BUILDING RESPECT,CREATING GREATCITIZENSPAGE 6SPORT

THE VALUES OF

Levelling the Playing Field for Girls and Women - PAGE 8

Wade Gilbert Headlines Coaches Conference - PAGE 15

World’s Best Curlers Coming to Halifax - PAGE 9

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Senior Funding Partner of Sport Nova Scotia

Sport Infrastructure Pays Off in Many Ways

March 2014 Issue 52

Sport Nova ScotiaEditor Managing EditorChad Lucas Carolyn Townsend

Cover Layout & DesktopAdam Harbin Paula Yochoff

Cover Photo: Andrew Chow

Senior StaffChief Executive OfficerJamie Ferguson

Director of Finance & AdministrationDebbie Buckoski

Director of Public RelationsCarolyn Townsend

Director of MarketingJeff LeDrew

Director of Sport DevelopmentAmy Walsh

Director of CoachingMark Smith

addition to the media exposure that was generated, the event was responsible for injecting significant funding into the area and had a positive impact on the local economy. Shortly before that event, Yarmouth hosted the World Junior A Hockey Challenge and also benefited from both the publicity and economic impact that came with it.

Both of these events show that sport facilities can positively affect our communities in many ways. They provide more opportunities for our citizens to reap the benefits of sport participation, and their ability to attract events of all sizes can make a difference in our local economies. Across Canada, sport is consistently one of the largest sectors of the tourism industry, and these facilities are vital. This is particularly relevant now, with the findings of the Ivany Commission’s “One Nova Scotia” report, and the challenges that communities across

our province are facing. Investment in facilities across Nova Scotia can play a part in helping to promote our province and stimulate our economy.

This issue also explores gender equity in sport. The physical and social benefits of sport participation are well known, and all Nova

S c o t i a n s d e s e r v e t h e opportunity to reap those benefits, regardless of our differences. We are proud to have some incredible female athletes in this province who are also wonderful role models . Ath le tes l ike Alexandra Duckworth, Nkem Ezurike , Jamey Jewells, Justine Colley and Mary Fay are inspiring new

generations to get active and take part in sport. We also have coaches like Natasha

Burgess, Lisa Ross, Tanya Daniels and Helen Radford. In addition, there are many female leaders of both community and provincial sport organizations who are also wonderful examples for our youth. We look forward to seeing our next generation of female athletes following in their footsteps and we know they can positively impact the number of girls and women who get involved in sport.

Sport Quarterly, a publication of Sport Nova Scotia. Letters to the editor must include

name, address and phone number.

Sport Nova Scotia5516 Spring Garden Road

4th FloorHalifax, Nova Scotia B3J 1G6

Tel: (902) 425-5450Fax: (902) 425-5606

E-mail: sportns@sportnovascotia.casportnovascotia.ca

Jamie FergusonChief

exeCutive OffiCer

As this issue of Sport Quarterly is being prepared, we are enjoying

some incredible performances by Canadian athletes at the Sochi Olympics. Canada is picking up where it left off in Vancouver, with lots of medals and amazing performances for us to be proud of. Here at home, Nova Scotians were thrilled with the performance of Kingsburg’s Alexandra Duckworth in the halfpipe and celebrated watching Cole Harbour ’s Sidney Crosby help our men’s hockey team win another gold medal. We’re looking forward to

watching greater numbers of Nova Scotians in future Olympic Winter Games, and we have reason to be hopeful that will happen. The new and upgraded facilities that came with hosting the 2011 Canada G a m e s a re p ro v i d i n g m o re opportunities for our athletes to train, compete, and represent Canada on the world stage. These facilities are one of the finest legacies of hosting the Canada Games, and we look forward to seeing the results they can bring.It’s worth noting some wonderful

impacts from other facilities built across the province. In the Region of Queens Municipality, their new facility in Liverpool hosted the C a n a d i a n J u n i o r C u r l i n g Championships in January. In

Investment in facilities across Nova Scotia can play a part in helping to promote our province and stimulate our economy.

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Athlete’s Column

Justine Colley will graduate from Saint Mary’s University as the all-time leading scorer in Canadian women’s university basketball, as well as the Atlantic record holder for points in a season. Her undefeated Huskies head into the AUS women’s championships this weekend looking to earn a shot at a national championship.

East Preston’s Colley also played a key role on the senior women’s national team last summer that won a silver medal at the FIBA Americas tournament, Canada’s best finish since 1995. She has her sights set on helping Canada take the next step at the 2014 FIBA World Championships in Turkey.

Basketball has always been in my family. My mother and

sisters played. I grew up in gyms and always loved it.Around Grade 6, I made a

Justine ColleyBasketBall

a globetrotter and a role model develop, not only in basketball at Saint Mary’s but interest in women’s sport in general. It’s humbling and an honour to

think I’ve had an impact in that way. I’m hoping it will encourage more young girls to stay and play sport at home so we can build that winning mentality. It’s good for girls to see positive role models in sport and know they can do the same thing—they can play for Saint Mary’s or Dal or Acadia and they don’t have to go away.My parents have been those role

models for me, always finding a way to make sure we could experience as much as possible. They always told me that if I put my best foot forward I’d be successful.I’d love to keep playing for a long

time but I also have a passion to coach someday and get into that side of the basketball world. I’d like to encourage even more young players that they can reach their dreams.”

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Travelling really opens my eyes to how fortunate we are in Canada. It’s a great experience and it has also made me grateful for where I come from.Last summer we

had an amazing group of players. We hoped to bring home gold, but we lost to Cuba (79-71) in the final. We still met our goal of qualifying for the next step toward Turkey.I t ’ s h a r d t o

believe my university career is almost over. The past five years have flown by so quickly. One thing I’m pleased with is how there’s a lot more interest in our games than when I first started. I’m happy to see that excitement

“

provincial team for the first time and got to go to Quebec. That’s when I realized basketball could b r i n g m e opportunities to travel and see the world. I’ve always h a d a h u g e passion for travel and I thought maybe this could take me places.O n e o f m y

p r o u d e s t moments was the first time I was a b l e t o w e a r ‘Canada’ across my chest, playing in Argentina with the under-18 national team. It has been a real honour to play for Canada.I’ve been lucky: basketball has

taken me to Thailand, China, Belgium, Montenegro and Mexico.

Justine Colley (Credit: Canada Basketball)

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Sponsor Spotlight

Official Sponsor

Pick up a carton of Farmers milk this fall and you’ll find yourself

reminded of the benefits of amateur sport.

Farmers Dairy Co-Operative has long been a supporter of sport in Nova Scotia. One of their main partnerships with Sport Nova Scotia is an annual advertising campaign on milk cartons.

It’s an easy way to make use of an available resource in a unique way,

says Tsege Gebreyohannes, marketing coordinator with Agropur.

“We can get the word out to a huge number of people, right in their homes,” Gebreyohannes says. “It’s a natural fit because milk and chocolate milk are great post-sport drinks, so it aligns with what we’re trying to do.”

Farmers also supports community sport events directly. In February, the co-operative sponsored Biathlon Nova Scotia’s provincials and Cadet

provincial championships at Ski Martock.

They’re also involved with the 2014 HeartLand tour, a provincial bicycle tour promoting good health, among other events.

“We’re constantly involved with amateur sport around the province,” Gebreyohannes says. “Minor sport is such an important part of our communities. We believe in being act ive in the community and supporting sport and athletes.”

As a co-operative owned by farmers, the company is active in supporting other community initiatives as well. “Our shareholders are farmers, so a huge part of what we’re all about is support ing local community,” Gebreyohannes says. “It fits with our values.”

