Ron MacLean on the Canada Games Hall of Honour Class of 2019

From the 2019 Canada Winter Games

Athletes Jennifer Heil, Cindy Klassen and Bruny Surin, along with Builder Clare Drake and Distinguished Alumna Dr. Elizabeth Cannon were announced as the Canada Games Hall of Honour Class of 2019.

“The Canada Games Hall of Honor recognizes, honours and celebrates exceptional Canada Games alumni and individuals who have, in their own ways, made outstanding contributions to the development and advancement of the Canada Games,” expressed Chair of the Hall of Honor committee and member of the Canada Games Council board of directors, Lynn Blouin. “Being able to do so within such a prestigious event held before the Canada Games in Red Deer will surely shed more light on the deserving honorees of this Class of 2019.”

“We are pleased to help the Canada Games Council induct these incredible Canada Games alumni who have made a positive contribution to the Canada Games movement across the nation,” said 2019 Canada Games Board Chair Lyn Radford. “We look forward to celebrating these individuals at the official Hall of Honour Celebration Dinner on February 14, 2019, and we encourage central Albertans to join us at this unique celebration of sport by contacting the Games office to purchase a ticket.”

Induction into the Canada Games Hall of Honour occurs every two years during each Canada Games. The Hall of Honour recognizes, honours and celebrates exceptional Canada Games alumni who have distinguished themselves as athletes, coaches, officials or administrators, or persons who have made an outstanding contribution to the development and advancement of the Canada Games property.

“My participation in the Canada Games in Newfoundland and Labrador at 15 years old was a highlight of my ski career. It was an opportunity to celebrate the power of sport, to be embraced by a community far from my own, and to challenge myself to perform on demand. I am incredibly honoured to be inducted into the Canada Games Hall of Honour,” noted Jennifer Heil.

“The Canada Games provided me with invaluable learning opportunities that have helped me in both sport and life. I cherish my time at the Canada Games and this induction has given me the chance to reflect on those experiences. It is a proud moment to have my name placed among other Canadians who have contributed so much to our country,” said Cindy Klassen.

“I would like to thank the Canada Games organization for honouring my career. Thirty years ago while I was participating at the Games, I had big dreams to become an Olympian and the fastest man on earth. I could say that those Games were a stepping stone for my career. Amidst the pressures, the judgments and the sacrifices that I made in my life, on August 22, 1999, I ran faster than I ever imagined and became the second fastest human of all time,” remarked Olympian Bruny Surin.

“Dad would be very proud to be included in the Canada Games Hall of Honour. He was passionate about sport and its impact on personal development and would be delighted to be recognized as a small part of the Canada Games legacy celebrating our finest amateur athletes,” commented Jami Drake on behalf of the late Clare Drake.

“I am honoured to be inducted into the Hall of Honour as competing in the Canada Games was a highlight of my swimming career. The opportunity to represent my home province of PEI, see our great country and compete with highly talented and motivated athletes, left an indelible mark on both my personal life and professional career,” said Dr. Elizabeth Cannon, the inaugural inductee in the Distinguished Alumni category, recognizing outstanding accomplishment in fields outside of sport.

The induction ceremony takes place on February 14, 2019, during the Hall of Honour Celebration Dinner in Red Deer as part of the celebrations for the 2019 Canada Winter Games in Red Deer taking place from February 15 until March 3, 2019. In addition to the inductees, the Hall of Honour Celebration Dinner features special guests Cari and Ron MacLean, 2019 Canada Winter Games Honorary Co-Chairs, and Olympian Catriona Le May Doan. Tickets for the Hall of Honour Dinner, are available by contacting 403.309.8419.

Related Topics:2019 Canada Winter Games Canada Games Hall of Fame feature Ron MacLean

Up Next

Blackfalds welcomes Canada Winter Games Torch Relay

Don't Miss

Red Deer RCMP arrest man after truck collides with six vehicles

Duane Rolheiser

After 15 years as a TV reporter with Global and CBC and as news director of RDTV in Red Deer, Duane set out on his own 2008 as a visual storyteller. During this period, he became fascinated with a burgeoning online world and how it could better serve local communities. This fascination led to Todayville, launched in 2016.

