RCS Ottawa
Jun 4, 20181 min
Senator Chantal Petitclerc, a decorated Paralympian and Canada’s Chef de Mission at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, welcomed to Parliament Hill representatives of the Canadian Team who recently took part in the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia. Senator Petitclerc warmly welcomed all athletes with a hug, and outlined why the Commonwealth Games are her favourite Games: equal medal events for men and women, inclusion of para-sport at par with all other sports on the programme and a reconciliation action plan for indigenous peoples. Six athletes were on hand to represent the 282 who competed at the Games - gold medallists Alysha Newman (pole vault) and Melissa Humana-Paredes (beach volleyball), as well as boxers Thomas Blumenfeld (silver, 64kg) and Tammara Thibeault (bronze, 75kg) and para-swimmers Philippe Vachon (bronze, 200m IM SMI) and Abi Tripp (bronze 50m). Alysha Newman spoke on behalf of the athletes, noting her pride in representing Canada at these great Games in Australia, also thanking the Government of Canada for its support of our country’s athletes.