Halifax, NS- The Honourable Leo Glavine, Minister of Communities, Culture and Heritage and Mark Smith, Chair of the Canada Games Management Committee, are proud to announce that Cathy Burton has been selected as Nova Scotia’s Chef de Mission for the 2019 Canada Winter Games in Red Deer, AB.
A former physical education teacher and current high school vice-principal, Burton has an extensive resume in sport. She has served as both the assistant and head coach of the Canada Games/ provincial ringette team in 2011 and 2015 respectively, as well as the manager of the Canada Games/ provincial women’s soccer team in 2017. She has volunteered with the Women in Sport Mentorship Program, and has contributed more than 20 years to coaching in her community and with the Halifax Regional School Board.
Committee Chair Mark Smith says, “We’re thrilled the minister has accepted our recommendation. Cathy is a role model who has positively impacted sport in our province. Her education, leadership and volunteerism make her a great fit for this position.”
The Games will take place from February 15 until March 3, 2019. Up to 3,600 participants from over 800 Canadian communities will gather in Red Deer, Alberta to compete in 19 sports.
"I believe sport is a microcosm of life,” says Burton. “The magic of sport is that it allows us to experience life lessons that are really difficult to teach. For 2019, our goal will be to enrich Team Nova Scotia’s representation and experience at the games with the belief that our athletes, coaches and managers will perform to the best of their abilities. With that said, our mission will also be to promote the spirit of the games and build opportunities that will provide our team wonderful memories and life lessons that are embedded in the Canada Games experience.”
The Chef de Mission is the head of delegation for Team Nova Scotia’s contingent of athletes, coaches, and managers who represent the province at the Canada Games. As Chef, Cathy will lead a team of mission staff who manage logistics, disseminate information, organize events, handle administrative tasks, troubleshoot, and liaise with the host society to support and promote Team Nova Scotia.
Members of the Canada Games Management Committee are:
Mark Smith, Chair (Sport Nova Scotia Board of Directors)
Aaron Nutting (Nova Scotia Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage rep)
Troy Myers (Community sport rep)
Jamie Ferguson (Sport Nova Scotia rep)
Ken Bagnell (Canadian Sport Centre Atlantic rep)
Doug Clarke (Community sport rep)
Sue Beazley (Past mission staff rep)
Ray Fisher (Past coach rep)
Darren Bogle (Past athlete rep)
Bette El Hawary (Prof staff rep)
Amy Walsh (Ex-officio, Sport Nova Scotia)
Michelle Aucoin (Ex-officio, Nova Scotia Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage)
Lorraine Burch (past PSO rep)
Stephen Gallant (past Chef)