On behalf of the Zone 6, West Kootenay Boundary participants in last month’s BC Seniors Games I would like to thank the host organizing committee made up of volunteers from the cities of Nelson, Trail, Castlegar and the surrounding region. What a great job you did!
Thank you for the hours and hours you put in beginning way back (last year) when the bid was put together. Thank you also to the hundreds of citizens of the region who volunteered their time to ensure the games were a success! Without you, all the planning could not have made the games happen.
The word coming back to our participants and the Zone 6 executive has been that they were the best games ever held! The host committee and the volunteers went far beyond expectations to ensure the problems were solved and all the needs met!
For the Zone 6 team it certainly was our best ever games. Our participating members rose from about 130 to over 400 due in large part to our three communities hosting the games. We increased participation in most activities and expanded participation into new sports such as the equestrian, dragon boating, hockey and soccer to name a few. That is what these games are all about: getting and keeping seniors active.
Our team finished third overall, behind the Fraser Valley and the Lower Mainland. We gained 115 gold medals, 73 silver medals and 78 bronze medals for a total of 266 points, our highest total ever achieved and our highest standing.
We are hopeful that many of the new participants from Zone 6 will be trying out for the 2012 games at the coast.
Thanks again to the host committee and the volunteers who made it possible for so many to participate on their home turf.
Mac Gregory
Chair, Zone 6,
BC Seniors Games