From feeding athletes the nutritious food needed to compete to setting up the Athletes’ Village and making sure the campus was tidy and beautiful, staff played a major role in the overall success of the Games.

But they weren’t the only ones, says Andrew Konowalchuk, associate vice-president (administration). He notes that there were many campus members involved in various aspects of planning, communications, hands-on set up and ongoing activities over the duration of the Games.

“I would like to acknowledge everyone involved from the planning committee to communications to the hands-on crews — including the Physical Plant, Conference and Catering and Ancillaries staff — who came together to support the Canada Summer Games Athletes Village and venues at the U of M,” he said. The U of M Canada Summer Games Planning Committee started working together on October 23, 2014.

“There was really impressive, exceptional work from all involved, with everything throughout managed smoothly and calmly — a tremendous group accomplishment.”

There were some real challenges throughout. Days prior to the athletes arriving on campus, there was a major power outage in University Centre, where the athletes’ cafeteria and food services were located. Conference and Catering Services staff came up with a contingency plan to feed the athletes while staff at the electrical shop came up with a plan and restored power quickly; communications were managed smoothly. A water main break also kept crews busy during the Games but they managed to fix it without any disruption to buildings or the parkade.

When entire teams tested the capacity of elevators and got unexpectedly stuck, crews came to their rescue fast enough to ensure that no one was hurt or missed their scheduled games.

Staff kept the campus clean, turned over 900 rooms for and fed 2,000 athletes during the holiday weekend, stayed on-call and accommodated a number of smaller requests to help make the Summer Games extra successful.

“This was a full-shop effort and we celebrate our success on a job well done!” says Steve Cumpsty, director, operations & maintenance.

“A sincere and heartfelt thank you to everyone involved in the preparations and planning for the games, the work during the games, and the cleanup after,” adds Konowalchuk.

Do you know someone on campus who put in extra effort at the Canada Summer Games? Leave a comment below to tell us about those shining stars that went above and beyond.

U of M Canada Summer Games Planning Committee

Andrew Konowalchuk – Chair, AV-P (Administration)
Vanessa Shaff – Director, External Relations
Tannis Campbell – Manager, Office of the AVP (Admin.)
Naomi Andrew – Legal Counsel
Andrea Edmunds – Director, Ancillary Services
Barry Stone – Director, Student Residences
Cameron Neufeld – Manager, Parking Services
Dean Duff – General Manager, Dining Services
Steve Cumpsty – Director, Operations & Maintenance
Lyle Morin – Manager, Grounds & General Services
Rick Jansen – Director, Security Services
Simon Wang – Director of Facilities, KRM
Gene Muller – Director, Active Living
Murray Elfenbaum – Administrative Coordinator, Ancillary Services
Doug Brown – Dean, KRM
Janice Bailey – Area Coordinator, Extended Education
Jaret Klymchuk – Director, Architectural & Engineering Services
Kevin Slippert – Analyst, Registrar’s Office
K-L Holter – Director, IST

The University of Manitoba was proud to host 4,000 athletes on our campus and to showcase our university by participating at the Jeux du Canada Games Cultural Festival at the Forks.

Thank you to all University of Manitoba alumni, faculty, staff, students and up-and-coming Bison athletes who helped make the 2017 Canada Games a great success.

Look back on some of the top memories from the University of Manitoba’s involvement in the Games by clicking here.

Kelly Mahoney is the Director of the Career Development Centre at the Asper School of Business. Mahoney competed at the 1977 Canada Summer Games in Newfoundland in the sport of swimming and is currently an International Triathlon Union (ITU) and Triathlon Canada technical official selected to officiate at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia.

She has officiated at numerous major international competitions including the 2016 and 2008 Olympic Games, the 2014 Commonwealth and 2015 Pan Am Games.

Mahoney also had a role at this summer’s Canada Games as part of the Sport Organizing Committee for triathlon.

What is your favorite memory from your time at the Canada Games?

For me it was completely different from participating at a regular swim meet. First of all, it was quite competitive to be named to the team and I was one of the youngest competitors. So to have reached that goal, wear the Team Manitoba uniform and to receive accolades from friends and family was thrilling.

