PAGC takes top spot at First Nation Winter Games

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The 2004 Saskatchewan First Nation Winter Games held April 9 to 16 have been dubbed a tremendous success.

The host team Prince Albert Grand Council (PAGC) took the overall title with a total of 184.5 points, knocking off the six-time defending winter games champion Meadow Lake Tribal Council who finished in second, just 14 points behind. Saskatoon Tribal Council placed third with 141 points and also took home the most improved team award.

PAGC won on the basis of their gold medal winning performances in female and bantam hockey, as well as in the badminton juvenile boys' doubles event and bantam boys' volleyball.

They also captured silver medals in midget and atom hockey, midget girls' volleyball, the badminton juvenile boys' singles event and bronze medals in midget and juvenile boys' volleyball, as well as midget girls' broomball, bantam girls' volleyball and badminton juvenile boys' and mixed doubles.

Games manager Mel Mercredi said the event was everything they expected and more.

"Everything went really well overall. Everything was always available when it was needed," he said. "In fact, there were no protests at all during these games, something I have never seen happen before. I think that is a definite reflection on how these games were run and organized. This was one of the best games I have ever been to."

Mercredi added there were some incidents that occurred during the eight days, but that those occurrences were not in the control of the host committee.

Besides having a new champion, the games had a number of firsts including a partnership approach to hosting the event. The games were awarded in 2003 to the Cumberland House, Red Earth and Shoal Lake First Nations who then partnered with three communities that had the facilities to hold the event. The unique approach to hosting was reflected in the theme of the games-Communities in Partnership.

Mercredi was happy to see the response from residents of the communities to the games.

"I saw lots of excitement and lots of happy people around Nipawin, Carrot River and White Fox. This was especially prevalent in Nipawin since the majority of events were held there, as were the majority of participants," said Mercredi.

"You could also tell the businesses, especially in Nipawin, benefited from the event. We estimate the economic benefit for all three communities over the eight days was around $1 million. That is just huge."

The games will always be remembered for one other thing-the visit of the Stanley Cup. The revered trophy was at the games on April 14 and 15, brought to the event by former NHL player Fred Sasakamoose, on hand to watch his grandchildren compete, and the rest of he NHL Diversity Task Force, which works to bring hockey to a children of all backgrounds.

"That will be the one thing that not just the athletes, but the people from the entire region will remember about the games," said Mercredi.

"Other firsts from these games were the opening ceremonies being held outside for the first time; having an operational and communications centre to run things; Internet access for the athletes where they were staying; and running the hockey finals back to back in the same arena."

Two of the big partners in the games were the Town of Nipawin and the Nipawin School Division, both of whom were very pleased with how things went.

"We had very good co-operation with the organizers and they were very pleasant to deal with. Overall, it was very good for us," said Ron Richardson, director of education for the school division.

Town of Nipawin Parks and Recreation director Dan Poulin was also complimentary about how the games' organization operated.

"It was a great event. The organizers should be proud of how they put on these games and of how much work and co-operation we got from them," Poulin said.- Jordie Dwyer

Broomball

Bantam Girls'-Gold ACTC, Silver STC, Bronze OLFN

Midget Girls'- Gold MLTC, Silver ACTC, Bonze PAGC

Juvenile Girls'-Gold ACTC, Silver MLTC, Bronze OLFN

Hockey

Atom-Gold MLTC, Silver PAGC, Bronze OLFN

Peewee-Gold PAGC, Silver YTC, Bronze MLTC

Bantam-Gold PAGC, Silver MLTC, Bronze STC

Female-Gold PAGC, Silver MLTC, Bronze BTC

Midget-Gold SET4TC, Silver PAGC, Bronze YTC

Volleyball

Bantam Girls'-Gold YTC, Silver MLTC, Bronze PAGC

Bantam Boys'-Gold PAGC, Silver FHQTC, Bronze OLFN

Midget Girls'-Gold BTC, Silver PAGC, Bronze MLTC

Midget Boys'-Gold MLTC, Silver FHQTC, Bronze PAGC

Juvenile Girls'-Gold MLTC, Silver BTC, Bronze OLFN

Juvenile Boys'-Gold BTC, Silver MLTC, Bronze PAGC

Badminton

Junior Girls' Singles-Gold ACTC, Silver STC, Bronze ACTC

Junior Boys' Singles-Gold ACTC, Silver YTC, Bronze OLFN

Junior Girls' Doubles-Gold ACTC, Silver STC, Bronze BTC

Junior Boys' Doubles-Gold STC, Silver MLTC, Bronze PAGC

Junior Mixed Doubles-Gold ACTC, Silver STC, Bronze PAGC

Juvenile Girls' Singles-Gold OLFN, Silver STC, Bronze ACTC

Juvenile Boys' Singles-Gold OLFN, Silver PAGC, Bronze MLTC

Juvenile Girls' Doubles-Gold STC, Silver YTC, Bronze MLTC

Juvenile Boys' Doubles-Gold PAGC, Silver MLTC, Bronze ACTC

Juvenile Mixed Doubles-Gold OLFN, Silver ACTC, Bronze MLTC.