The co-operative uses milk cartons to promote the Children’s Wish

Foundation’s Wishmaker campaign, and in April they support the Canadian Cancer Society by using their refrigerated trucks to deliver flowers during Daffodil Month.

“Using the cartons and the trucks, not only do they have a functional benefit, they also get a lot of visibility,” Gebreyohannes says. “They garner a lot of attention and awareness for a lot of initiatives.”

The company’s next campaign supporting Sport Nova Scotia will likely run in the fall, during the back-to-school season, Gebreyohannes says. It’s a timely opportunity to remind people of the value of sport.

“We just think it’s such a great thing Sport Nova Scotia is doing. They’ve done so much to support athletes and amateur sport. We’re definitely a proud sponsor.”

Canada: a Global Leader in Sport for Life

In la te January, hundreds of professionals in the world of sport

and physical activity gathered in Gatineau, Que., for the annual Sport for Life summit. Each year the summit hosts presentations and workshops on the concepts of Canadian Sport for Life (CS4L).

This year, Canadians were joined by participants from the U.S., Scotland, Japan, Qatar, Sweden, England, South Africa, and even Bermuda. (That last one was me, having recently relocated with my family to Nova Scotia from Bermuda.)

I was struck with the international

Development model we simply refer to as LTAD. Now, LTAD can get very complex with 10 key factors, seven stages of development, maturation levels, peak height velocity etc.

It is, however, at its core, a pathway to help Canadians be healthier, fitter and happier through the world of sport; and in many ways CS4L is a common language that we all can speak.

In reality this is why all these countries are at the CS4L Summit – because they see that the system being implemented and advocated in Canada, and now in many countries around the world, is a leading model for sport development. As I interacted with people from various countries, I must admit I felt a growing sense of pride representing Nova Scotia and Canada to them. As I continue to study CS4L and LTAD, I get increasingly excited about the opportunities we have in this region.

To implement a sport system that cares about athletes, that sees a place for all citizens in being active for life, a system that advocates for skill development in young children, that understands parents’ desire for their child to be confident and competent... Wouldn’t that be great?

It is this last point that really sticks out at the summit. CS4L is an all inclusive life-long pathway. Every athlete, whether they are an Olympic hopeful, a recreation league superstar or a Bermudian looking to get his kids into a soccer program to meet new friends, has a place in the Canadian Sport for Life system. Here in Canada we have a common language, and that is pretty darn cool!

For more information on CS4L contact S p o r t N o v a S c o t i a a n d v i s i t : canadiansportforlife.ca

feel of the summit and excited to be adding to that diverse collection of professionals in the world of sport. It was this international flavour that got me thinking, ‘Why are so many countries coming to Canada to learn about our sport system? Is Canada known as a sport powerhouse?’

Clearly our results at the Winter Olympics points towards yes, but there must be more to it than that. Canada has had success in summer sports as well but not necessarily at the level of some of the countries absorbing information about our sport system at the summit.

So why is it that the CS4L National Summit is a gathering point for sport development globally? Having studied sport development systems for many years, I knew that the ways ‘up north’ were pretty good. Still, there is more to the story than that. The CS4L movement is based on a Long-Term Athlete

Jason HansFord-smitH

SpOrt DevelOpment

OffiCer

4 Sponsored by5

To implement a sport system that cares about athletes, that sees a place for all citizens in being active for life, a system that advocates for skill development in young children, that understands parents’ desire for their child to be confident and competent... Wouldn’t that be great?

It is this last point that really sticks out at the summit. CS4L is an all inclusive life-long pathway. Every athlete, whether they are an Olympic hopeful, a recreation league superstar or a Bermudian looking to get his kids into a soccer program to meet new friends, has a place in the Canadian Sport for Life system. Here in Canada we have a common language, and that is pretty darn cool!

For more information on CS4L contact S p o r t N o v a S c o t i a a n d v i s i t : canadiansportforlife.ca

Canada’s double-gold in hockey at the Sochi Olympics was also

a gold bonanza for Nova Scotia as Sidney Crosby of the men’s team and Lisa Haley, an assistant coach with the women’s team, both won gold medals.

For Crosby, of Cole Harbour, it was his second gold after winning one in Vancouver in 2010. It’s the first Olympic m e d a l f o r H a l e y, o f We s t v i l l e , Pictou Co.

“It’s pretty special,” said Haley, who t o o k t i m e out from her homeward-b o u n d t r a v e l l i n g odyssey to call. “It’s clearly the highlight of my career. I’m not sure if you could ever top that.”

Haley said the constant support throughout the tournament – via email and social media – was overwhelming.

“We felt that every Canadian cared how we were doing,” she said.

The Canadian women came back in dramatic fashion to beat the U.S. 3-2 in overtime. Trailing 2-0 with slightly less than four minutes left, the team didn’t panic.

“T her e wa s s ome a n x iou s moments, but not as much as you would expect,” Haley said. “A lot of the credit for that would go to the experience of the group. They stayed composed.”

Canada caught a break when

NS Olympians Shinethe U.S. team hit the post with an empty net. Haley said the team’s commitment to fitness paid off, too, as they were able to overcome the Americans’ speed advantage late in the game.

On the men’s side, Crosby wasn’t quite the hero he was in Vancouver when he netted the overtime winner, but he scored a key goal late in the second period of the gold-medal

game against Sweden when Canada was clutching a 1-0 lead. It was his only goal of the tournament, but it came at a crucial time.

“You ge t a big chance like that, you know it ’s a 1-0 game, you

want to make the most of those,” Crosby told reporters after the game.

Alex Duckworth of Kingsburg, Lu nenburg Co., adva nced to the semif inal of the woman’s snowboarding halfpipe event in her first Olympics, but couldn’t earn a berth in the final.

Luke Demetre of New Glasgow, who was an alternate on the men’s four-man bobsled team, proved that staying ready to compete will sometimes pay off. After a crash on the second-last day of the Olympics sidelined two members of the team, Demetre got his chance on the last day of the Sochi games.

Demetre became the first Nova Scotia to compete in the Olympic bobsled as he joined the team for its final run.

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snowboarder alex duckworth poses at the olympics in sochi. (Facebook)

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Presents

The Values of Sport: Building Respect, Creating Great CitizensBullying is a big concern for many

young people and their parents – online, at school, and even in the locker room, as the story of NFL player Richie Incognito has highlighted recently.

But sport can also be a venue where youth learn the values that help eradicate bullying: respect for self and others, empathy, inclusion and the benefits of working together.

Meet several coaches who have inspired players, parents and peers alike with their dedication to sportsmanship. These are just a few of the many coaches and volunteers who work hard across Nova Scotia to help raise not only great athletes, but great citizens.

Room for MorePeter Gallagher was thri l led

when almost 70 girls showed up for volleyball tryouts at Fairview Junior High School last fall. But he also had a dilemma on his hands: once the A and B teams were filled, how could he turn so many players away?

“I thought, ‘I can’t just cut 40 kids,’” he said.

So he didn’t. Gallagher, the physical education teacher at Fairview, ended up making two B teams that alternated playing league games. In order to beef up their schedule, he also organized a tournament that grew to 10 teams. He’s hoping to make it an annual event.

“In two days, we had more than 120 girls playing volleyball,” said Gallagher, who also coaches with the Bedford Blizzards volleyball program. “I thought that was pretty amazing. I had parents and coaches coming up to me, saying what a great tournament it was.”

Volleyball Nova Scotia praised Gallagher’s creative solution to help more players take the court, but

Gallagher says the approach worked because of his players.

