1 Year To Go for 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games

Toronto and other host cities are celebrating this weekend.

"TORONTO 2015’s host municipalities are also excited to celebrate one year to go until the Games! The communities of Ajax, Burlington, Caledon, Hamilton, Markham, Milton, Mississauga, Welland, St. Catharines and Oshawa are hosting their own special festivities — from carnival games and sports activities to live music, dancing and Zumba classes. Click on the links to get more information about the celebrations taking place throughout the Greater Golden Horseshoe region."

Click here for more information and the links to event schedules.

A countdown clock was unveiled in Toronto this morning. Dignitaries were present as well as athletes for the unveiling.

Cirque du Soleil performers helped with the unveiling.

Mascot Pachi was on hand. Beside the countdown clock, there is an interactive oversized tablet. 

I will have to go back to get a closer look.

The venue was beautiful with multiple playing fields for sports activities. 

There is also a stage for performances and activities.

I spy Benoît Huot, 19 time Paralympic medallist and Curt Harnett, 3 time Olympic medallist and Chef de Mission for the 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Games.

Just in case you are perceptive, yes, that is Rob Ford leaving after this photo op. It wouldn't be a Toronto event without a Rob Ford sighting. 

The trampoline show was a highlight of the early afternoon activities with a very appreciative large crowd enjoying our national team members showing off their skills including 3-time Olympic medallist Karen Cockburn.

CIBC Team Next athlete Sam Sendel

Olympic silver medallist Jason Burnett

 Karen Cockburn and Rachel Tam

After the performances, the athletes signed autographs and posed for photos.

Synchro partners Rosie and Sam. Rosie is recovering from an injury and did not perform in case you're wondering why I don't have photos of Rosie in action.

Jason brought his Olympic medal to share with Olympic fans

Getting a closer look at the countdown clock (although there was a lineup for the interactive table)

Activities continue this evening and tomorrow. Click here for the Toronto schedule.

Unveiling of CIBC Team Next

Originally published on SportCafé.ca

CIBC unveiled 67 athletes who were chosen for the Team Next Program. You can read the official press release by clicking here.

The event was held at Ryerson's Mattamy Athletic Centre in Toronto on Monday November 18.

The athletes were nominated by their National and Provincial Sport Organizations and reviewed by a panel of experts, including representatives from AthletesCAN and the Canadian Sport Institute Ontario (CSIO).

Team Next is a program where the athletes will receive

• an annual grant for three years (total $15 000)
• mentorship from current and former world-class Canadian athletes
• workshops and advice on personal finances, post-secondary education and career planning, social media training and public speaking
• exclusive access to the CIBC Team Next online forum
• community support and networking opportunities through local CIBC branches and employees
• preferred CIBC products and services

Speaking to many of the athletes, they especially appreciate the mentorship part of the program. The mentors are:

• Josh Cassidy
• Mark de Jonge
• Stephanie Dixon
• Kara Lang
• Kyle Shewfelt
• Mary Spencer
• Bruny Surin
• Simon Whitfield

The unveiling began with Bruny Surin, Simon Whitfield and Stephanie Dixon taking to the podium to introduce the event. They spoke about the great weekend they just spent with the athletes and their roles as mentors. Although the athletes have been thanking the mentors a lot, Simon, on behalf of the mentors, thanked the athletes for giving them inspiration and said how fulfilling their roles are as mentors.

They were followed by Richard Nesbitt, CEO of CIBC who introduced the $2 million Team Next program to help the next generation of Canadian athletic stars reach their full potential. "What makes this program unique and special" he said, "is the elite team of mentors". He explained that the athletes had gathered from all over Canada - from St. John's to Victoria, from Yellowknife to Windsor. They represent all Pan Am and Parapan sports. CIBC will help build a sports legacy and will provide our next generation of athletes with the kind of support they need to succeed.

Federal Minister of Sport Bal Gosal and Provincial Minister of Sport Michael Chan were the final speakers before the official unveiling of the athletes. "The government can not do it alone" said Minister Gosal. With CIBC being a lead sponsor for the 2015 Pan Am and Parapan Am Games, the public and private partnership will lead to a lasting sports legacy following the Games. The federal and provincial governments are very happy to see corporate sponsors like CIBC who come on board to help ensure athletes stand a better chance at reaching their goals.

The athletes selected for CIBC Team Next are a varied group representing the 51 Pan Am and Parapan Am Sports and disciplines. They range in age from 15-52. The athletes who mostly practice individual sports were excited about being part of a team and learning about the other sports.

As mentioned above, the athletes come from all over Canada representing 9 Canadian provinces and territories.

British Columbia - 11 athletes

“This program will provide for these aspiring athletes many of the tools they’ll need to achieve their goals in 2015 and beyond,” said Simon Whitfield, mentor for CIBC Team Next and winner of multiple Olympic medals in triathlon. “I would like to congratulate our CIBC Team Next athletes for all their hard work so far, and I look forward to being a mentor and a part of their phenomenal journey during this exciting time in their lives.”