And when we finally arrived on “The Rock” it was my first time in Newfoundland and my first time at a multi-sport games. I roomed with another swimmer and two divers which was really fun. It was great to be with, and interact with, athletes from other sports. To cheer them on as they competed and vice versa.

We were in the last week so we attended the closing ceremonies which included the parade of athletes by province – it’s amazing to have experienced that.

I remember they had Newfie dogs as mascots, and when they set off the fireworks, the dogs went crazy – running all over the field.

I also met Scott Russell for the first time, long time CBC sports announcer. Although I’m reluctant to admit it, that experience happened 40 years ago. I continue to be friends with people who were on that Team Manitoba to this day.

How do you feel your Canada Games experience prepared you for other athletic competitions?

It was definitely a highlight of my swimming career. I continued to swim for another four years but was injured the next CSG so was not able to participate. Because I grew up as an athlete and continued to coach well into my 20-30s, I never was far from the sporting venue. In my adult life, I have gone on to participate as a triathlon official at a number of large multisport games, including the CSG in PEI in 2009 where I served as the Chief Race Official.

A number of the young athletes who participated in that CSG went on to compete at high level sporting events including Commonwealth and Olympic Games. It’s pretty amazing to watch their development and their joy at being at their first national event.

What do you think about the U of M being a key hub for this year’s Canada Games?

I think it is a great opportunity for young athletes to share common ground, appreciate other sports and make lifelong friends.

It’s also a chance for the university to play host to these young people as they pursue their dreams to be the best they can be.

I’m excited to be playing a part in this year’s CSG as part of the Sport Organizing Committee for triathlon and I’m thrilled to be working at a place that is welcoming so many young people.

Any words of wisdom for the athletes competing at the games this year?

Enjoy the experience. Take in as many of the other competitions as you can, see the sights and experience the cultural events.

Enjoy making new friends and being with old friends. For some of you, it will be the gateway to greater experiences. For others, it will be the pinnacle of your athletic endeavours. Either way – be proud of making the team and know we are cheering you on!

What is your favourite memory from your time at the Canada Games?

That would be the first time we all put on our Manitoba cycling jerseys and lined up for the first race. Cycling is so unique, because although it’s an individual sport, it’s also imperative to have a strong team. Seeing my teammates in their yellow jerseys was one of the coolest feelings. We worked so hard to get to that spot and that we all wanted to do our best and make Manitoba proud.

How do you feel your Canada Games experience prepared you for other athletic competitions?

It proved that grit and determination can get you far, BUT, no matter how much you prepare, anything can happen. For example, a bike crash during one race prevented one front runner from finishing the race at all. You just have to get back up, dust yourself off, refocus for the next race, and try to learn from any experience, whether it’s good or bad.

What do you think about the U of M being a key hub for this year’s Canada Games, specifically as the athlete’s village?

I remember being an athlete at the University of Regina campus and loving every moment. The food was delicious, the grounds were beautiful, and it was a really great experience! It’s so exciting knowing that so many great athletes will be staying on the U of M campus. These people are the next Olympians! If you see any athletes walking around, wish them good luck! They train so hard for their respective sports. It is an honour to have them on our campus.

Any words of wisdom for the athletes competing at the games this coming week?

Soak in every moment! Whether you get to be a part of the opening or closing ceremonies, wear your province’s colours loud and proud. Take the time to interact with other athletes from different provinces because this is such a great opportunity to meet friends and athletes from across Canada. And most importantly, at the start line, try to breathe. You have done the hard work and endless hours of training to get here. Now is the time to trust in your training and kick some butt!

Qualifying first for tonight’s triple jump final, the Canada West 2017 Rookie of the Year leaped 12.01m in Tuesday’s preliminary round, beating BC’s Kristen Erika Schulz by 3cm on day four of the games. She competes in the final tonight at 6 p.m. at the University of Manitoba Stadium.