“Not one girl complained, ‘How come we only play half the games?’” he said. “The team spirit was great. I can’t say enough about the kids at Fairview. We’re really lucky.”

Family AtmosphereOver 42 years of coaching with the

Yarmouth Whitecaps, Ginny Smith has watched multiple generations of families swim the lanes at the local pool.

A special education specialist outside the pool, Smith has used swimming as a way to help kids with learning disabilities, and she has run programs for children on the autism spectrum.

The swim team has also been a way into the community for many international students, including those on exchanges and the children of doctors practising at Yarmouth Hospital.

“For a small team, it ’s quite culturally diverse,” Smith says.

She works to make the pool a

safe place for kids of all ages and backgrounds to connect and feel like they belong.

“Teenagers have all kinds of issues they deal with inside and outside the pool, and in a small community everybody sort of knows everybody’s business,” Smith said. “I think there’s a protective support group that goes on (with the swim team), and that’s important.”

At the same time, she encourages her athletes not to be insular or exclusive, but to get involved elsewhere in the community. “I don’t want swimmers to be just swimmers, especially when they’re young.”

The Joy of GivingPeter McCormick likes to put his

soccer players to work, on and off the field. The Bedford coach, who currently runs under-8 and under-10 girls’ teams, also coaches an adult Special Olympics team and runs a Special Olympics fundamentals program for kids aged 6-12 in the Bedford-Sackville area.

He draws on his roster of current

and former soccer players to help out with the Special Olympics programs, giving them first-hand experience working with people with special needs.

“For a lot of them it’s the first time they’ve gotten involved with helping in the community, but they understand pretty quickly the whole idea of giving back,” McCormick said.

“ T h e y a l s o s e e w h a t I ’ve experienced: when you go out and give back, you get just as much out of it, if not more. It’s a lot of fun.”

For soccer players moving up the competitive ranks, it’s also a good refresher on the joys of the game, McCormick says.

“In Special Olympics, somebody scores a goal and players on both teams celebrate,” he said. “That’s an eye-opener – for the parents too.”

Old-School RespectBill Gorman is up-front with his

hockey players: you probably won’t play professionally, but you can learn lessons on the ice that will stick with you for life.

“I start every year telling them that respect is the basis for everything: respect for yourself, teammates, opponents, referees, and your parents,” said Gorman, who has coached for 33 years in the Pictou and Antigonish areas. “You have to be able to look yourself in the mirror at the end of the day and say, ‘I was respectful to all those people.’”

Parents say they find his sense of perspective refreshing, on and off the ice. Sueann Musick said her son learned plenty about how to carry himself in two seasons under Gorman’s tutelage.

“My son continues to wear his shirt and tie to the rink this year because of Bill’s influence and tries his hardest at every game because he knows it’s

Fairview Junior High school physical education teacher Peter gallagher poses with members of the girls’ volleyball teams. (Credit: andrew Chow)

6 Sponsored by7

Values of Sport continues on page 13

The Values of Sport: Building Respect, Creating Great Citizensand former soccer players to help out with the Special Olympics programs, giving them first-hand experience working with people with special needs.

“For a lot of them it’s the first time they’ve gotten involved with helping in the community, but they understand pretty quickly the whole idea of giving back,” McCormick said.

“ T h e y a l s o s e e w h a t I ’v e experienced: when you go out and give back, you get just as much out of it, if not more. It’s a lot of fun.”

For soccer players moving up the competitive ranks, it’s also a good refresher on the joys of the game, McCormick says.

“In Special Olympics, somebody scores a goal and players on both teams celebrate,” he said. “That’s an eye-opener – for the parents too.”

Old-School RespectBill Gorman is up-front with his

hockey players: you probably won’t play professionally, but you can learn lessons on the ice that will stick with you for life.

“I start every year telling them that respect is the basis for everything: respect for yourself, teammates, opponents, referees, and your parents,” said Gorman, who has coached for 33 years in the Pictou and Antigonish areas. “You have to be able to look yourself in the mirror at the end of the day and say, ‘I was respectful to all those people.’”

Parents say they find his sense of perspective refreshing, on and off the ice. Sueann Musick said her son learned plenty about how to carry himself in two seasons under Gorman’s tutelage.

“My son continues to wear his shirt and tie to the rink this year because of Bill’s influence and tries his hardest at every game because he knows it’s

not just the fastest kid on the ice that is going to get recognized for his hard work,” she said in an email.

“I’ve heard parents and kids say they can’t wait until they’re back with him next year.”

After three decades coaching at virtually every level, Gorman says he’s learned to take the long-term approach.

“A lot of coaching is about motivation and showing kids they can do it,” he said. “Very few are ever going to make their living playing hockey, but it’s a competitive world out there. If you can teach them healthy competition while being respectful in attaining their goals, that’s a big step.”

The Whole is Greater Sackawa Canoe Club was having

a hard time retaining teenage girls, so the club decided to give them something to aim for by taking a war canoe crew to nationals in Montreal last summer.

Under coach Chris MacPherson, the

Coach Peter mcCormick brought together his special olympics soccer team and members of his scotia under-12 girls' team. (Contributed)

club bonded over the summer and ended up turning heads in Montreal. The squad of 12- to 15-year-olds just missed a bronze medal in the junior women’s race against adults.

“I haven’t ever seen a group of girls so excited and bursting with pride to come fourth in my life,” said Sackawa’s Angela Clark. “Chris not only gained their respect but really made them respect themselves and each other, which made them into a real team and a force to be reckoned with.”

MacPherson says he preached that in war canoe, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

“One of the things I say to every crew I race, it’s not a sport where

8

For Lisa Landry, the “aha” moment came as she watched a teenage

girl break out in smiles during a kickboxing lesson.

Landry, the physical activity and community school coordinator for the Municipality of Shelburne, took 24 girls in grades 6-9 through a series of new sport experiences last spring in an after-school program called Active Adventure for Girls.

The 13-week program let girls try everything from skateboarding to surfing to archery, which proved popular. “I think we can thank the Hunger Games for that,” Landry says.

The entire program was a blast, she says, but watching one of the shyer students fall in love with kickboxing reminded her what it was all about.

“She was in her element,” Landry says. “That was the moment we were like, ‘This is why we’re doing this.’”

Like many people around the province, Landry is keen on creating more opportunities for females to take part in sport. It’s a topic also on the minds of the provincial Department of Health and Wellness.

The province recently introduced a new Gender Equity Fund designed to help organizations build their abilities to create good sport experiences for females.

While other funding focuses on programs—like the Thrive grant that helped support the Active Adventure series—the new Gender Equity Fund is designed to help sport groups change their culture from the top down.

“There are some great things happening but there’s still a lot more that needs to change,” says Heather Praught, coordinator of special populations and disparities with the Health Department’s physical activity, sport and recreation branch.

Levelling the Playing Field Curling’s Best Coming to Halifax

“In many cases, there aren’t nearly as many women on the board of directors as there are men. That would be something, for organizations to really make a concerted effort to balance that out.”

The Gender Equity Fund is marked for projects like developing boards, training coaches, recruiting female leaders, and creating policies and action plans to be more inclusive.

These things don’t happen by accident, Praught says—organizations need to be deliberate.

“We know it all starts from having policies in place. It’s a very powerful tool,” she says. “It’s important for folks to say, ‘Yes, we have a gender equity policy we follow.’”

The first organization to take advantage of the grant is a new group called WomenActive, a collective of sport experts from around the province. Their mission is to create meaningful sport and recreation experiences and leadership opportunities for women and girls throughout Nova Scotia.

