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In Your Corner: Games are great for seniors

This year, the West Kootenay is hosting the BC Seniors Games...

This year, the West Kootenay is hosting the BC Seniors Games. The three cities of Trail, Castlegar and Nelson are welcoming 3,500 athletes from all over the province as they compete for gold, silver and bronze in 25 events. From cribbage to tennis, from archery to ice hockey, participants in the 2011 Games are champions of healthy and active lifestyles.

The Creston Coffin Dodgers are teeing up to compete in the slo-pitch events. The Nelson Rhythm Dragons seniors team will be dipping paddles into water for the dragon boat races. And many more team and individual athletes from our region are competing and having fun as they do it.

Along with all the amazing competitors in the BC Seniors Games are the volunteers who make it happen. Locals from Creston, like Bob Ewashen, Hennie Webster and Hugh Hambleton, help to make these games a major event. To be sure, a provincial tournament with so many events is only possible with the help of countless volunteers who take the time to contribute their energy and spirit.

So whether a competitor or a volunteer, each senior involved with the BC Seniors Games has a lesson for us younger folk. Age is no barrier to being active, vibrant and healthy. And this is an important lesson. After all, we are all seniors in training and we should think about how we want to live our later years.

Personally, I hope to compete in the BC Seniors Games. I’m eyeing cribbage or maybe a sport I have yet to learn, like archery. Whatever I do, I plan on being an active go-getter not unlike Alex Nilsson, Jet Fumerton or any of the many inspirational seniors I have come to know in the Creston Valley.

Along with focusing on my personal health and goals, I know as your provincial representative that it also takes community to ensure that facilities and programs are available for an active lifestyle. Additionally, we want a strong public healthcare system so that every senior and elder can access the medical services they need. These are necessary for a healthy society that has active citizens of all ages.

Not only do the BC Seniors Games remind us of this, but they are a great time to have fun and meet new people from all over our vast province. I’m already looking forward to this side of the games as I prep to give out medals in both dragon boat racing and ice hockey. Good luck to all the competitors and thank you to all the volunteers. You remind us younger generations that athleticism and community is lifelong.

Footnote: Thank you so much to all the well wishes for Zak and I on our recent marriage. We are overwhelmed with the amount of love our region has shared with us. It has truly enriched us and will stay with us in our life together.

Michelle Mungall is the MLA for the Nelson-Creston provincial riding.