More than 10000 Canadian seniors actively participated in local events leading up to the Canada 55+ Games held biennially.
All participants must qualify through their provincial/territorial organization to be eligible to participate in the national event.
The event brings together representatives from provinces and territories across the country. The amateur competitors participate out of a desire for friendly competition socialization and fun. They show all of Canada the importance and value of active living.
All participants help to inspire others to maintain an active healthy lifestyle at every age. The purpose of the Canada 55+ Games is to promote mental and physical health. At the 2018 Canada 55+ Games in St. John NB the oldest female was 93 representing the Yukon in cribbage. The oldest male was a 91-year-old hockey player from Quebec.
Nearly 2300 participants took part in the 11th national games. It was the largest event St. John NB has ever held. The sports schedule included 10-kilometre and five-kilometre runs eight-ball pool badminton bowling – candlepin bridge – duplicate cribbage curling cycling darts floor shuffleboard golf hockey – men and women horseshoes lawn bowling pickleball scrabble slo-pitch swimming tennis and track and field. The Ontario team had 388 participants from its 33 districts competing in 21 events.
Ontario won 70.5 Gold 55.5 Silver and 39.5 Bronze. Ontario was first with 165.5 medals won Alberta second with 164.5 and New Brunswick with 126. Haliburton/Muskoka District competitors won nine medals for Team Ontario. Congratulations to the Haliburton/Muskoka District competitors part of the Ontario Team at the 2018 Canada 55+ Games at St. John NB Aug. 21 to 24: Robert Pearce from Haliburton won gold in the men’s low gross 65 plus golf Karen Heaslip from Gravenhurst won silver in the ladies’ low gross 75 plus golf Bev Kerr from Haliburton won gold in the women’s 55 plus 400 metre race walk predicted time John Kerr from Haliburton won gold in the men’s 55 plus 400 metre race walk predicted time Sharon Ferris from Algonquin Highlands won gold in the women’s 55 plus 1000 metre race walk predicted time Frank Ferris from Algonquin Highlands won silver in the men’s 55 plus 1000 metre and bronze in the 400 metre race walk predicted time Jane Symons from Minden won silver in the women’s 55 plus 400 metre race walk predicted time and bronze in the discus throw Bev Alexander and Kaye Bull competing in the cribbage and all had a great time. Although by the very nature of games the goal being to declare winners the coming together for the games is the important thing. The next Canada 55+ Games is in 2020 that will be held in Kamloops B.C.
-Submitted by Bev Kerr