East Central Alberta was well represented in the 55+ Canadian Seniors Games, with several medals being brought home.
The 2022 55+ Games were hosted in Kamloops from Aug. 23 to 26 and featured nearly 3,000 competitors from 11 provinces.
A wide variety of events were held, including Badminton, various types of bowling, bridge, cycling, darts, soccer, swimming and many, many others.
There was a sport for everyone, of all activity and impact levels, according to Castor’s Brian Dunlop.
Dunlop dominated in the 70+ division on the links, bringing home the gold medal in golf.
A team from the region brought home a bronze in the 55+ age category for five-pin bowling. The team consisted of Paul Dietrich of Halkirk, Kevin and Joan Mageean of Stettler and Bev Morin and Bonnie Malmas of Rocky Mountain House.
On the ice, Halkirk’s Bernie Doan and Stettler’s Dennis Beckland brought home a bronze medals in the 70+ Hockey.
According to Rosella Snopek, a publicity director with zone four of the Alberta Seniors Games, the value to the host city of the games was around $4 million.
The next Alberta 55+ Summer Games will be hosted by Brooks in August of 2023. The next Alberta 55+ Winter Games have not yet been awarded.
Trois Rivieres, Que., will host the next Canadian 55+ Games in 2024.
In order for seniors to participate in the Canadian games, they have to compete at the divisional and then provincial level, similar to minor sports.
For Dunlop, the sport is fun, but so getting to interact with so many different people from across the country.
Unfortunately, Dunlop says that the Seniors games are not as well known as they could be and he encourages those 55+ to get involved.
The area representative for Castor and Stettler is Paul Dietrich who can be contacted at 403-884-2565 for more information.
