BC Summer Games has a new tagline, new coaching programs, and a new pancake flipper in Mayor Dan Ruimy.
Those were a few of the highlights from a Games update to Maple Ridge City Council. The games will be held July 18-21, and preparations are well underway.
The update was presented to city council on April 23 by the local Games board president Laura Butler, and vice-president Ernie Daykin. Both are well known in the community – Butler for her work as the executive director of the Ridge Meadows Hospital Foundation, and Daykin as a former city mayor.
They introduced the new Games tagline “Celebrating Competition and Community.”
“Ultimately the Summer Games are all about competition, and that’s what 3,700 athletes, coaches, and officials are coming to be part of, but for us it’s all about the community,” said Butler.
They said the latest estimates show the Maple Ridge 2024 BC Summer Games will bring 2,766 athletes aged 10-19, 566 coaches, and 375 officials.
Butler also noted that community development initiatives will see three mental health in sports seminars for coaches.
“It’s a really important topic for our coaches to spend some time and focus on,” said Butler.
• Basic Mental Skills will happen on May 6, from 5:30 to 9: 30 p.m. at the Maple Ridge Library.
• Then Mental Health in Sports, with a focus on mental wellness, will happen May 9 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Albion Community Centre.
• The Coaches Resources Corner will provide live resources for coaches during the Games, on July 19.
The Karina LeBlanc Game Changer Award nominations begin on April 30, and close on June 20, then will be awarded at the Games. The awards recognize a game changer both on and off the field.
LeBlanc is a retired national soccer team goaltender and Olympic bronze medalist from Maple Ridge.
Her namesake award will provide a young individual with $1,000, to recognize their work developing sport in their community. For more information see bcgames.org.
READ ALSO:Maple Ridge athlete wins first Katrina LeBlanc Game Changer award
The local Games organizers are also in the middle of a huge volunteer drive, needing as many as 2,500, and are asking volunteers to sign up at bcsummergames.ca
“Sign me up if you have pancake flipping,” said Mayor Dan Ruimy, “or if you need to flip burgers.”
They presented a few fun stats:
• 32,000 meals will be prepared by volunteers over four days
• 2,100 medals will be awarded
• 3,200 foam mattresses have arrived in the city, for visitors to sleep on in schools
• Maple Ridge will have the fourth largest transit system in the province for four days during the Games.