Follow Author

DOGE on the job: How Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy caused the looming government shutdown

Dr John Campbell / 3 weeks ago

Cancer cure experiences

ESG / 4 weeks ago

Can’t afford Rent? Groceries for your kids? Trudeau says suck it up and pay the tax!

2019 Canada Winter Games

Red Deer’s Lyn Radford joins new Chair Catriona Le May Doan on Canada Games Council

Published on December 5, 2024

Todayville

News release from the Canada Games Council

Hall of Fame Athlete Elected Chair of Canada Games Council Board of Directors

The Canada Games Council (CGC) is thrilled to announce the election of Canadian sport legend Catriona Le May Doan as Chair of the organization’s Board of Directors. Joining Le May Doan in officer positions are Vice-Chair Sean O’Donnell, Treasurer Sheri Somerville and Secretary Lyn Radford.

Canada Games Council Logo (CNW Group/Canada Games Council)

“I am very excited and honoured to be taking on the role of Chair of the Canada Games Council,” said Le May Doan. “I have been a part of the Canada Games Movement for almost 42 years. The Canada Games were my first multi-sport Games and had a huge impact on my career and I continue to believe in and witness the power of the Canada Games in building sport in our country, but also strengthening our communities.”

A three-time Olympic medallist and icon in Canadian speed skating, Le May Doan is a true champion on and off the field of play. She is a tireless ambassador for the transformational power of sport and a distinguished member of Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame and the Canada Games Hall of Honour.

A Canada Games alum in both speed skating and athletics for Team Saskatchewan, Le May Doan is currently the President and CEO of Sport Calgary. She recently served as Team Canada’s Chef de Mission at the Olympic Winter Games in 2022.

A longtime CGC board member, Le May Doan takes over the reins from outgoing Chair Evan Johnston, who is stepping down after 10 years on the board as he takes on the new role as President and CEO of The Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company in January.

“On behalf of the entire Canada Games family, I’d like to thank Evan for his decade of volunteer service to the Canada Games Movement and his invaluable guidance and mentorship to our CGC Board and staff as Chair of the Canada Games Council,” said Kelly-Ann Paul, CGC President and CEO. “We are thrilled to welcome Catriona at the helm and know her strategic leadership will continue to solidify the foundation of our organization so that the Canada Games strengthen the fabric of our nation from coast to coast to coast.”

“I hope to continue the great work that Evan has done and I thank him for his leadership,” said Le May Doan. “I am looking forward to working with the incredible CGC team and our network of partners for the upcoming Games in St. John’s next summer, and then in Quebec City in 2027, where we will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Games. Together, we will continue to spark greatness in Canadians through the Canada Games.”

Those filling the remaining officer positions have all been on the CGC Board since 2022.

O’Donnell brings extensive executive experience in the federal public service and the Canadian sport system to the Vice-Chair role. Somerville is a business executive, entrepreneur, and award-winning PR consultant, all of which will serve her well as Treasurer. Radford brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in revenue generation for non-profit and sport organizations, as well as a Host Society leadership lens, to the role of Secretary.

The next Canada Summer Games take place from August 8-25, 2025 in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, while the next Canada Winter Games will unfold in Quebec City from February 27 to March 14, 2027.

About the Canada Games Council

The Canada Games Council, a private, non-profit organization, is the governing body for the Canada Games. Held once every two years, alternating between winter and summer, the Canada Games represent the highest level of national competition for up and coming Canadian athletes. The Games have been hosted in every province at least twice since their inception in Quebec City during Canada’s Centennial 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 through the tireless dedication of local Host Societies and the contribution and support of the federal, provincial/territorial and host municipal governments.

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

Todayville

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: