August 15, 2011
Team Alberta claims record number of medals at Western Canada
Summer Games
432-member team achieves top-two finish and 224 medals
Edmonton... Team Alberta smashed records and personal best performances to close out a successful 2011 Western
Canada Summer Games with a back-to-back second place finish in medals and overall points.
Coming off a strong performance in 2007, Team Alberta continued to close the gap against B.C. in the race for top provincial
honours, wrapping up the 2011 Western Canada Summer Games in Kamloops with 224 medals: 53 gold, 91 silver, 80 bronze,
and 187 trophy points. Trophy points are awarded based on the performance of all athletes and determine the winner of the
Games Trophy. British Columbia claimed top spot winning 253 medals and 213 points. Manitoba with 166 points and
Saskatchewan with 133 medals split third place.
Team Alberta also set eight records during the 10-day competition, including a new national age group record in the 50m
Freestyle swim event set by St. Albert’s Paige Kremer with a time of 25:52.
“Albertans are extremely proud of all our participants whose efforts and performances contributed to the success of the
Games,” said Cindy Ady, minister of Tourism, Parks and Recreation. “The Western Canada Summer Games are a fantastic
development opportunity for an athlete but also as a representative of our province. All participants have represented Alberta
very well at these Games. We look forward to showcasing our Alberta spirit when the Games return to Wood Buffalo in 2015.”
Despite breaking her collarbone during a training event on Saturday, Team Alberta’s only dual-sport athlete Kinley Gibson of
Edmonton proudly led her team into Sunday’s closing ceremony carrying the Alberta flag. Gibson won four medals in her two
sports during the Games; two silver medals during week one in triathlon and two bronze in week two’s cycling event. Team
Alberta banner carriers included Jessica Wong of Medicine Hat, Josephine Wu of Edmonton, Miranda Rau of Calgary and Ian
Kennedy of Calgary.
Kennedy showed heart and fearless determination after he left the Games early Saturday morning to mourn the tragic loss of
his mother, who passed away from terminal brain cancer. Kennedy returned to competition in time for his races on Sunday,
where he helped his rowing team win two bronze medals in the men’s pairs and fours races.
“We knew we had a strong team going into the Games, both on and off the field,” said Scott Fraser, Team Alberta Chef de
Mission. “They have overcome enormous obstacles to perform their best as athletes in their pursuit of excellence and as young
adults.”
Other Games highlights for Team Alberta include 68 medals for the swim team, 47 medals in athletics, 17 medals from the
wrestling team, medal performances in 12 of 13 team sports and many other impressive results. Overall, Alberta’s teams
combined to win the most medals ever in their Western Canada Summer Games history. To see the full list of Alberta athletes
and final results, visit www.teamalberta.org and follow them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TeamAB.
Team Alberta’s involvement is coordinated by the Alberta Sport, Recreation, Parks and Wildlife Foundation, a non-profit Crown
corporation supported by the Alberta Lottery Fund. The Foundation provides support for participation in sport, recreation and
physical activity, athletic excellence and the preservation and recreational use of natural environments in Alberta. Through the
Foundation, the Alberta government has provided nearly $670,000 towards team training, the selection of teams and the
operations of Team Alberta at the Western Canada Summer Games.
- 30 Media inquiries may be directed to:
Jennifer Johnson
Scott Fraser
Shannon Nicolson
Jennifer Johnson
Team Alberta Media Liaison
Western Canada Summer Games
403-797-3248 (cell)
[email protected]
Scott Fraser
Team Alberta Chef de Mission
Western Canada Summer Games
780-902-8395 (cell)
[email protected]
Shannon Nicolson
Communications
Tourism, Parks and Recreation
780-643-1998
[email protected]
To call toll free within Alberta dial 310-0000.
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