While many athletes with Eckert’s standing may put a lot of pressure on themselves to finish big, she’s trying a different approach. After battling injuries and mental health, as well as balancing schoolwork during her first year with the Bisons Eckert says the stress of competition this year isn’t worth focusing on.

“My goal is to have fun,” says Eckert. “Sounds cheesy, but I’ve put a lot of stress and pressure on myself this year and it hasn’t brought me any luck. I just want to have fun and make a new personal best.”

Eckert says she slowly pulled herself together throughout the 2017 season. The first year Bison athlete placed second and was named Rookie of the Year in the CanWest meet.

The casual approach seems to work for Eckert. This past March, she won the national title for triple jump, earning a gold medal at the U Sports Track and Field Championships.

Eckert will bring this national experience to the Canada Games.

“I’m just excited to compete in another national event! Especially in home sand,” says Eckert. “My youngest brother has special needs and he is my biggest cheerleader and supporter. Canada Games is the first time he will be able to see me compete at a big competition in person. I’m very excited to make him proud.”

Canada Games Bio
Bisons Bio

What happens after the games?

One of the main benefits of hosting the Canada Games is the legacy it leaves in the host city. For the U of M, the Canada Games will leave behind the gift of a brand new track surface at our University Stadium. As the venue for athletics events, the University Stadium received an upgrade both on and off the field of play, including resurfacing of the track and upgrades to the field disciplines competition areas.

Andrew Lovatt is a U of M alumnus [BEnvD/04] and Architectural Project Manager on campus. He played a key role in the U of M stadium track resurfacing project leading up to the 2017 Canada Summer Games. He describes the project and his part in preparing the University Stadium for the games.

Describe your role at the U of M and how your role intersects with hosting the Canada Games on our campus.

As an architectural project manager in Physical Plant, I lead design and construction projects from inception to completion. For the upgrades at University Stadium, I acted as the university’s representative and advocate, tasked with ensuring work met the standards of Physical Plant and also the Faculty of Kinesiology & Recreation Management, which operates the facility.

What was the process in determining that University Stadium would receive the track upgrade for the games?

When Manitoba won the bid to host the 2017 Canada Summer Games, it had already been determined that the athletics events would be held at University Stadium – as it’s the only 8-lane, 400m track in the province. The track surface, last upgraded for the 1999 Pan Am Games, had reached the end of its life and needed to be replaced for the Games.

When did this process start and what was involved?

I became involved in this undertaking in July 2014 – nearly 3 years ago to the day. The major component was the replacement of the track surface, but there were also other upgrades: we built a new 5-lane 100m warm-up track and moved the throws events to within the competition area; doubled the number of jump pits to 4 (which allows 2 simultaneous jump events). All of this work was done to IAAF Class 2 standards. A new photo / timing booth was added on top of the existing grandstand, and there were also some landscaping improvements. Before Investors Group Field was built next door, Bisons Football called University Stadium home, so it was a multi-sport facility. With these upgrades, we’ve dedicated the entire facility to athletics (one of only a few in Canada).

How do you think this upgrade will positively impact the U of M, our Bison athletes and the community?

Bisons athletes and community stakeholders (such as high schools) will benefit from these upgrades greatly when they use the facility for competitions and training – there is a sense of excitement when running on a new track, so expect some fast times in the athletics events. 2017 is truly a great year to be a Bison, as we now have brand new tracks at both our indoor and outdoor facilities.

Do you have any other involvement with the Canada Games this year or in years past?

I was a high jumper in a previous life but never made it (not even close!) to this competitive level. My father (Bob Lovatt) competed in the 1969 Canada Summer Games in Halifax for triple jump and long jump. He held the provincial triple jump record from 1967 to 2016 (49 years!) He competed in University Stadium, so I felt a sense of personal attachment to this project from the beginning.

Is there anything else that you would like to tell us?

2017 is a very significant year. It’s the 50th year for the Canada Games, the 140th year for our university, and the 150th year for our country. To all athletes, coaches, volunteers, and spectators, I hope it’s truly amazing. Thank you to the 2017 Canada Summer Games for making a major investment in our facility that truly leaves a legacy. I’d like to acknowledge the following, who were instrumental in the upgrades – It’s been a fun few years, and I have mixed feelings as these projects draw to a close.

