Team Yukon celebrated its success at the recent Canada 55+ Games at a wind-up event Friday.

The festivities at Mount McIntyre Rec Centre were highlighted by the recognition of team members who have competed for well over a decade in various sports and activities.

Team Yukon presented certificates of long-standing participation to nine team members who have attended seven games and one member who has gone to all eight games in which the territory has participated.

Those honoured for attending seven games include: Marg Dunn (swimming, horseshoes, golf); Ken and Dorothy Burke (bowling, photography, floor shuffleboard); Merton Friesen (track and field); Madeline Boyd (curling, bocce); Cookie Morgan (cribbage, shuffleboard); Stan and Joyce Fuller (cribbage); and Millie Jones (bowling, swimming).

Bowler Ida Calmegane was honoured for attending eight games.

“It’s important to recognize these participants as role models showing the rest of us how to age in a healthy, active and gracious way,” Sue Meikle, Team Yukon’s co-chef de mission, said in a press release. “People often become members of the team in their late 50s and early 60s.

“It is inspiring to them to see people in their 70s and 80s who have been competing over many years.”

The Yukon won 68.5 medals at the national 55+ Games held in Strathcona County/Sherwood Park, Alta., in August.

The contingent included 129 athletes, 15 cheerleaders/supporters and three mission staff.

“We were remarkably successful coming in fourth place in the national medal standings,” said Tom Parlee, president of the ElderActive Recreation Association, the organization which forms Team Yukon with support from the Yukon government.

“This wind-up celebration is an opportunity to pat ourselves on the back and share stories and photos from the games. We did very well against much larger teams from more populated provinces and of course – the Spirit of the Games Award is our most prestigious accomplishment.”

Team Yukon received the Spirit of the Games Award for the fourth time in the 18-year history of the Games.

The prize has only been awarded eight times. It is given to the team which displays good sportsmanship and encourages participation and involvement of everyone.

About 360 Yukoners over 55 years old have participated in the biennial event since the territory first sent a team in 1998.