“The under-representation of girls and women in sport and physical activity is mind-boggling,” says Wendy Bedingfield, a Professor Emeritus at Acadia University and a member of

WomenActive. “It needs a different approach and special knowledge. We’re hoping we can make it work.”

Things are changing o n t h e p l a y i n g f i e l d , B e d i n g f i e l d acknowledges. But change is coming more slowly at the higher levels.

“If you look at the Canadian coaches in Sochi (at the Winter Olympics), something

like 11 per cent were women,” she says. “It doesn’t make sense that so few girls and women go into coaching.”

In Shelburne, Landry k nows

the importance of not just giving girls opportunities but giving them examples as well.

“We tried to have female instructors whenever possible as role models,” she says. “The kickboxing instructor was male but he brought four of his female students with him, and they were awesome with the girls. They were very engaging.”

She plans to run the program again this spring. “All the girls keep asking, ‘When is it starting? We want to do it again,’” Landry says.

For more information on the Gender Equity Fund and other physical activity funding, visit novascotia.ca/dhw/pasr/grants.asp

SportScapeAvailable April 11TH to Aug 16TH

new gender equity Fund promotes opportunities for girls and women

Westville's lisa Haley coaches with the Canadian olympic women's hockey team. a new provincial grant aims not only to get more females playing but coaching and leading sport organizations as well. (Photo: Hockey Canada)

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Halifax has achieved another Nova Scotia sporting first,

and it will do more than bring the world’s best curlers to Halifax.

The wor ld men’s cur l ing championship is coming to Halifax next spring and Tom Birchall, the president of the Nova Scotia Curling Association, says bringing the premiere event on the world circuit to the province is a proud moment for the curling community.

“Any time we get a chance to profile our event to an audience that doesn’t normally see it, it’s great,” Birchall said.

It will also provide a big boost to the economy in the short and long term, he said. It will bring media and fans to the event, but the exposure to a world television audience could be a boon to tourism.

“Thirdly, it offers an opportunity for our curlers to be able to see curling at the highest – to learn what they can aspire to,” Birchall said.

Mat Harris, the co-chair of the tournament, said some fortunate timing and assists from Halifax Regional Municipality and the province helped.

“I had been encouraged by folks at Trade Centre to look for another curling event,” said Harris, who called the Canadian Curling Association.

They just happened to be in the process of short-listing a half-dozen cities. Harris expressed his

Levelling the Playing Field Curling’s Best Coming to Halifaxinterest and that’s how Halifax “got in the mix.”

He knew it was important to get p u b l i c m o n e y i n v o l v e d , s o h e started working on that right away.

“The western cities know how valuable these tournaments are when they’re held,” said Harris, w h o s e b r o t h e r Graham is the other co-chair. “They bring a lot of money in.

“I am so impressed w i t h p r o v i n c i a l a n d m u n i c i p a l g o v e r n m e n t s , ” Harris said. “Within w e e k s w e h a d commitments.”

The city and the province each contributed $150,000 as sponsors and rumours about Halifax getting the nod started surfacing as early as December, although it wasn’t announced by the CCA until late January.

The championship will be held from March 28 to April 5, 2015 – the first time the tournament will be played in the province. Dartmouth is the only other city in Nova Scotia to host a world curling event when it staged the junior men’s tourney in 1986.

“We are delighted to be returning to the province of Nova Scotia for a World Curling Championship,”

said World Curling Federation president Kate Caithness.

Halifax has hosted top-calibre curling before, however. The 10,500-seat Metro Centre has been

the stage for three Briers (1995, 2003, and 2010) and a Tournament of Hearts (1992), as well as the Canadian Olympic curling trials in 2005.

“Halifax has delivered the goods in the past,” said Canadian Curling Association Chief Executive Officer Greg Stremlaw. “The Halifax Metro Centre is an outstanding facility, and the volunteer groups always rise to the occasion to make these events memorable.”

Canada has hosted this event 21 times before, including three times in Atlantic Canada. Moncton hosted it in 2009 and 1980, while Saint John, N.B. hosted in 1999.

As host of next year ’s event, Canada is automatically granted a berth in the tournament. This year’s event is being held in Beijing, China from March 29 to April 6.

T i c k e t s f o r t h e 2 0 1 5 championships will go on sale later this year. Check www.curling.ca/tickets for updated information.

GCIGraphic Concepts Inc.

by ryan Van Horne

Canadian olympic champions Jennifer Jones and Brad Jacobs pose after their victories at national trials prior to the sochi games. the world’s best curlers will come to nova scotia next spring when Halifax hosts the world men’s curling championships. (Photo: Canadian Curling association)

10

Trysten Deveau ~ KarateFemale Individual AthleteThe 16-year-old from Church Poi nt c la i me d gold i n junior female kumite at the Canadian National Karate Championships. Deveau qualif ied for the junior national team and earned a spot at the Pan American Championships.

Ryan O’Neil ~ KarateMale Individual AthleteO’Neil, 17, won gold in two divisions at the National Championships in Richmond, B.C. The Halifax athlete finished first in junior (16-17) and under-21 68kg kumite, qualifying him for the junior national team and the Pan-Am Championships.

Alex Duckworth ~ SnowboardingFemale Individual AthleteKingsburg’s Duckworth had a career-best sixth-place finish at the FIS Snowboard World Cup in Ruka, Finland. Duckworth was the top Canadian, helping her toward qualifying for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

Megan Bernier ~ SwimmingFemale Individual AthleteThe 21-year-old swimmer set a new provincial record in the 1,500-metre freestyle swim at the Nova Scotia Senior Open swim meet at Dalplex. Bernier is ranked first in the country in the event.

Hunter Carroll ~ TaeKwonDoMale Individual AthleteHunter, 15, earned a gold medal in the welterweight division at the 2014 Canadian Junior World Championship team selection event in Montreal. The Halifax athlete earned a berth on the national squad going to the Youth Olympic Games in Taipei City, Taiwan.

Bradley Keeping Myra ~ Figure SkatingMale Team AthleteBradley, 15, and partner Ashlynne Stairs had an eighth-place overall finish at the Skate Canada Challenge in Regina.

Bradley Keeping Myra ~ Figure SkatingMale Team AthleteBradley, 15, of St. Margaret’s Bay Skating Club teamed with novice dance partner A s h ly n ne S t a i r s for a fifth-place finish overall at the 2014 Canadian Tire National Figure Skating Championships.

Andrew Stephens ~ VolleyballMale Team AthleteStephens, 23, competed for Team Canada at the Nort h Cent ra l Amer ica and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation Final Four in Monterrey, Mexico. Canada went 1-3 at the tournament.

NOVEMBER

JANUARY

DECEMBER

Luc Boudreau ~ SwimmingMale Individual AthleteBoudreau, 21, won gold in the 200-metre breaststroke at the Canada Cup in Toronto. The Acadia swimmer’s winning time of 2:11.88 set new AUS and Swim Nova Scot ia records in the event.

ATHLETES OF THE MONTH

10 Sponsored by11

Mary Fay Team ~ CurlingTeamFay’s foursome from C h e s t e r C u r l i n g Club placed third at the Canadian Junior Championships held in Liverpool. Her rink also includes third Jennifer Smith, second Karlee Burgess and lead Janique LeBlanc.

Bradley Keeping Myra ~ Figure SkatingMale Team AthleteBradley, 15, of St. Margaret’s Bay Skating Club teamed with novice dance partner A sh ly n ne S t a i r s for a fifth-place finish overall at the 2014 Canadian Tire National Figure Skating Championships.

Andrew Stephens ~ VolleyballMale Team AthleteStephens, 23, competed for Team Canada at the North Cent ra l Amer ica and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation Final Four in Monterrey, Mexico. Canada went 1-3 at the tournament.

