After all the athletes had stepped down from their podiums at the Lhtako Quesnel BC Winter Games, there was still one more gold medal to be won.
Each partner agency of Sport BC gets to honour one key person, annually, and for the BC Games organization they earned dual recognition for 2024. Although it was a cast of thousands that executed the massive sports event in our region, the principal directors were the ones named on behalf of the community: president Brian Balkwill and vice-president Brenda Beatty.
“The significant role volunteers play in the sport sector is celebrated,” in the form of these awards, said a spokesperson from Sport BC. Balkwill, Beatty and this year’s other recipients from the breadth of the province’s athletic world “demonstrate the spirit of volunteerism through the dedication, commitment, and tireless energy they give to their sport organizations.”
Balkwill said the recognition was a great honour.
“We have such a great community that stepped up in such a significant way to make our Lhtako Quesnel Games to be such a special experience for all the athletes coaches and volunteers alike. It makes me very proud to be a part of such a terrific community,” he said.
Beatty said the recognition instilled pride but shone that light on the group of people who worked together to deliver the Games, including many who were honoured with these awards from the many other sports organizations who in turn applied their skills and knowledge to the Lhtako Quesnel BC Winter Games.
“It was a great honour to be sharing the room with people who have dedicated decades and lifetimes to their respective sports and we’ve only been working on this project for about two years,” Beatty said. “My highlight, however, was getting approached after the ceremony multiple times by other recipients who had attended our Games, or their athletes had. The repeated message was that our Games was an incredible event and that our whole team made an impressive event and our community should be so proud to have hosted a fun and very special experience for all the participants.”
The next edition of the BC Winter Games will be held jointly by the southeastern towns of Trail and Rossland in 2026.
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