Name	Age	Hometown	Sport
Amanda Yan	25	Burnaby	Wheelchair Basketball
Austin Hinchey	22	Vancouver	Sitting Volleyball
Christabel Nettey	22	Surrey	Athletics
Danielle Kisser	16	Delta	Swimming (Para)
Emily Belchos	18	Langford	Rugby
Hilary Caldwell	22	Victoria	Swimming
Isabella Bertold	22	Surrey	Sailing
Michelle Xin-Rong Liaw	17	Vancouver	Table Tennis
Nicole Luchanski	23	Campbell River	Baseball
Phyllis Chan	22	Vancouver	Badminton
Sukhi Panesar	19	Surrey	Field Hockey

Prairies and Territories - 8 athletes

“Mentorship has always played such an important role in my career as an athlete, and I think it’s important for the next generation of aspiring athletes to have the same positive experience” said Kyle Shewfelt, an Olympic and Commonwealth gold-medal gymnast and CIBC Team Next mentor. “I look forward to helping these athletes develop into Canada’s future sporting champions and more. Congratulations, CIBC Team Next athletes!” 

Name	Age	Hometown	Sport
Aron Ghebreyohannes	23	Calgary, AB	Goalball
Brett Leavens	20	Chestermere, AB	Speed Skating
Cody Yano	22	Edmonton, AB	Diving
David Letourneau	24	Calgary, AB	Squash
Denise Ramsden	22	Yellowknife, NWT	Cycling
Nikola Goncin	21	White City, SK	Wheelchair Basketball
Russell Wood	19	Calgary, AB	Swimming
Taryn Grant	18	Winnipeg, MB	Water Ski

Ontario - 21 athletes

“Congratulations to all of our CIBC Team Next athletes,” said Josh Cassidy, a CIBC Team Next mentor and five-time Canadian champion wheelchair racer and winner of both the 2012 Boston Marathon and 2010 London Marathon. “I’m excited to be mentoring athletes of all abilities on their journey to represent Canada on the world stage. As an aspiring athlete, it’s so important to have a strong support system around you to keep you motivated and encouraged, which is why I’m thrilled to be part of the CIBC Team Next program.

Name	Age	Hometown	Sport
Anthony Romaniw	22	Hamilton	Athletics
Brooke Henderson	16	Smith Falls	Golf
Cameron Smedley	23	Ottawa	CanoeKayak
Carling Zeeman	22	Cambridge	Rowing
Christine Roper	23	London	Rowing
Cody Caldwell	25	Cavan	Wheelchair Rugby
Corey Walsh	19	Ayr	Cycling
Emma Wright	17	Lindsay	Water Polo
Erika Seltenreich-Hodgson	18	Ottawa	Swimming
Grant O’Gorman	20	Scarborough	Volleyball
Jessie Fleming	15	London	Soccer
Joanna Brown	21	Guelph	Triathlon
Justin Karn	32	Guelph	Judo (Para)
Karen Van Nest	51	South Bruce Peninsula	Archery (Para)
Mathea Stevens	22	Rockland	Modern Pentathlon
Philip Scrubb	20	Ottawa	Basketball
Patricia Bezzoubenko	16	Thornhill	Gymnastics
Samuel Charron	15	Ottawa	Soccer (Para)
Samantha Sendel	22	Aurora	Trampoline
Vanessa Lee	24	Toronto	Archery
Yvette Yong	23	Etobicoke	Taekwondo

Quebec - 20 athletes

“I would like to congratulate our CIBC Team Next athletes for their hard work and dedication so far,” said Bruny Surin, a seven-time Canadian champion and winner of multiple Olympic medals in sprint and CIBC Team Next mentor. “It’s so important to have a support system with you every step of the way, and I’m honoured to be part of a program that recognizes funding alone isn’t enough for our amateur athletes to reach the podium.” 

Name	Age	Hometown	Sport
Alison Levine	23	Côte-Saint-Luc	Boccia
Dorothy Yeats	20	Montréal	Wrestling
François Dussault-Lavoie	20	Québec City	Bowling
Gabrielle Pilote Fortin	20	St-Augustin de Desmaure	Cycling
Jacqueline Simoneau	17	Saint-Laurent	Synchronized Swimming
Jean- François Sylvestre	29	Québec City	Wheelchair Tennis
Jean-Michel Lavallière	22	Québec City	Swimming (Para)
Jean-Philippe Maranda	27	Sherbrooke	Athletics (Para)
Kamille Desjardins	21	L’Ange-Gardien	Karate
Kelita Zupancic	23	Montréal	Judo
Kimberly Hyacinthe	24	Terrebonne	Athletics
Louis-Albert Corriveau-Jolin	23	Sainte-Claire	Cycling (Para)
Mathieu Roy	24	Saint-Gervais	Softball
Maxim Bouchard	23	Saint-Constant	Diving
Maximilien Van Haaster	21	Montréal	Fencing
Michelle Morissette	17	Baie-Comeau	Racquetball
Pamela Ware	20	Montréal	Diving
Pascal Plamondon	20	Ascot Corner	Weightlifting
René Cournoyer	16	Repentigny	Gymnastics
Sylvain Gaudet	24	Brossard	Handball

Maritimes - 7 athletes

“CIBC Team Next is such an essential program because it goes beyond the funding and recognizes the incredible role mentorship also plays in an athlete’s development” said Mark de Jonge, CIBC Team Next mentor and Olympic medalist and sprint kayaker. “I know how important it is to have someone rooting for you in your corner, and I’m thrilled to be a part of this exciting chapter for the members of CIBC Team Next as they strive to reach their goals in athletics and beyond.”  