ATHLETES OF THE MONTH

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Sport Nova Scotia Member Contact InformationPSOsAlpine Ski Nova Scotia Executive Director – Lorraine Burch425.5450, ext. 349Archers Association of Nova ScotiaPresident – Bill Curriewcurrie@dal.caNova Scotia Arm Wrestling AssociationPresident – Rick Pinkney864.1306Athletics Nova ScotiaExecutive Director – Anitra Stevens425.5450, ext. 339Atlantic Division, CanoeKayak CanadaGeneral Manager – Tracy Whitegm@adckc.caBadminton Nova ScotiaExecutive Director – Jennifer Petrie425.5450, ext. 353Nova Scotia Ball Hockey Association President – Gian Scaletnsbha@hotmail.com Baseball Nova ScotiaExecutive Director – Brandon Guenette425.5450, ext. 355Basketball Nova ScotiaOperations Manager – Faye Richard425.5450, ext. 351Biathlon Nova ScotiaInterim President – Karen Purcellpresident@biathlonns.caBicycle Nova ScotiaAdministrator – Sarah Wood425.5450, ext. 316Boxing Nova ScotiaAdmin. Coordinator – Gordon Brown425.5450, ext. 368Nova Scotia Amateur Body Building Assoc.President – Georgina Dunningtondunningtongm@hfx.eastlink.caClimb Nova ScotiaPresident – Mick Levinclimbnovascotia@gmail.comNova Scotia Cricket AssociationPresident – Matthew Lanematthewverionlane@gmail.comCross Country Ski Nova ScotiaExecutive Director – Sarah Wood425.5450, ext. 316 Nova Scotia Curling Association Executive Director – Jeremiah Anderson425-5450, ext. 345 DanceSport Atlantic AssociationPresident – John McDermott434.6828Nova Scotia Amateur Diving AssociationAdmin. Coordinator – Andrew Hayes425.5450, ext. 370

Nova Scotia Equestrian Federation Executive Director – Heather Myrer425.5450, ext. 333Fencing Association of Nova ScotiaSean Brilliantseanb@cwf-fcf.orgField Hockey Nova ScotiaAdmin. Coordinator – Candice Petten425.5450, ext. 357Football Nova ScotiaExecutive Director – Karen Ouellette454.5105Nova Scotia Golf AssociationExecutive Director – David Campbell468.8844Gymnastics Nova ScotiaExecutive Director – Angela Gallant425.5450, ext. 338Hockey Nova ScotiaExecutive Director – Darren Cossar454.9400Nova Scotia Horseshoe Players Assoc.President – Eddie Maharemahar@eastlink.caJudo Nova ScotiaAdmin. Coordinator – Gordon Brown425.5450, ext. 368Nova Scotia Karate AssociationAdmin. Coordinator – Candice Petten 425.5450, ext. 357Lacrosse Nova ScotiaAdmin. Coordinator – Greg Knight lacrosse@sportnovascotia.caLawn Bowls Nova ScotiaPresident – Keith Finckinfo@lawnbowlsnovascotia.comOrienteering Association of Nova Scotia Admin. Coordinator – Amy Scott 425.5450, ext. 371Nova Scotia Powerlifting Association President – Brian Georgenewf71@hotmail.comNova Scotia Rhythmic Sportive Gymnastics Association President – Heather Leitherheatherleither@gmail.comNova Scotia Rifle Association President – Andrew Webber456.SHOT (7468)Ringette Nova ScotiaExecutive Director – Lainie Wintrupringette@sportnovascotia.caRope Skipping Association of Nova ScotiaAdmin. Coordinator – Amy Scott 425.5450, ext. 371Row Nova ScotiaAdmin. Coordinator – Candice Petten425.5450, ext. 357

Rugby Nova ScotiaAdmin. Coordinator – Anna Carew425.5450, ext. 341Sail Nova ScotiaExecutive Director – Frank Denis425.5450, ext. 312Shooting Federation of Nova Scotia President – David Granthaminfo@sfns.infoSkate Canada Nova Scotia Executive Director – Jill Knowles425.5450, ext. 336Nova Scotia Snowboard AssociationAdmin. Coordinator – Andrew Hayes425.5450, ext. 370Soccer Nova ScotiaChief Executive Officer – George Athanasiou445.0265Softball Nova ScotiaPresident – Dave Houghton425.5450, ext. 313Speed Skate Nova ScotiaPresident – Troy Myerstroymyers7@gmail.comSquash Nova ScotiaAdmin. Coordinator – Gordon Brown 425.5450, ext. 368Surfing Association of Nova ScotiaPresident – Justin Huston hustonje@gov.ns.caSwim Nova ScotiaExecutive Director – Bette El-Hawary 425.5450, ext. 314Synchro Nova ScotiaExecutive Director – Pam Kidney 425.5450, ext. 332Nova Scotia Table Tennis AssociationPresident – Erica Anseans@eastlink.caProvincial TaeKwonDo Society of NSPresident – Bruce Carroll pts.novascotia@gmail.comTennis Nova ScotiaExecutive Director – Roger Keating 425.5450, ext. 318Triathlon Nova ScotiaExecutive Director – Sarah Wood triathlon@sportnovascotia.caVolleyball Nova ScotiaExecutive Director – Michelle Aucoin425.5450, ext. 322Water Polo Association of Nova ScotiaAdmin. Coordinator – Andrew Hayes425.5450, ext. 370Nova Scotia Water Ski AssociationPresident – Gary Allenpresident@nswsa.comWrestling Nova ScotiaAdmin. Coordinator – Amy Scott 425.5450, ext. 371

Associate MembersBlind Sports Nova ScotiaPresident – Jennifer MacNeiljennifer.macneil1@ns.sympatico.caNova Scotia 55+ Games SocietyPresident – Bob MacLeodbob.regina@ns.sympatico.caNova Scotia Deaf Sports AssociationPresident – Justin DeBaiejustin.debaie@eastlink.caNova Scotia Disc Sports SocietyChair – Greg Van Slykeinfo@discns.caNova Scotia School Athletic FederationExecutive Director – Darrell Dempster425.8662Nova Scotia Sport Hall of FameExecutive Director – Bill Robinson421.1266Special Olympics Nova ScotiaPresident & CEO – Mike Greek429.2266

Registered UsersCamping Association of Nova Scotia President – Ryan Underhillinfo@campingns.caCanadian Ski Patrol, Nova Scotia ZoneAdministrator – Sarah Wood425.5450, ext. 316Canoe Kayak Nova ScotiaAdministrator – Sarah Wood425.5450, ext. 316Duke of Edinburgh’s Award – Nova Scotia DivisionExecutive Director – Connie Miller425.5450, ext. 329Nova Scotia Fitness AssociationAdmin. Coordinator – Zena Snider nsfa@sportnovascotia.caLifesaving Society, Nova Scotia BranchExecutive Director – Gordon Richardson425.5450, ext. 331Recreation Facility Association of Nova ScotiaExecutive Director – Catherine Kersten 425.5450, ext. 330Recreation Nova Scotia Executive Director – Rhonda Lemire425.1128Snowmobilers Association of Nova ScotiaGeneral Manager – Mike Eddy425.5450, ext. 360Nova Scotia Trails FederationExecutive Director – Vanda Jackson425.5450, ext. 325

