Team Ontario – In celebration of just under one year out from the 2019 Canada Winter Games, Team Ontario Chef de Mission Jennifer Bennett is pleased to announce the volunteer Team Ontario mission staff who will lead Ontario’s athletes, coaches and managers at the Games taking place from February 15th to March 3rd, 2019 in Red Deer, Alberta.

The mission staff are the ”team behind the team” responsible for ensuring that all of the needs of the athletes, coaches and managers are addressed. From liaising with the host society on travel, accommodation and sport schedules, to working with the media to promote the stories and accomplishments of all of the athletes, the mission staff volunteers work tirelessly so that the athletes can concentrate solely on their competitions.

Mission staff volunteers come from the sport sector and beyond for the opportunity to increase leadership skills, to meet new people, to gain experience working with the provincial and national sport system, to act as ambassadors of our province and most importantly to support the next generation of international competitors hailing from Ontario.             

“We are very excited to bring this talented group of individuals together to support Team Ontario at the 2019 Canada Winter Games”, said Bennett. “The wide range of skills and experience coupled with the passion that our mission staff volunteers possess will ensure that the Team Ontario athletes, coaches and managers receive the highest level of operational support leading up to and during the 2019 Canada Winter Games.” 

“I am pleased to extend my congratulations to our Team Ontario mission staff who will support our athletes as they compete at the 2019 Canada Winter Games. You are the backbone behind our team,” said Daiene Vernile, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport. “Your hard work and dedication in preparing our team to excel are a true display of your commitment and enthusiasm for our athletes. I wish all the best success as you gear up for the Games. Go Team Ontario!”

The mission staff has recently begun planning with the respective provincial sport organizations and sport representatives and will ensure that Team Ontario is well prepared for the 2019 Canada Winter Games. 

Team Ontario’s 2019 Mission Team:

Core Team Leaders	Residence	Role
Jennifer Bennett	Toronto	Chef de Mission
Steve Sevor	Hamilton	Assistant Chef de Mission
Justan Steele	Toronto	Assistant Chef de Mission
Stacy Halonen	Toronto	Sport Technical Lead
Janice Robinson	Whitby	Events/Administration Lead
Erin Hamilton	Aurora	Operations Lead
Mission Team Staff	Residence	Role
Justin Tung	Toronto	Gymnastics (Artistic) & Gymnastics (Trampoline)
Katrina Krawec	Ajax	Wheelchair Basketball & Hockey (F)
Aimee Maggiacomo	Toronto	Gymnastics (Artistic) & Cross-Country Skiing
Marci Morris	Ottawa	Ringette & Archery
Sheila Drury	Mount Hope	Biathlon & Curling (F)
Corinne Williams	Waterloo	Speed Skating (Short Track) & Alpine Skiing
Eric McLoughlin	Woodbridge	Speed Skating (Long Track) & Squash
Kelsey McIntosh	Ottawa	Table Tennis & Figure Skating
Peter Seto	Toronto	Synchronized Swimming & Curling (M)
James O’Brien	St. Catharines	Boxing & Badminton
Kevin Sousa	Toronto	Hockey (M) & Snowboarding
Tristian Reid	Toronto	Freestyle Skiing & Judo
Danielle Emmons	Mississauga	Events/Administration Support & Figure Skating
Ryan Albright	Pickering	Events/Athlete Recognition

 

About Team Ontario

Team Ontario comes together as a group of approximately 350-450 athletes, coaches, managers, chaperones, support staff and mission staff from across the province to compete at the Canada Winter Games and the Canada Summer Games. The team is represented in all sports competing in the Games. The Canada Games are an important component of our sport system, and a key event in the development of Ontario’s young athletes. The Canada Games provide athletes with an opportunity to compete in a multi-sport atmosphere and prepare them as the next generation of international competitors. Please follow Team Ontario on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook: @GoTeamOntario

About the Canada Games

The Canada Games are a national multi-sport competition with participation from every province and territory in Canada. The Games are held every two years, alternating between winter and summer. The 2019 Canada Winter Games will be held February 15th to March 3rd in Red Deer, bringing together approximately 3600 athletes, coaches, and managers from every province and territory to compete in 16 sports. Please visit www.canadagames.ca

About Games Ontario

Team Ontario is supported by the Ontario Government, through its Games Ontario program. This program delivers or supports multi-sport events, including the Ontario Winter and Summer Games for youth, the Ontario 55+ Summer and Winter Games and the Ontario Parasport Games. Supporting Ontario sporting events is part of Game ON – The Ontario Government’s Sport Plan, which is encouraging as many people as possible to play organized sports, helping Ontario’s high-performance athletes pursue excellence and promoting increased tourism and economic development. Please visit www.mtc.gov.on.ca

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Contacts:

Jennifer Bennett, 2019 Team Ontario Chef de Mission

teamontario2019@gmail.com  

Justan Steele, Program Consultant, Games Unit / 2019 Team Ontario Assistant Chef de Mission

Sport, Recreation and Community Programs Division

Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport

Justan.Steele@ontario.ca