Whitehorse Daily Star

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Photo by Chuck Tobin

TEAM LEADERS – Members of Team Yukon voted to have Brenda Dion, centre, carry the Yukon flag this August during the opening and closing ceremonies at the Canada 55+ Games in Saint John, N.B. They also voted to have Rose and Hank Leenders carry the banner.

Team Yukon fires up at Wednesday’s pep rally

They’re primed.

By Chuck Tobin on June 15, 2018

They’re primed.

The most seasoned Team Yukon is headed this summer to Saint John, N.B., with a load of enthusiasm and the territory’s largest squad in the history of the Canada 55+ Games.

It was a rousing pep rally Wednesday evening as the entire 2018 team – along with cheerleaders – got together for the first time, though the individual disciplines have been practising regularly for the Aug. 20-25 Games.

There’ll be 166 representatives dressed in the red and black, and most were at the rally in their uniforms.

The two team chefs de mission and other organizers of Team Yukon led the rally, which included the team song:

“... You may try to understand ... Yukon’s spirit is in demand
So whether you’re a player ... or whether you’re a slayer
We’re stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive
Competition shaken
Records are a breakin
As we’re stayin’ alive ... stayin alive
Ah ha ha ah ... stayin’ alive
Stayin’ alive ... ah ha ha ah ... stayin’ alive.”

Tom Parlee is the president of the Yukon’s Elderactive Recreation Association, which is the primary lead in organizing Team Yukon for the Games.

“My recollection is this is the biggest team we have travelled with, ever,” Parlee told the rally. “The purpose of the meeting tonight is to cheer, to get revved up!”

As a result of a previous ballot vote among team members, Brenda Dion was introduced as the flag bearer, and Rose and Hank Leenders were announced as the bearers of the banner.

Mike McCann and Marg White are the two chef de missions.

The average age of Team Yukon is 68, ranging from 55 years old to 93-year-old Betty Herbert, who’ll be competing in the cribbage tournament.

Nine participants are over the age of 80.

There are 56 participants or one-third of the team who are over 70 years of age, and there are 27 from four communities other than Whitehorse: Dawson City, Watson Lake, Haines Junction and Tagish.

The team includes 47 Yukoners who are attending their first Games, while many have participated in several Games. Of those attending the rally, five have been to eight Games.

Yukoners will be competing in 17 of the 24 sports and activities at the games. The largest contingent is in track and field with 21 athletes, followed by the pickle ball team with 16 members and golf with 15 members.

Pickel ball, a hybrid sport combining tennis, badminton and table tennis, has taken off in the territory since the 2016 Games when just two players represented the Yukon. It is a growing sport among seniors right across Canada.

The Games began in 1996 as the Canada Senior Games. The name changed in 2008 to the Canada 55+ Games. Whitehorse hosted the Games in 2004, when there were approximately 1,000 participants. It’s expected some 2,000 will be in Saint John.

Whitehorse is bidding to host the 2020 Games, which is partially responsible for the push to go ahead this year with the new F.H. Collins track and field. The tender closed three weeks ago, with PS Sidhu submitting the low bid of $6.6 million. The contract award is still in the process.

The Elderactive president told the audience Wednesday they will learn on the final day of the Games whether Whitehorse was successful. Also bidding is Fort McMurray, Alta., Kamloops, B.C. and Calgary, Parlee said.

He said a presentation will be made in Saint John to the bid committee by himself, Sport Yukon president George Arcand and Community Services Minister John Streicker, a member of Team Yukon as one of two badminton players.

“We will be making a great presentation,” Parlee assured the team.

As the rally wrapped up, runner Donna Jones led the room in a final cheer, one that involved spelling out the Yukon using arms, legs and different postures.

“What does that spell?,” Jones demanded with enthusiasm.

“Yukon.

‘Louder.’

YUKon.

‘Louder.’

YUKON!”

As the room quieted, one woman asked Jones if she could make available a video of the routine, “so that we can practice.”

No problem.

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