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Associate MembersBlind Sports Nova ScotiaPresident – Jennifer MacNeiljennifer.macneil1@ns.sympatico.caNova Scotia 55+ Games SocietyPresident – Bob MacLeodbob.regina@ns.sympatico.caNova Scotia Deaf Sports AssociationPresident – Justin DeBaiejustin.debaie@eastlink.caNova Scotia Disc Sports SocietyChair – Greg Van Slykeinfo@discns.caNova Scotia School Athletic FederationExecutive Director – Darrell Dempster425.8662Nova Scotia Sport Hall of FameExecutive Director – Bill Robinson421.1266Special Olympics Nova ScotiaPresident & CEO – Mike Greek429.2266

Registered UsersCamping Association of Nova Scotia President – Ryan Underhillinfo@campingns.caCanadian Ski Patrol, Nova Scotia ZoneAdministrator – Sarah Wood425.5450, ext. 316Canoe Kayak Nova ScotiaAdministrator – Sarah Wood425.5450, ext. 316Duke of Edinburgh’s Award – Nova Scotia DivisionExecutive Director – Connie Miller425.5450, ext. 329Nova Scotia Fitness AssociationAdmin. Coordinator – Zena Snider nsfa@sportnovascotia.caLifesaving Society, Nova Scotia BranchExecutive Director – Gordon Richardson425.5450, ext. 331Recreation Facility Association of Nova ScotiaExecutive Director – Catherine Kersten 425.5450, ext. 330Recreation Nova Scotia Executive Director – Rhonda Lemire425.1128Snowmobilers Association of Nova ScotiaGeneral Manager – Mike Eddy425.5450, ext. 360Nova Scotia Trails FederationExecutive Director – Vanda Jackson425.5450, ext. 325

Values of Sport (continued from page 7)

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you’re racing for yourself,” he said. “If you go faster than the person next to you, you’re just going to mess the boat up. What you have to do is paddle for the girl next to you. You’re racing for your teammates, not yourself.”

He commemorated the team’s success with a tattoo on his shoulder honouring the war canoe squad. “I’m always going on to the girls that I don’t give out accolades without warrant,” he says. “The tattoo was me putting my money where my mouth is.”

Building People, Not Just Athletes

Bluenose Athletics Club coach Tanya Daniels has coached plenty of top athletes like heptathlete Rachael McIntosh, who won gold at the 2013 Canada Games. But she’s careful to engage her athletes, from first-

timers to national medallists, not as “miniature adults” but kids still finding their way.

“In kid language they often refer to us as a big family,” Daniels says. “I talk a lot about connection. It’s important to let kids know you’re interested in them not just as athletes, but as people.”

She a nd t he coac h i ng st a f f recognize that building relationships by travelling together or just hanging out can be as important as imparting skills. She takes time to talk about subjects like drugs, alcohol and using social media carefully.

“We need to be proactive and

educate, versus react ive when incidents that occur cause harm,” she says. “(But) they know if they mess up along the way, it’s OK. We’ll troubleshoot the peaks and valleys and chaos of being a young student athlete.”

She tries to impart that attitude of looking out for each other to her athletes and she recognizes it starts with coaching.

“It’s important to me that older athletes mentor the younger athletes,” she says. “The important part is setting the stage and the coach demonstrating a very inclusive, positive attitude toward every athlete involved.”

sackawa coach Chris macPherson shows off his tattoo commemorating the success of his girls' war canoe team. (Contributed)

14

Arnold Robertson could be the spokesman for the health

benefits of regular running. At 83 years old, he’s still lacing up his sneakers and pounding the pavement at races across the province.

“It keeps a fellow’s health better,” says the Hantsport resident, who took part in his first road race in 1947 and has been running ever since. “You get your blood following and your breathing’s better. That’s the biggest thing. And of course meeting friends every year.”

Robertson Still Going Strong

Robertson has developed quite the roster of friends over the course of his busy run schedule. He races annually in events in Goffs, Greenwood, Lunenburg, Wolfville and Caledonia, among others.

“It’s hard to keep track of all of them,” says Robertson, a retired plant worker.

He’s a mainstay at the Berwick Gala Days Road Race, which will mark its 63rd running this year on the Labour Day weekend.

Robertson was a teenager when he took part in the first race. Other

than one unlucky year – “I remember having car trouble,” he says – he has made the trip to Berwick every year since.

“I guess it’s just a tradition now,” he says with a laugh.

His longevity has earned him plenty of fans in Berwick, where he’s admired for his dedication to the sport.

“It just blows my mind that he can do this every year,” says race director Carol Boylan. “He does it like he’s just putting his shoes on.”

The Berwick race, run on the Sunday of the first weekend in September during Gala Days, is a five-miler (about 8 km) that takes in a loop and a half of the valley town. It serves as a fundraiser for local youth organizations and also features a lunch served up by the Mayor.

“A lot of people like it because it’s a relatively flat route,” says Boylan. “It’s a race that people seem to enjoy, and the runners are so appreciative and so friendly.”

The race is one of more than 20 stops on Run Nova Scotia’s annual road race series. “We’ve been supporting road runners and road races for more than 30 years,” says Run Nova Scotia chair Nancy Holland.

The road race series draws runners of all abilities and ages, from kids and teens to those with as many miles on their legs as Robertson.

Run Nova Scotia also offers the more competitive Timex series

where members have a chance to represent Nova Scotia at the national 10K championships in September.

The series’ popularity has grown over the years; just ask Robertson, who has gotten used to running in bigger crowds.

“ I r e m e m b e r d o i n g t h e Dartmouth Natal Day Run in 1947, and there might have been 20 people in the field,” he says. “It’s a big difference now.”

For more information on Run Nova Scotia’s annual series and races across the province, visit runnovascotia.ca

Hantsport runner gearing up for 63rd Berwick race

So many sports. So little time.Amherst Stadium, Amherst NS

May 13-15

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Presenting SponsorsTitle Sponsor Official Sponsors

arnold robertson, the oldest runner in the 2013 Berwick gala days road race, poses with the youngest runner, 10-year-old sam Cadrain. robertson has run nearly every race in the event's 63-year history. (Contributed)

14 Sponsored by15

Coaches have faced changing demands in recent years, but

the conditions for creating success remain the same in sport as they do in other fields, says Wade Gilbert.

The Ontario-born Gilbert, who holds a PhD from the University of Ottawa and serves as a professor at California State University-Fresno, is an in-demand speaker and coach who has worked with top-level athletes across North America.

As the keynote speaker at the second Atlantic Coaches Conference in Halifax this April, he’ll share his theory that the same three things are needed to help people succeed in any discipline, from music to sport to science.

Those key ingredients? Setting, mastery and needs.

“The beauty of it is the principles are there (in everything),” Gilbert says in a phone interview from California. “You can go into any field and see examples of this.”

People excel when they have the right setting, Gilbert says. He looks at Jamaica’s ability to dominate in world-class sprinting, despite its small population.

The reverse is also true, he says: you can preach at people forever, but if the setting isn’t right, they won’t change.

“Even educating people doesn’t dent public behaviour because you conform to the environment in which you live,” he says. “For example, you might know everything there is to know about being active, you might want to do it, but if you live in a neighbourhood where there’s no parks or sidewalks and no one

Gilbert Headlines Atlantic Coaches Conferenceelse exercises, you’re not going to exercise.”

It’s a lesson for coaches on the importance of creating the right environment to help players develop.

Recognizing players’ needs is one of the biggest areas of change in coaching, Gilbert says. Gone are the days when coaches could be dictators.

“Traditionally, it used to be quite autocratic: ‘I’m the boss and you come in and do what I tell you to do,’” he says. “There’s definitely been a generational shift. Coaches have adapted to be more athlete-centred and get a handle on athletes’ needs and emotions.”

