Swimmer Kylie Masse and Wrestling Coach Marty Calder Winners of Commonwealth Awards
CANADA’S COMMONWEALTH LEADERS ENDORSE 2030 GAMES BID!
OTTAWA – Canada’s Commonwealth Sport leaders gathered this past weekend in Toronto at the Commonwealth Games Canada (CGC) Annual General Meeting. During meetings and discussions, they charted the course for the next number of years, including the endorsement of a bid for the 2030 Commonwealth Games, which will be the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Games (Hamilton’s British Empire Games).
“Canada has long been considered a leader within the Commonwealth Games movement, said Richard Powers, President of Commonwealth Games Canada. “With Victoria 1994 being the last Games held in Canada, we are very much due to host the Commonwealth’s best athletes once again. With the 100th Anniversary of the Games approaching, and much interest being expressed by communities in Canada, this is a very fitting opportunity for CGC.”
Elections were also held for various leadership positions and as a result, Richard Powers (Toronto, ON) was re-elected for a four-year term as the CGC’s President. Two directors were also elected, Claire Carver-Dias (Oakville, ON) and Graham Smith (Edmonton, AB) as well as the Athletes’ representative, diver Riley McCormick (Victoria, BC).
At the 2018 Canadian Commonwealth Sport Awards celebrated on Saturday night, Kylie Masse (LaSalle, ON) received the Athlete Award, in honour of her four-medal haul at the 2018 Gold Coast Games, which included two gold medals and Commonwealth records in the 100m backstroke. “I am honoured and humbled to receive this award”, she said. “The Gold Coast Games were challenging and unpredictable, due to the fact that we were racing outdoors. But with a positive attitude and a will to win, we were able to adjust to the different conditions. These Games were a very special experience and I will maintain great memories from our time in the Gold Coast.”
Marty Calder (St. Catharines, ON), coach of five medalling athletes at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games Champion, received the Canadian Commonwealth Sport Award for Coaching. “What an honour for me and the sport of wrestling to be recognized”, he said. “The Gold Coast offered our athletes and coaches the opportunity to compete at a top level sporting event in a dream location. We look forward to continuing to be a strong contributor to Games’ medals as we head into the Pan Am Games in 2019 and ultimately Tokyo in 2020.”
Also recognized during the evening’s proceedings was Canada’s Chef de Mission at the 2018 Games, Claire Carver Dias. "We had an amazing Team at the Gold Coast” she said, “and I congratulate Kylie and Marty on their Commonwealth Sport Awards. They and all of the members of our 2018 team were impressive ambassadors for Canada and our sport community and I am so proud to have been part of this Team.”
The evening’s program ended with a shout out to the next edition of the Commonwealth Games, which will be held in Birmingham, England July 27th to August 7th, 2022.
For information:
Commonwealth Games Canada
Brian MacPherson
Chief Executive Officer
613.244.6868 x226
ABOUT COMMONWEALTH GAMES CANADA
Commonwealth Games Canada (CGC) is the franchise holder for the Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth movement in Canada, and an active, contributing member of the Canadian sport community. The mission of CGC is to strengthen sport within Canada and throughout the Commonwealth by participating in the Commonwealth Games and by using sport as a development tool. Visit www.commonwealthgames.ca for information.
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