2010 Arctic Winter Games
Peace River and Northern Lites Speed Skating Clubs wish to thank the following volunteers for making the speed skating event at the 2010 ARCTIC WINTER GAMES a huge success. Without your enthusiastic donation of time and energy we would not have been able to run this event in such a positive and fun loving manner. Thank you so much!
Diane Brodeur - Coach
John MacLennan - Coach
Al Benson
Alan Connell
Annette MacLennan
Barbara Levacque
Bennett Winnicky-Lewis
Bonnie Kaupp
Bonnie Paul
Brenda Karpa-Gomes
Camryn Winnicky-Lewis
Charlotte Penson
Claire Loberg
Cole Porter
Connie Shillington
Dale Magill
David Gilday
Debby Fisher
Dori MacLennan
Ellen Mitchell
Gary Mitchell
Gary Shillington
Geoff Tasker
Gordon McMahon
Greg Tymchyna
Heidi McMahon
Jamie Schoorlemmer
Jane Villiger
Jeff Gemmell
Jesse Villiger
Jodi Winnicky
John Loberg
Josh Gemmell
Kaila Villiger
Keaton Winnicky-Lewis
Landon Schoorlemmer
Linda Bussey
Lorraine Stone
Lynn Connell
Madison Villiger
Mike Phillips
Neil Alstad
Pauline Craig
Ranslee MacLennan
Rene Villiger
Robin Greig
Shania Yellowknee
Sharon Magill
Sherry Alstad
Teneea Schoorlemmer
Tom Lipsett
Trevor Loberg
Vincent Casey
Wanda Friesen
Wendell Friesen
Wilf Schoorlemmer
Peace Wapiti and Northern Lites Speed Skating Clubs
My Olympic Experience
When our family made the decision to go to the Olympics we were all very excited and could hardly wait to get to Vancouver. We were going to watch our close family friends Jessica and Jamie Gregg skate. We arrived on Feb. 12th just in time to watch the opening ceremonies on TV. The next day was our first event and you could feel the excitement in the house we were staying at. There was 17 of us all getting dressed in our hoodies and putting on our CANADA tattoos! We could hardly wait to get to the PNE to meet the rest of the group.
The excitement and noise at the Pacific Coliseum where the short trackers skated was unbelievable. When ever a Canadian stepped onto the ice or was introduced the fans went crazy. Even when a Canadian made a pass or took the lead the fans cheered so loud! On Wednesday, Feb 17th, it was Alberta Day at the Olympics so my mom and Tess did an interview with Josee Chouinard, former figure skating Olympian. It was not on TV but it was on the jumbotron with a group of JRG2 hoodies cheering in the background!
Speed Skating Canada House was a like a home away from home. It was a neat place to go a relax before the event , have a snack or just visit with speed skating friends. Before the men’s 500m we gathered at SSC House and then walked to the entrance in our JRG2 hoodies. They were quite a conversation piece and at the Richmond Oval we took a picture with about 30 of us all dressed in our hoodies. Everyone there was supporting Jamie and Jessica Gregg who both have the same initials!
Other than 4 speed skating sessions, we went to a curling game, Canada vs Norway, and the fans were crazy even at curling! After curling we took the Canada Line train downtown to walk around with thousands of people and to see the caldron. We looked in the Hudson Bay superstore and realized we did not want to wait 15 minutes just to get in and then stand in a huge line up to pay for something! It was an amazing experience just seeing all the people walking around with Canada gear on, all the different houses that were open for the public. If you were not willing to stand in line and be patient, then this event was not for you!
On our last night in Vancouver we went downtown to the CANFUND House with our JRG2 group, I think we almost filled up an entire bus! I have never heard so many people singing O Canada spontaneously or just cheering Canada in my life.
We were very proud to be Canadians in Vancouver and were extra proud of Jessica and Jamie. It was a once in a lifetime experience and as my dad calls it “a life altering experience”. Remember DREAM BIG!
Brooke and the rest of the Pearman’s