Andrew Lovatt would like to acknowledge the following individuals for their role in the project:

• CSG 2017 Host Society: Bobby McMahon, Janet McMahon
• UM Kinesiology & Recreation Management staff & faculty: Simon Wang, Claude Berube, Ken Snider
• Athletics Manitoba: Donna Harris, Terry Armstrong; Athletics Canada: Jim Murray
• DIALOG (sport architect): Doug Wournell, Jak New; 1×1 Architecture (photo/timing booth): Jason Kun, Kailey Kroeker
• Playteck Enterprises (track installer): Mathieu Auffrey, Chris O’Brien; Beynon Sports Surfaces (track supplier): John Beynon, Mike Gasparovic; Tracktech International (line marker): Jimmy Vivash
• PCL Constructors (general contractor): Corey Mahoney, Jay Thompson; Davan Group (civil contractor): Matt Shanahan, Evan Short, Alan Henderson; Southeast Landscaping (landscape contractor): Phil Bohemier
• UM Physical Plant Architectural & Engineering Services and Operations & Maintenance staff for providing support on these projects

The Canada Summer Games started with a win for a pair of Bison volleyball athletes representing Manitoba in beach volleyball at the Games. Twin sisters Josie and Kearley Abbott played their first match July 30 to beat New Brunswick in straight sets (21-13, 21-12). The Abbotts will play Nova Scotia on July 31 at 7 p.m. at the Sargent Park Beach Volleyball Centre.

The Abbott sisters shared their thoughts on competing at the Games.

What are you most excited for the Canada Summer Games?

Josie: I’m excited that they are in Winnipeg. There will be a huge support for Team Manitoba in the crowds. That makes it extra special.

Kearley: I’m most excited to take part in a multi-sports games and experience the atmosphere. We went to the Western Canada Games two years ago, so I want to see a bigger version of that here in the city.

What does it mean to you to participate in the Canada Summer Games?

Kearley: It means a lot to me because we get to represent the beach volleyball community but also Team Manitoba as a whole. We’ll also get to cheer on Team Manitoba.

Do you find being twins gives you some advantage over your competitors?

Josie: Yes, I definitely think it does. In beach volleyball, it’s all about communicating and getting the next point. We’re very upfront with each other and we can communicate like sisters not teammates.

What other teams do you think will give you the most competition?

Kearley: We’ve seen a couple of the other teams. B.C., Ontario and the Maritimes. I think they’ll all be tough. I’m not really certain what to expect.

Is there a certain skill that you each bring individually to the sport?

Josie: Kearley usually blocks and I usually defend. It works out well since you need one of each. We also each do different serves. There’s a lot of differences between us on the court.

After finishing year one with the Bisons, what are you most looking forward to in your second year?

Kearley: I’m looking forward to a playoff push this year and not just first-round playoffs but hopefully getting to nationals.

Josie: I’m excited to show the other teams and our coach how much we’ve developed from the team we were last year.

What is your goal for the Games?

Both: To win!

The Prime Minister was greeted on his arrival by President David Barnard and Vice-President (External) John Kearsey, as well as several senior Canada Games organizers, before making his way to the Athletes’ Village cafeteria to chat and pose for photos with the athletes.

The University of Manitoba is hosting the 2017 Canada Summer Games from July 28 to August 13. The Fort Garry campus is serving as the Athletes’ Village, the main venue for volleyball and track and field, and the location of the closing ceremonies.

Shawnee Scatliff (B.P.E. /77, B.R.S. /84, Ext.Ed/91) is the Mission Services Consultant for this summer’s Canada Games. Scatliff brings to this role her experience as both a Chef de Mission and Assistant Chef de Mission from more than 10 Canada Games, numerous Western Canada Games and three Commonwealth games. She also served as the doping control station manager at the 2010 Olympics in Whistler, B.C.

An all-around outstanding individual, Scatliff was awarded the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal and was nominated for YMCA – YWCA Women of Distinction Award in 2005.

