Two swimmers from Quesnel received 2017 Premier’s Awards for Aboriginal Youth Excellence in Sport during a celebration at Nusdeh Yoh Elementary School in Prince George at the end of last month.
Billy Swyers, 14, who is of the Qualipu Mi’kmaq First Nation, and Garnet Currie, 17, who is Métis, were honoured along with six other young aboriginal athletes from the northeast region.
Ken Edzerza, the northeast regional lead for the Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council, said the Premier’s Awards recognize aboriginal young people “who are leading by example and giving back in a big way to their sport and communities.”
Swyers and Currie were among four of Quesnel’s aboriginal youth who attended the Indigenous Games in Toronto in July as part of Team B.C.
Swyers brought home six gold, two silver and one bronze medal from the games, while Currie won four silver medals and two bronze.
The boys swim for the Quesnel Waveriders Swim Club.
Waveriders swim coach Jeritt Brink said: “I am very pleased about the boys getting the award. It shows having a keen mind that is in focus, and some hard work, can result in a goal or honorable mention.
“We all come from different lives, heritages. We are mostly all raised differently, yet we all have the option at any given time to use our minds and focus on something we want to achieve.”
Swyers and Currie will compete in their first swim meet of the season in Prince George Nov. 17-19 as part of the Quesnel club.