Gilbert stresses the empathetic side of coaching. He has been doing a study with the women’s basketball team at Cal State, an NCAA Division 1 school, on the impact of touch: how it affects someone when you touch their shoulder when you speak to them, for example.

“There’s a study in the NBA about it as well, how it correlates with performance and team cohesion,” he says.

In the realm of mastery, Gilbert notes the importance of giving young athletes room to grow, take risks and make mistakes.

It’s a grace in danger of being lost in the move to treat ever-younger kids like professionals.

“For coaches at the junior high and high school age, one of the biggest challenges is helping parents navigate that… talent development process,” he says. “Just being able to help parents understand you don’t need to keep up with all these demands. You don’t need to be travelling all over the country (when your child is) nine or 10.”

Gilbert says a “win now” mentality is hard on players and coaches alike—and not helpful in youth sport.

“I see the pressure coaches at younger age groups start to feel because they’re scrutinized more,” he says. “I don’t really care where we finish as eight-year-olds. I’m looking at 18- or 28-year-olds. We need a growth mindset where we view skill and expertise and something that’s not fixed.”

In a fast-changing landscape, Gilbert says coaches should not only accept but embrace that they can’t control everything. It’s important to bring parents into the fold and give young athletes a say as well.

“For parents, it’s a big investment for them: that’s their kid,” he says. “Let them contribute to the process in some way. And give (youth) some ownership of it. Kindle the fire of creativity and initiative, with parameters.”

where members have a chance to represent Nova Scotia at the national 10K championships in September.

The series’ popularity has grown over the years; just ask Robertson, who has gotten used to running in bigger crowds.

“ I r e m e m b e r d o i n g t h e Dartmouth Natal Day Run in 1947, and there might have been 20 people in the field,” he says. “It’s a big difference now.”

For more information on Run Nova Scotia’s annual series and races across the province, visit runnovascotia.ca

April 25-26, 2014

Westin Nova Scotian, Halifax

Ke y n o t e s p e a k e r Wa d e Gilbert will be joined by a

roster of top coaches and sport development experts for the second annual Atlantic Coaches Conference, taking place April 25-26 at the Westin Nova Scotian in Halifax.

Other presenters include Gardiner MacDougall, coach of the four-time national champion UNB Varsity Reds men’s hockey team; former national soccer team member Cindy Tye; and Leo Thornley, a team lead with the Canoe-Kayak Olympic program.

Conference topics include building championship teams, video analysis tools for high-performance sport, and coaching for character: building the ethical component of coaching.

The conference is geared for coaches from club rep teams up to the professional level.

For more information, visit coachingns.com or contact M a r k S m i t h a t m s m i t h @sportnovascotia.ca

16

Young athletes need the best fuel to keep up their energy before,

during, and after physical activity. To keep hydrated, Doctors Nova Scotia recommends water above other alternatives such as caffeinated, sports, and energy drinks as well as some fruit drinks and milk.

It’s important for young athletes to match their sweat loss with fluid intake to avoid dehydration when active. Dehydration can cause decreased athletic performance, greater strain on the cardiovascular system and increase heat stress which can result in decreased muscular strength, endurance, and mental alertness.

Doctors Recommend Water for Young Athletes

It is important for youth to have water on hand during physical activities, and to drink it frequently. When playing sports, kids should use their own thirst as an indicator of when to take a drink.

Water is the best choice for young athletes because it re-hydrates quickly without negative side effects, or ingredients such as caffeine or sugar. Water makes up 70 per cent of the human body, and it’s important to keep it that way! Water helps energize muscles, balance the body’s fluids, and cool you down.

Caffeinated drinks have increased in popularity among youth, which is a growing concern for doctors.

Health Canada reports that too much caffeine can result in nausea and vomiting and/or heart irregularities and anxiety. A small amount of caffeine could also cause sleeping problems, headaches, irritability and nervousness.

It can be easy to over consume caffeine with these beverages because many contain above the maximum daily consumption amount. Some energy drinks contain 360 milligrams of caffeine, more than twice the recommended daily intake.

Limit 100 per cent fruit juices and smoothies when possible because of their high sugar content and instead dilute them, or go right to the source with pure water. Water from the tap is inexpensive (especially compared

to some fruit juices and sports drinks) and gives your body exactly what it needs: hydration.

Although there are many drinking options, water is the best choice for young athletes. It quenches thirst and protects against dehydration more efficiently and effectively, has the least negative side effects, and helps regulate body temperature. While many sports drinks promote their supply of electrolytes, this does not make them a good choice for active youth.

Water is the most inexpensive, safe, and effective drink for active youth and athletes of all ages. Drinking water can prevent dehydration before it happens and contribute to a healthy and active life.

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to some fruit juices and sports drinks) and gives your body exactly what it needs: hydration.

Although there are many drinking options, water is the best choice for young athletes. It quenches thirst and protects against dehydration more efficiently and effectively, has the least negative side effects, and helps regulate body temperature. While many sports drinks promote their supply of electrolytes, this does not make them a good choice for active youth.

Water is the most inexpensive, safe, and effective drink for active youth and athletes of all ages. Drinking water can prevent dehydration before it happens and contribute to a healthy and active life.

Disc Golf Looking to Grow

John Ansara knows he’s one of the luckiest disc golf players in the

province. The recreation director for the Town of New Minas, Ansara has one of the province’s only 18-hole basketed courses in his backyard at Lockhart Ryan Park.

The course, opened in October 2012, provides a free, year-round opportunity to play disc golf for any skill level.

The sport is slowly but surely gaining popularity in Nova Scotia and Ansara is doing his part to spread the word. Last fall, he reached out to the Evangeline Middle School and planned a date where 15 kids spent a day on the course. He’d like to see more local students and schools try the sport.

“I take a lot of pleasure in organizing tournaments around here and watching the sport grow,” said Ansara. “It’s baby steps, but I like the way it’s going.”

To help even more, he has discs on hand at the recreation centre that he rents for free to anyone who wants to give the sport a try, as well as individual discs for sale for $10.

For those unfamiliar with disc golf, it’s played similar to real golf. Players toss different discs toward wire baskets. Courses are nine to 18 holes. The person to sink the discs in the fewest “strokes” wins. It’s an inexpensive sport that can be played by anyone young or old.

Greg Van Slyke and the Nova Scotia Disc Sports Society are trying to bring more courses to the province and grow the sport. Other than New Minas,

Dartmouth and Pugwash have the only other full-length courses in Nova Scotia.

“We have almost nothing here for disc golf players,” said Van Slyke, president of the Disc Sports Society. “It’s because of our lack of facilities.”

The society is doing a few things to build the sport. They are in the works of adding two new courses, ideally in the Halifax area where they are lacking courses to cater to the large population

New courses are great, but what’s a course without players? The real goal for the society is getting more people into the game. In February they hosted the Ice Bowl on the Dartmouth Common, an event to help welcome newcomers as well as give die-hards something to do in the winter.

By promoting the sport in areas

full of active youth they hope to add numbers. For instance, Van Slyke is looking at places like Pictou.

Ansara is a lso talking with Lunenburg County in hopes to expand their two-basket course to a full-size one. He stresses that there are a lot of disc golf lovers throughout the province; people drive for hours just to play the game at a real course.

Some people are so into it they play all winter. According to Ansara, there is a group of five guys out playing at least once a week in New Minas, all winter long.

“It’s one of those sports that once you get hooked it becomes kind of an obsession,” he said.

For a listing of all the courses, and more information visit: nsdss.ca.