Scatliff describes her role at this year’s Canada Summer Games and provides a behind the scenes look at the work involved in hosting a Canada Games.

Can you explain your role as Mission Services Consultant at this year’s games?

Each province and territory has a Chef de Mission and an Assistant Chef de Mission on their team. They are the heads of their delegation. The Chefs bring with them to the Games approximately 25 staff and volunteers to assist with ensuring their teams of athletes, coaches and managers have everything they need to make this a successful Games for their team members.  

Some are assigned a sport or two to work directly with; some are support staff as in sport psychologist, medical liaisons, and communication experts.  

My role at these Games is to work directly with each of these teams prior to the Games and during the Games. We had two large meetings where all the Chefs came in to Winnipeg prior to the games to make sure all the plans, venues; Athlete Villages (Winnipeg, Gimli and Kenora) were ready to go.

At those meetings I was also responsible for the social aspect, introducing the Chefs to Winnipeg and all the great things it has to offer.  The teams are here to compete but they also want to experience the city and so I made sure they were introduced to venues that could hold receptions or dinners for their groups or where parents could go and visit while their athlete was not competing. Travel Manitoba did a great job putting together a guide for Canada Games that listed the many places to go and see.

At Games time, we set up offices for each province and territory in the Tier Building at the University of Manitoba. It is out of these offices that information is conveyed to their coaches, managers, athletes and parents, through a daily newsletter, social media, and emails and phones. The Tier Building was turned into “Mission Services” and our office is the Mission Secretariat where our job is to ensure that all offices have everything they need to make sure their teams experience the Games in a positive way and go home to tell their provinces and territories that these were the best games ever!

What do you remember most about your experiences at the Canada Games? 

I competed in the first Canada Winter Games in 1967 for figure skating and then again in 1971. I competed in both singles and pairs and my partner Alan Cherniak and I won a bronze medal in pairs at both Games. 

Shawnee Scatliff.

The first Winter Games were amazing in Quebec City. We stayed in a hotel at the Chateau Frontenac and it was very cold and snowy. There was a huge snowstorm one day that paralyzed the city and competition had to be halted until the roads could be cleared.  

One memory I had was to go on the huge ice slide outside the hotel and slide down it with my walk-out uniform ski pants on because I was 10 years old and was so excited about my parade/walk out uniform I wouldn’t take it off and wanted to wear it everywhere. When I went down the slide I split my pants wide open and had to get ready to march in the parade very soon after. Thank God my mom was with me at those Games as she quickly found a sewing kit and got them repaired in time for me to walk out in front of all of Canada.

During the in 1971, we stayed in an old Eaton’s building, which I was so excited about as I loved the Eaton’s store here in Winnipeg.

In 1977, it was a bit of a different experience with tennis. I played doubles with my still good friend Marcie Saifer and although we did well we just missed the bronze medal in doubles. Probably because we both were more concerned about the cute boys who played for the other teams and they were watching us play at the time.

How do you feel your experience at the Canada Games prepared you for other games experiences or large international competitions?

The Canada Games is a perfect preparation for leading up to any international competition for any athlete. It is a multi-sport experience, which is different from a single sport national or international competition. They are more distractions. Different athletes from many different sports and provinces and territories that you may have never met vs. probably being familiar with most of your competitors in a national single sports competition.  

Athletes back in the Village are asking how you did that day in your sport competition because they weren’t at your sport venue, the opening and closing ceremonies are much bigger than you have ever experienced, the media is everywhere asking for interviews, and your sport may be televised meaning you can’t be thinking about the cameras while you are competing.

Even eating at the huge athlete’s cafeteria is different than going for a team meal or eating with your parents at other competitions. There is lots of pressure on these athletes coming to a Canada Games, as there would be at any international competition.  

If you have gone through it once it does prepare you for those extra pressures and the extra focus needed to compete at a Canada Games or an international games. It teaches you to eliminate all those distractions and only focus on your individual or team competition.  

Then when you are finished competing, learn to enjoy the rest of your Games experience and all that it has to offer.