Name	Age	Hometown	Sport
Ben Taylor	21	St. John’s, NL	Shooting
Brittany Fraser	25	New Glasgow, NS	Equestrian
Custio Clayton	26	Dartmouth, NS	Boxing
Ian Kent	52	Eastern Passage, NS	Table Tennis (Para)
Jason McCoombs	20	Dartmouth, NS	CanoeKayak
Michelle Russell	21	Dartmouth, NS	CanoeKayak
Pamela LeJean	29	Halifax, NS	Athletics (Para)

I was fortunate to attend the second day of the orientation camp and meet many of the athletes including some interviews. I look forward to following CIBC Team Next towards the 2015 Pan Am Games and 2016 Olympic Games.

(With files from CIBC)

2 Year Countdown to Pan Am/Parapan Am Games

With two years to go until Toronto hosts the 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games, ten communities who will be hosting events celebrated with athlete appearances, dignitary speeches and activities for young and old. The Pan Am events were held a couple of weeks ago in:

• Ajax - baseball/softball
• Caledon - equestrian
• Hamilton - soccer
• Markham - aquatics, badminton, table tennis, golf
• Milton - track cycling
• Mississauga - judo, karate, taekwondo, wrestling and Para events goalball, powerlifting and wheelchair rugby
• Oshawa - boxing
• St. Catharines - rowing
• Welland - canoe/kayak sprint
• Toronto - various sports

I attended the Toronto event at Commerce Court where Paralympian Josh Cassidy was Master of Ceremonies.

Roger Garland, TO2015 Chairman of the Board accepted a certificate from the mayor of Toronto declaring today Pan Am/Parapan Am Day in Toronto.

Also present were Canadian Olympic Committee President Marcel Aubut and Gaétan Tardif, recently elected Canadian Paralympic Committee President.

The highlight was seeing Olympic silver medallist Jason Burnett perform on the trampoline. For over two hours, he would demonstrate his routines every 10-15 minutes.

Jason was also very gracious with his silver medal from the Beijing Olympics, showing it to anyone who wanted to see it (and even get to hold it).

There were opportunities for people to try their hand at some sports like fencing (as part of the modern pentathlon exhibit).

The pentathletes also demonstrated their skills and posed for photos.

Beatrice Cigagna lunges at Christopher Rudolph

Alyssa Yu and Hillary Elliott

There were murals painted by David Arrigo that were unveiled and will be on display at the various venues.

I love that some of the athletes have autographed the paintings (Justyn Warner and Benoit Huot in the two above (I believe)- Rosie Maclennan also signed the one on the far right "Welcome to Toronto").

Yesterday, there were two events being held to celebrate two years to go to the Parapan Am Games in Whitby (host for boccia and judo) and Toronto.

The Toronto event involved a celebrity wheelchair basketball game that included :

Richard Peter - 5-time wheelchair basketball paralympian (winning 3 gold medals and 1 silver medal)
Marnie Abbott-Peter - 5-time wheelchair basketball paralympian (winning 3 golds and 1 bronze)
Tamara Steeves - wheelchair basketball paralympian
Amanda Yan Team Canada wheelchair basketball
Suleiman Muse - Team Canada para canoe
Sammi Joe Small - 3 time Olympian (2 gold) hockey
Josh Cassidy - Paralympic marathoner and winner of Boston Marathon and London Marathon.
and many more

Although it was great to see the politicians/organizers/celebrities struggle at playing to show us the difficulty of wheelchair basketball, I loved seeing the wheelchair athletes show their skill - although this was in the minority of the moments. Most of the wheelchair basketball players preferred to pass to their "celebrity" teammates to give them a chance at playing or in Richard Peter's case, stand at the bottom of his opponent's net to not let the short shots go out of bounds and pass the ball back to keep the play going. He did take the limelight near the end of the game with an effortless 3-pointer that had supporters for both teams cheering.

Those few moments of brilliance have made me want to go see a live wheelchair basketball game.

One of the highlights for many of the kids was the appearance of Pachi, the Pan/Parapan Am Games mascot.

I especially loved the side/back view of the 41 colourful quills, one for each of the country represented at the Pan Am Games.

With two years to the Pan Am games, I can't wait to follow our summer athletes on the road to the Pan Am Games followed by the Rio Olympics in 2016.