News release

Mission Staff Named for Team Nova Scotia 2005

Office of Health Promotion (Jan. 2003 - May 2005)

Eighteen volunteers have come together to help Nova Scotia athletes give the performance of a lifetime at the 2005 Canada Summer Games in Regina, Sask.

They form the mission staff who will co-ordinate the participation of Team Nova Scotia's 450 athletes, coaches, managers and artists in the Games.

"We have a good mix of previous mission staff returning to offer their Games experience, as well as enthusiastic new volunteers coming on board to support our athletes as they strive for excellence in sport," said Health Promotion Minister Rodney MacDonald. "Together, they'll run Team Nova Scotia with a spirit of co-operation that's gained national recognition at the Games."

Nova Scotia is the only province with a mission staff comprised entirely of volunteers. Thus far, it is also the only province to win the Claude Hardy Award for the best mission staff. The award was first presented in 2001 and again in 2003. Mission staff from all provinces and territories voted on the recipient.

"I'm proud to have been on both mission staffs that won this award, and excited to be leading the team for 2005," said chef de mission Russell MacDonald. "Over the next 17 months, we'll be doing our best to help our athletes achieve their goals while sharing our friendly Nova Scotia attitude with everyone at the Games."

Mr. MacDonald, of Groves Point, Cape Breton Co., is a retired teacher and administrator with the Cape Breton-Victoria Regional School Board. He was on the mission staff for the 2001 Summer Games in London, Ont., and served as assistant chef de mission at the 2003 Winter Games in Bathurst-Campbellton, N.B.

Assistant chef de mission Susan Beazley is the athletic director at Armbrae Academy in Halifax. She worked with Mr. MacDonald on the 2001 mission staff and was an athlete on Nova Scotia's field hockey team in 1973 and 1977. Ms. Beazley will assume the chef de mission position for the 2007 Winter Games in the Yukon.

Mr. MacDonald and Ms. Beazley will lead 16 volunteer mission staff from across Nova Scotia:

  • Anitra Dagley, Halifax Regional Municipality
  • Frank Denis, Halifax Regional Municipality
  • Bette El-Hawary, Halifax Regional Municipality
  • Joni Henderson, Dartmouth, Halifax Regional Municipality
  • Joel LeBlanc, Victoria Mines, Cape Breton Co.
  • Jeff LeDrew, Upper Tantallon, Halifax Regional Municipality
  • Gerard MacIsaac, Pictou, Pictou Co.
  • Mary Jane MacKinnon, Hammonds Plains, Halifax Regional Municipality
  • Ted Meldrum, Coldbrook, Kings Co.
  • Adèle Poirier, Halifax Regional Municipality
  • Lynne Robertson, Dartmouth, Halifax Regional Municipality
  • Caitlin Rochon, Halifax Regional Municipality
  • Ness Timmons, South Bar, Cape Breton Co.
  • Nancy Tokaryk, Halifax Regional Municipality
  • Mike Trinacty, Berwick, Kings Co.
  • Jan Wallace, Dartmouth, Halifax Regional Municipality

Many of these volunteers have served on mission staff, coached or competed in previous Games.

The 2005 Canada Summer Games will take place in Regina, Sask. from Aug. 6 to 20. It is the country's largest amateur multi- sport event.