3. Sport Technology Presentation
The Alberta Sport, Recreation, Parks & Wildlife Foundation presents; Sport Technology, a presentation by Dr. Sean Maw, Mount Royal College. Here are the details;
We all use technology in our sports ... technology for performance, safety, coaching and sports administration. Technology is much more than just computers. It's any tool that we use to do our jobs or to perform in our sport. It includes things like soccer balls, shoes, crash pads, turf, stop watches, clipboards and the internet. This session will examine how to take an inventory of your sport's technology capital. What do you have available for your use, now? We'll also do a gap analysis on what's missing that you want or need, including a classification and prioritization of those items. What do you wish you had the use of? We'll discuss the notion of "appropriate" technology solutions and the implications of different choices. We'll set you up to do a full technology assessment for your sport organization. We will also touch upon how to close the gaps that you identify, including how to work together with other sport organizations that share the same needs.
| EDMONTON | CALGARY |
| Wednesday, May 20, 2009 12:00 pm – 1:15 pm (Lunch on your Own) Percy Page Centre 11759 Groat Road Room #8, 3rd Floor | Thursday, May 21, 2009 12:00 pm – 1:15 pm (Lunch on your own) Bob Niven Training Centre Boardroom 88 Canada Olympic Road SW |
RSVP by Friday, May 15th, 2009 to: Eoghan Curran at 780- 643-0665 or eoghan.curran@gov.ab.ca
4. Attn Speed Skating Volunteers
It has been a quiet season this past winter for Calgary in terms of World Cup Speed Skating. However, the Organizing Committee Calgary is pleased to announce that Calgary has been awarded a World Cup for the coming skating season. The Organizing Committee Calgary, on behalf of Speed Skating Canada, will be presenting the Essent ISU World Cup Speed Skating competition on December 4, 5 & 6, 2009. This will be a great opportunity for the international skaters to qualify for the Olympic Winter Games on the world's fastest ice. It will also be the chance for fans to have a preview of the Olympic excitement. There will be more information coming out soon!
5. Summer Camp
A summer development camp has been planned by the Peace Wapiti Speed Skating Club. Here are the details;
Short Track Summer Camp
Coach – Debby Fisher
July 11-12, 2009
Coca Cola Centre & St. Joseph High School, Grande Prairie, Alberta
Early Registration Cutoff: May 25th - $50.00 after May 25th - $75.00
The fee includes 2 ice sessions per day, dry-land training, snacks and lunch both days. Please contact Kaila Villiger at 6villigers@telus.net or Jamie Schoorlemmer at speedsk8fam@gmail.com (780-765-2199) for additional information. The club also welcomes any interested volunteers (coaches and parents) for dry-land training, food preparation, setting up and taking down mats.
6. Leadership Grant
The ?Take the Lead Grant has been created to help Albertan girls and women become experienced leaders in the sport and recreation fields. InMotion Network will provide 5 grants of up to $1,000 per individual and/or $3,000 per organization to girls and women working or volunteering in the sport or active living communities, recreation field or school system who are working towards increasing their leadership capacity. Grant monies could be used for training, course fees, professional development, professional certification, clinics, equipment, travel, lodging, meals, and other training related activities.
Click here for more information: http://inmotionetwork.org/index.php?p=48 The grant deadline is April 30th, 2009.
7. Canada Olympic House
Canada Olympic House, the Canadian Olympic Team’s "home away from home" at each Olympic Games, will be located in downtown Vancouver during the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) announced today the hospitality centre's location: the sixth floor of the Hudson’s Bay Company’s Bay Vancouver flagship store on West Georgia Street.
“We are extremely proud of our Olympic partnership and are delighted to provide a unique and exciting venue in Vancouver for the 2010 edition of Canada Olympic House”, said Jeff Sherman, president and chief executive officer of Hudson's Bay Company. “The area we have created for the Canadian Olympic Team, in our newly renovated downtown store, will provide an easily accessible retreat for our Olympic athletes, their families and team sponsors, within close walking distance of the downtown Vancouver competition venues.”
While providing a physical location for the delivery of the Canadian Olympic Team’s hospitality services, the Family and Friends Service Centre and special events, Canada Olympic House is also a relaxing and friendly meeting place for Canadian Olympic athletes, their family, friends, coaches, support staff, sponsors, government partners and special guests. Canada Olympic House also stages programs such as the Family and Friends Program, hosts athlete medal receptions and provides a multimedia centre/internet lounge and TV lounge in order to watch all the Olympic action with other enthusiastic fans and supporters.
“We look forward to working with our partners in Vancouver in creating a winning atmosphere for our Canadian team in 2010,” said Chris Rudge, CEO, Canadian Olympic Committee. “We have every confidence that they will provide excellent service and support as we Paint the Town Red in celebration.”
Canada Olympic House is scheduled to be open every day during the Games from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. (subject to change). Access to this private facility will require pre-games registration and accreditation by the COC and is not open to the general public. Media wishing to visit Canada Olympic House should coordinate requests with the COC.
Plans for an additional Canada Olympic House in Whistler will be announced at a later date.
8. National Team News
Following a successful 8-year career on Speed Skating Canada’s long track National Team, Olympian Kim Weger (Regina, SK) decided to retire from competitive speed skating and focus on other aspects of her life.
Weger, who recently turned twenty-nine years old, spent the majority of her life skating, taking part in her first international events in the 2000-01 season. Ever since, she has been one of Canada’s top sprinters, consistently ranking in the top-3 in Canada for the 500m. She was a member of Canada’s Olympic Team who competed in Torino in 2006, placing 26th in the 500m. She also represented Canada in numerous World Cup and World Championship events over the last 8 years.
On behalf of Speed Skating Canada, the organization’s High Performance and Olympic Program Director, Brian Rahill, said: “Kim’s positive attitude and energy will be missed within our team. She has been a member of our program for many years now, also serving as athlete representative on our High Performance Long Track Committee for several years. She always worked hard on and off the ice, where she was a great example for the younger athletes. ”
While training at the Calgary Olympic Oval, Kim Weger was also studying political science at the University of Calgary. She is currently working on her Master’s degree and is hoping to follow with a PhD in order to become a professor in political science. Now that she made her retirement from speed skating official, she is planning a trip to Ghana this Fall in order to do research for her Masters thesis.
With the 2010 Olympic Winter Games just around the corner, Kim Weger weighed all her options before making the decision to retire. In the end, she felt it was the right time to focus on her studies.
“I want to thank Speed Skating Canada, its precious sponsors and partners and the Calgary Olympic Oval for their support over the years,” said Weger. “I have made many great friends within the organization and look forward to stay involved with the sport at different levels over the years to come.” This should not be a problem, as her long-time partner Jeremy Wotherspoon should be in action in Vancouver, hoping to add Olympic gold to his long list of speed skating achievements.
“I would also like to thank Sport Canada for all their support,” continued the athlete. “It would have been very difficult to compete at such a high level without their financial support. Most importantly, thanks to all of my coaches over the years: Mark Greenwald, Moira D’Andrea, Sean Ireland, Kevin Crocket and Mark Wild, who all had a great impact on my career. Finally, thanks to my family for their support.”
Weger is leaving the competitive speed skating world with great memories of training, travelling and competing with fellow teammates, and she will definitely be around to cheer them on during their quest for excellence.
Speed Skating Canada joins Kim’s former teammates to thank her for her exceptional contribution throughout the years and to wish her the best for the years to come.
