ASSISTANT CHEF DE MISSION NAMED

Janice Morin has been named an Assistant Chef de Mission to Team Saskatchewan for the 2005 Jeux du Canada Games held in Regina in August of 2005.

Morin, who works in the Sport, Culture and Recreation department of the Prince Albert Grand Council, is the first person of First Nation ancestry to be appointed to this volunteer position in Saskatchewan.

"We're very pleased to have her as a member of Team Saskatchewan," Culture, Youth and Recreation Minister Joan Beatty said. "Her experience and enthusiasm are welcome, and it is great to have a First Nation woman from the north as part of our team."

Morin was the Prince Albert Grand Council Chef de Mission at the Saskatchewan First Nation Winter Games earlier this year and has also coached at the North American Indigenous Games, and is a respected member of the First Nation and Saskatchewan sport communities. She was an athlete at the very first First Nation Games and has also participated in the Arctic Winter Games.

"It is a great honour, a tremendous privilege and a fabulous opportunity to become part of the Canada Games sports community, and I'm excited about being a part of Team Saskatchewan," Morin said. "Our energy and excitement in sports and culture will shine as we welcome all of Canada to our home."

Morin joins Rob Kennedy, who is also volunteering as Assistant Chef de Mission. Kennedy has been with Sask Sport Inc. since 1998, where he is currently the manager of High Performance Sport Development.

"I'm excited to accept this challenge," Kennedy said. "It's an honour for me to be able to contribute to these Games during Saskatchewan's centennial, and I'm looking forward to working with Team Saskatchewan."

Kennedy has both coached and competed at the provincial level, and he holds a B.Sc. in Physical Education from the University of Saskatchewan, with a major in Exercise and Sport Management.

Leading the team will be Chef de Mission Ross Lynd, an employee of Saskatchewan Culture, Youth and Recreation.

The 2005 Games will mark the fourth time Lynd has been named Chef de Mission for Team Saskatchewan. He was Chef for the 1993 Summer Games in Kamloops, the 2001 Summer Games in London and the 2003 Winter Games in Bathurst/Campbellton, but the location of the 2005 Games make them special to him.

"The extra challenge and excitement of being Chef de Mission of the home team definitely interests me," Lynd said. "I've had a number of different opportunities to be a Chef de Mission, and I've always thought it would be nice to be the home team. When this opportunity came up, I couldn't resist it."

His involvement with sports spans more than 40 years as an administrator, coach, participant and volunteer, and he has participated in nine Saskatchewan Games, three Western Canada Summer Games and seven Canada Games.

As Chef de Mission, Lynd is the primary liaison between the 2005 Host Society and Team Saskatchewan. He is also responsible for selecting and leading staff in the overall planning and co-ordination of all non-athletic aspects. Morin and Kennedy will assist him in these tasks.

In 2005, Team Saskatchewan will comprise 357 athletes and 68 coaches and managers. In all, the Games will feature a total of more than 4,400 athletes, artists, coaches and managers.

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For More Information, Contact:

Janet Peters Culture, Youth and Recreation Regina Phone: (306) 787-4967

Ross Lynd Culture, Youth and Recreation Melfort Phone: (306) 752-6211