is literally thousands of people who are giving back to their community because of her passion for commitment. The 2019 Canada Winter Games was just one of many opportunities for her to lead others to impact our community. I am sure all of the nominees have been involved in their events because of an intrinsic motivation to make a difference.  And Lyn was no different. Her motivation is never about self but about transforming community and people. During one day in the preparation for the Games, Lyn made an important presentation to our political leaders in the morning, helped with the orientation of volunteers in the afternoon and then was found hanging ornamental snowflakes from the light posts of main street in the evening. She exemplifies the saying ‘life is short-do stuff that matters-for and with others.”

Hugh McPherson, Vice Chair, 2019 Canada Winter Games Host Society

“Thank you to Sport Tourism Canada for recognizing the 2019 Canada Winter Games, and the hard work of our “force-to-be-reckoned with” Chair, Lyn Radford. This award recognizes the leadership, strength and fortitude demonstrated by our Chair, Lyn Radford and CEO, Scott Robinson, and the more than 5,000 incredible community volunteers. We made this once-in-a-lifetime moment ours, as individuals, as a community, and as a country in pursuit of possibilities. Congratulations Lyn on this prestigious award.”

Tara Veer, Mayor of Red Deer

About the Canada Games

Held once every two years, alternating between winter and summer, the Canada Games are the largest multi-sport event in Canada for up and coming amateur athletes. Each Games features two weeks of competition, between 16 – 19 sports, approximately 3,400 summer and 2,350 winter athletes, and over 4,000 volunteers. Hosted in every province at least once since their inception in Quebec City in 1967, the Games are proud of their contribution to Canada’s sport development system in addition to their lasting legacy of sport facilities, community pride and national unity.

The organization of the Canada Games is made possible thanks to the contribution and support of the Government of Canada, provincial/territorial governments, host municipalities and the Canada Games Council.

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