2015 Canada Games Week One Concludes on High Note

As week one of the Canada Games concludes, Team Nova Scotia's athletes are preparing to either head home, or arrive for week two, the final week of competition.

Week one ended on a high note with impressive performances in ski cross, a sport Team Nova Scotia has not competed in before, a bronze medal, and personal bests for many athletes.

On day six, Stephen Clouter of Lawrencetown in Halifax Regional Municipality, won Team Nova Scotia's first medal of the 2015 Canada Winter Games, a bronze in gymnastics in the horizontal bar event.

"There was some really tough competition at this Canada Games," said Mr. Clouter. "Having my teammates, coaches, parents and fans behind me was a big motivation. Coming out with a bronze medal on the horizontal bars is one of the greatest accomplishments in my gymnastics career."

Mr. Clouter also placed fourth in parallel bars, missing a bronze medal by 0.2 of a point.

"Winning a first medal is an exciting milestone for Team Nova Scotia. I'm sure Stephen will be an inspiration to all his team mates as they pursue their own competitions," said Premier Stephen McNeil. "I am incredibly proud of all the athletes and, on behalf of all Nova Scotians, we say congratulations to those who have competed so far, and good luck to those who have yet to compete."

Some other notable finishes include:

• Evan Ross and Connor Keefe, both of Halifax, 6th and 8th respectively in men's alpine ski cross
• Emma Stevens of Hilden, Colchester Co., fourth in the freestyle ski big air female event
• Para-alpine skier Brenda MacDonald-Lona, of Granville Ferry, Annapolis Co., fourth in the alpine para-ski slalom event
• Morgan Redmond, Windsor, fifth in archery recurve individual female. Team Nova Scotia was also fifth in mixed team archery compound
• Cole Harbour's Cooper Emin was sixth in the men's long-track speedskating 5,000 metres

"Week one provided many exciting moments for our team," said Mark Smith, Chef de Mission for Team Nova Scotia. "From strong finishes in freestyle ski and ski cross to multiple overtime games in ringette against the top provinces in Canada, and a bronze-medal winning performance by gymnast Stephen Clouter, week one has been a success."

Team Nova Scotia athletes showed great spirit and provincial pride.

Ringette goalie Ashley Maynard summed up the week nicely by saying, "It was an honour to represent Nova Scotia because everyone is so supportive of Nova Scotia. Nothing feels better than representing your home province."

Complete results from the Games are available at http://cg2015.gems.pro .

The 2015 Canada Winter Games are taking place in Prince George, B.C, Feb. 13-March 1 and feature more than 2,400 athletes competing in 19 sports. Team Nova Scotia has more than 300 athletes, coaches, managers and mission staff.

The Canada Games are held every two years, alternating between summer and winter. They are key in developing Canada's young athletes producing the next generation of national, international and Olympic champions.