As U of M alumna, what do you think about the U of M being a key hub for this year’s Canada Games?

I am pleased and excited for the Athlete’s Village to be at the U of M.  It has brought back memories for me of racing across the campus from the Phys.Ed building (its name in those years) to the Tier Building to take an English class.  

The U of M has everything an athlete needs to enjoy their experience. The residences are close to UMSU where the athletes will be eating and socializing. The green space around the university is perfect for a quiet walk or a warm up or impromptu practise with your team. The Active Living Centre is perfect for an athlete who needs to get in a quick workout or stretch while on campus.

As well the polyclinic will be set up in the Helen Glass Centre for any injury or sickness during the Games. And of course having the closing ceremonies at Investors Group Field will be so easy for the athletes to just walk over to the parade of athletes and also to experience such an amazing facility. As well as having two competitive venues there in Athletics (U of M stadium) and Volleyball (Investors Group Athletic center) on campus is great for the athletes to just walk over and cheer their team on.

The whole Tier Building will be taken over for Mission Services and each provincial team will have their own office there and it will be the hub of the games operation for the Team. We plan to make it a fun place and even set up a nice seating beach type area just outside at the front of the building for Mission staff to come out enjoy the weather and the activity of the athletes milling around the university.

I am proud to show off my university to the rest of Canada and showcase what a great place it was to go to school.

You have many years of experience both as an athlete and as mission staff for Canada Games.  What has kept you involved in these multi-sport events over the years?  

What keeps me involved is the athletes and this wonderful program called the “Canada Games.”  

Each time I finished a Games as Assistant Chef de Mission I am so tired and not keen to start again for a bit but then after a good rest I am psyched to tackle another Games with new athletes, coaches, managers and mission staff.  

Games are always rewarding personally and since I have been involved for so long (almost 30 years), I have developed so many wonderful relationships with the other chef de missions from each province and territory.  

We all spend a lot of time together as for each Games we have two major pre-Games meetings in the city where the games are held and we meet all day long as well as do venue tours and then socialize again at night for four days.  

When Games come, we see each other every morning at 7:00 a.m. for a meeting to discuss any issue that have come up and work together as a team to solve them as well as throughout the day and evening with competitions and receptions.

You develop a special relationship with these people and look forward to the next Games to see them again.

As a two-time Canada Games athlete, former Bison track and field team captain and elite Canadian track athlete, Wilfred Sam-King Jr. is a shining example of how Canada Games athletes can go on to accomplish great things. The Vice President External for the University of Manitoba Students’ Union (UMSU), speaks about his experiences at the 2009 and 2013 Canada Games and how having the games on the U of M campus will impact our community.

What is your favourite memory from your two Canada Games experiences?

My fondest memory was from the 2013 games during the 4 x 100-metre relay where Team Manitoba finished fourth, just outside of the podium.

How do you feel your Canada Summer Games experience prepared you for being a Bison athlete?

The high level of competitors and competition prepared me mentally and emotionally.

Canada doesn’t have a university outdoor season, largely due to our climate, so the indoor season for many athletes is the main stage that gets the most attention, press and media.

The Canada Games was my first glimpse at performing outdoor on a national stage and after the 2013 Games in Sherbrooke, Quebec, I felt that I was very prepared to be a Bison athlete.

I actually had one of my most successful seasons with a top three ranking in the CIS (now U Sport) that year.

What do you think about the University of Manitoba being a key hub for this year’s Canada Summer Games – specifically the Athlete’s Village?

I think athletes around Canada are going to realize how state-of-the-art our facilities are and how incredible this campus and community truly is.

The facilities that impress me include the Active Living Centre, specifically the Bison strength and conditioning room managed by Shawn Preston, Investors Group Field and our new indoor track.

In my mind, we have one of the best athletic facilities in North America. I’ve trained and competed in many American and Canadian campuses including UCLA and aside from our climate challenges there’s not many that rival the U of M. 

Do you have any words of wisdom for the athletes competing this year?

Cherish every moment…and don’t trade your gear unless it’s really, really nice stuff! Don’t forget to collect as many pins as possible, too.