16 BC Games Athletes Including The Valley – Praised For Outstanding Leadership

Penticton – 16 outstanding youth leaders were recognized with a Coast Capital Savings Leadership Bursary at the Closing Ceremony of the 2016 BC Winter Games in Penticton.

The bursary recipients were chosen from over 100 applicants for their significant achievements in sport and education and most importantly for their leadership contributions to their schools, community, or sport associations.  The recipients are from communities across the province and their leadership involvement includes service with student councils, community events, food banks, fundraising, coaching, and officiating, to name a few.

“The winners of the Coast Capital Savings Leadership Bursaries are role models not only as athletes, coaches, or officials but also as community leaders,” said Wendy Lachance, Director, Community Leadership for Coast Capital Savings. “Through their commitment to helping build a richer future for other youth in their communities, they embody Coast Capital’s ‘Youth Get It’ philosophy. It’s been a pleasure to watch them compete and support the BC Winter Games.”

Kimberley’s Molly Miller competed in cross country skiing at the BC Winter Games but is also making her mark at the national level having qualified for the Junior B National team.  Molly is an active member of Free the Children and has raised money to benefit children in developing countries.  Molly said, “I believe very strongly in community volunteerism and I think I am a good role model to other teenagers in my efforts to raise awareness of poverty both locally and internationally.”  Molly was also recognized with the W.R. Bennett Award for Athletic Excellence at the Games.

Tori Kalyniuk of North Saanich competed at the Games in speed skating but is also an accomplished cyclist.  Tori said, “I want to be the change I want to see in our community.”  She has volunteered over 150 hours in the past year at the Sidney Seniors Residence and for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Ben Hagkull of Chilliwack is an up and coming high performance wheelchair basketball athlete who competed at the 2015 Canada Games and returned for his second BC Winter Games.  Ben has been on the receiving end of support and says that it feels good to give back to others.  He is involved in wheelchair basketball demos in his community and has also traveled to Mexico on two occasions to assist with building houses.

The BC Winter Games are an important opportunity for sport development, but through sport, these 16 accomplished young people are also learning lifelong skills of commitment and leadership.
“These young leaders show their skills in sport on the field of play but also in their home communities,” said Kelly Mann, President and CEO of the BC Games Society.  “We are impressed with the involvement of these recipients and are looking forward to see the impact each one of them makes in the future.”

Below is the full list of 14 athletes, 1 coach, and 1 official who were each recipients of a $500 Coast Capital Savings Leadership Bursary for the 2016 BC Winter Games.  The bursary is indended to support future sport or educational expenses.