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Calendar of EventsMARCHMarch - JuneNSSAF ProviNciAl chAmPioNShiPS, various locations throughout NS. For a complete list of upcoming events, visit the NSSAF website at nssaf.ednet.ns.ca

March 7-9AmherSt mArch BreAk meet (WG) [Gy m NA S t ic S] , Amherst Regional High School, Amherst, NS. Contact: Gymnastics Nova Scotia at 425.5450, ext. 338.

March 8NovA ScotiA ProviNciAl liFeSAviNG SPort chAmPioNShiP (loNG courSe), Dalplex, Halifax, NS. Contact: Paul D’Eon at paul.deon@nsls.ns.ca

March 8SPeciAl olymPicS ANNAPoliS curliNG BoNSPiel, Middleton, NS. Contact: Matt Quinn, 429-2266, ext. 4.

March 14-16SPec i Al oly mPicS coBequ id Floor hockey tourNAmeNt, Truro, Antigonish, NS. Contact: Matt Quinn, 429-2266, ext. 4.

March 28-30BA Se BA l l cA NA dA coAc h e S Su P e r cliNic, Halifax, NS. Contact: baseball@sportnovascotia.ca or josh.macinnis11@hotmail.com

March 28BAdmiNtoN SeNior AtlANticS, Truro, NS. Contact: badmintonns@sportnovascotia.ca

March 292014 ProviNciAl AmAteur BodyBuildiNG c h A m P i o N S h i P S , R e b e c c a C o h n Auditorium, Halifax, NS. Contact: nsabba@nsabba.com

March 28-30W o r l d ’ S F i N e S t c h o c o l A t e Sk At e At l A N t ic A FiGu r e Sk At i NG chAmPioNShiPS, East Hants Sportsplex, NS. Contact: Skate Canada Nova Scotia at 425.5450, ext. 336.

APRILApril 2-5PAN PAciFic & commoNWeAlth GAmeS SWim triAlS, Victoria, BC. Contact: Swim Nova Scotia at 425.5450, ext. 314.

April 4-6NS ProviNciAl GymNASticS ANd t&t chAmPioNShiPS, Titans Gymnastics and Trampoline Club, Dartmouth, NS. Contact: Titans at 466.5470.

April 5NS ProviNciAl liFeSAviNG emerGeNcy reSPoNSe chAmPioNShiP, Dartmouth Sportsplex, Dartmouth, NS. Contact: Paul D’Eon at paul.deon@nsls.ns.ca

April 11-13NSeF coAch SymPoSium, Deverness Stables, Antigonish, NS. Contact : Sheila Currie at 425.5450, ext. 337 or nsefmembership@sportnovascotia.ca

April 11-13At l A N t i c r h y t h m i c Gy m N A S t i c S chAmPioNShiPS, Bedford Hammonds Plains Community Centre, Bedford, NS. Contact : Heather Leither at heatherleither@gmail.com

April 20ruN NovA ScotiA roAd rAce SerieS ZX 10k ANd 5k, Greenwood, NS. Contact: info@runnovascotia.ca

April 25-26At l A N t i c c A N A d i A N Gy m N A S t i c S chAmPioNShiPS, UPEI, Charlottetown, PEI. Contact: Gymnastics Nova Scotia at 425.5450, ext. 338.

April 25-272014 vNS ProviNciAl chAmPioNShiPS – 14u, 15u, 16u mAle & FemAle, Halifax, NS. Contact: Volleyball Nova Scotia at 425.5450, ext. 322.

April 26vAlle y oPeN Sk At e, Newport, NS. Contact: Skate Canada Nova Scotia at 425.5450, ext. 336.

MAYMay 1kidSPort™ APPlicAtioNS due. Contact: Dave Wagg, 425.5454, ext. 350 or dwagg@sportnovascotia.ca

May 2-42014 vNS ProviNciAl chAmPioNShiPS – 17u, 18u SeNior mAle & FemAle, Halifax, NS. Contact: Volleyball Nova Scotia at 425.5450, ext. 322.

May 3SkAte cANAdA NovA ScotiA AGm ANd celeBrAtioN oN ice, Cole Harbour Place, Dartmouth, NS. Contact: Skate Canada Nova Scotia at 425.5450, ext. 336.

May 4B e N N y B u l l d o G d u A t h l o N , Musquodoboit Harbour, NS. Contact: Stacy Juckett at sjuckett@gmail.com

May 3AthleticS NS WArm-uP meet, Beazley Fie ld, Da r t mout h, NS. Cont ac t : athletics@sportnovascotia.ca

May 10-11c A N A d i A N l i F e G uA r d e m e r G e N c y reSPoNSe chAmPioNShiP, Canada Games Centre, Halifax, NS. Contact: Paul D’Eon at paul.deon@nsls.ns.ca

May 11cycleSmith duAthloN 28, Lawrencetown Beach, NS. Contact: Andrew Dacanay at duathlon@cyclesmith.ca

May 13-15milk SPort FAir, Amherst Stadium, A m her s t , NS. Cont ac t L i nd s ay MacAski l l, 425.5454, ext. 362 or lmacaskill@sportnovascotia.ca

May 24roW NovA ScotiA iceBreAker reGAttA, Dartmouth, NS. Contact: Row Nova Scotia at 425.5450, ext. 357.

May 30-June 1k e N d u N N o P e N l o N G c o u r S e iNvitAtioNAl [SWimmiNG], Dalplex Pool, Halifax, NS. Contact: Swim Nova Scotia at 425.5450, ext. 314.

May 31ruN NovA ScotiA roAd rAce SerieS eNField PeNGuiN ruN 5k, Enfield, NS. Contact: info@runnovascotia.ca

May 312014 ricoh SPort AWArdS, World Trade & Convention Centre, Halifax, NS. Visit: sportnovascotia.ca

May 31-June 1NAtioNAl teAm triAlS #2 [cANoekAyAk], Lake Banook, Dartmouth, NS. Contact: gm@adckc.ca

JUNEJune 7-8vNS BeAch volleyBAll JAmBoree [13-18 yeAr oldS], Beach Volleyball Park, Dartmouth, NS. Contact: Volleyball Nova Scotia at 425.5450, ext. 322.

June 8ruN NovA ScotiA roAd rAce SerieS lu N e N Bu rG Wor l d he r i tAGe Si t e 5k, Lunenburg, NS. Contact: info@runnovascotia.ca

June 14herShey trAck & Field ProviNciAlS, St. Mary’s University Stadium, Halfax NS. Contact: programs@athleticsnovascotia.ca

June 14eileeN meAGher iNterNAtioNAl trAc clASSic, St. Mary’s University Stadium, Hal fax NS. Contact : programs @athleticsnovascotia.ca

June 14-15AtlANtic diviSioN cANoekAyAk triAlS, Lake Banook, Dartmouth, NS. Contact: gm@adckc.ca

June 20-22SPeciAl olymPicS ProviNciAl Summer GAmeS, St. FX, Antigonish, NS. Contact: Matt Quinn, 429-2266, ext. 4.

June 20-22vNS SeASoN oPeNiNG BeAch volleyBAll oPeN houSe WeekeNd, Beach Volleyball Park, Dartmouth, NS. Contact: Volleyball Nova Scotia at 425.5450, ext. 322.

June 21uNder 17 oPeN reGAttA #1, Lake Banook, Dartmouth, NS. Contact: gm@adckc.ca

June 22i N G o N i S h tr i A t h l o N , I ngo n i sh , NS. Cont ac t : Da n ie l Mu r ray at ingonishtriathlon@gmail.com

June 25NS liFeSAviNG SPort SerieS rouNd #1, Aylesford Lake Beach, Aylesford, NS. Contact: Paul D’Eon at paul.deon@nsls.ns.ca

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