Ontario Athletes Shine at North American Indigenous Games (Video Opening Ceremonies)

Written by Ontario Newsroom on 24 July 2017

Above: Opening ceremonies (CBC)
Outstanding Performances Support Successful Games for Team Ontario
Ontario is celebrating the outstanding performances of athletes at the 2017 North American Indigenous Games.

Team Ontario athletes competed in all 14 sports across the Greater Toronto Hamilton Area during the weeklong competition. Ontario athletes had a strong showing, with 137 medals that helped Team Ontario finish third in the medal standings.

Ontario athletes who won top honours include:

Nicholas Burke, who earned a gold medal in the 16U Male High Jump and silver medals in the 16U Male 300m and 800m.
Audrey-Anna Colson, who earned a gold medal in the 19U Female Canoe/Kayak K1 6000m and bronze medals in the 19U Female Canoe/Kayak K1 200m, 1000m and 3000m.
Emily Dodge, who earned a gold medal in the 14U Girls 2K Cross Country – Ontario’s first medal of the Games. She also earned a gold medal in 14U Female 1200M and silver medals in 14U Female 800m and 14U Female 4x400m Relay.
Kevin Ireland, who earned gold medals in the 14U Male 100m Butterfly, 50m Freestyle, 100m Freestyle, 200m Freestyle, 400m Freestyle and 1500m Freestyle.
Evan John, who earned a gold medal in the 19U Male 100m. He also earned silver medals in the 19U Male Long Jump and 19U Male 200m.
Zeyana LaPlante, who earned gold medals in 19U Female Canoe/Kayak K1 200m, 1000m and 3000m.
Maddy Lavoie, who earned gold medals in the 19U Female 50m Breaststroke, 50m Backstroke, 100m Breaststroke, 200m Breastroke, 200m Backstroke.
Ayden Michaud, who earned a gold medal in the 14U Female 400m Freestyle. She also earned a silver in the 14U Female 800m Freestyle and bronze medals in the 14U Female 200m Freestyle and the 14U Female 200m Individual Medley.
Kristen Quigley, who earned gold medals in 19U Female 50m Butterfly and 100m Butterfly. She also earned silver medals in the 19U Female 100m Freestyle, 200m Backstroke, 200m Butterfly and 200m Freestyle.
Mayheve Rondeau, who earned gold medals in the 19U Female 50m Freestyle, 100m Freestyle, 200m Freestyle and 400m Freestyle. She also earned a silver medal in the 19U Female 50m Breaststroke and a bronze medal in the 19U Female 50m Backstroke.
Martha Scott, who earned a gold medal in the 14U Female 200m Freestyle. She also earned bronze medals in the 14U Female 50m Butterfly, 100m Butterfly and 200m Butterfly.
Shkaabe wis Tabobondun, who earned gold medals in 16U Male Canoe/Kayak K1 200m, 1000m and 3000m.
Eric Weston, who earned gold medals in the 19U Male Canoe/Kayak K1 200m, 1000m, 3000m and 6000m.
Dylan Yzenbrandt, who earned a gold medal in the 14U Male 800m. He also earned silver medals in the 14U Male 80m and 150m, and a bronze medal in the 16U Male 4x100m Relay.
Jadyn Zeppa, who earned gold medals in 16U Female 100m, 200m and 300m. She also earned a silver medal in the 16U Female Long Jump.

A complete list of medalists is available here.

The Games were also a success beyond the field of play:

Team Ontario’s female box lacrosse team broke down barriers by competing in the first women’s box lacrosse game in NAIG history, beating Team British Columbia 8-7 in a thrilling match on Six Nations of the Grand River Territory
Hundreds of people celebrated Indigenous heritage and culture by attending cultural festivals at York University and McMaster University
More than 1,300 volunteers welcomed some 5,000 athletes, coaches and officials from across Canada and the United States.

Supporting a successful North American Indigenous Games is one of many steps on Ontario’s journey of healing and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. It reflects the government’s commitment to work with Indigenous partners, creating a better future for everyone in the province.

QUICK FACTS

The North American Indigenous Games is one of the largest sporting and cultural gatherings of Indigenous peoples in the world.
Team Ontario won 51 gold, 42 silver and 44 bronze medals at the Games.
Through Game ON – The Ontario Government’s Sport Plan, the province supports initiatives that provide sport and recreation opportunities for Indigenous athletes. One example includes implementing the Sport Pathway for Ontario Native Wellness in partnership with the Aboriginal Sport and Wellness Council of Ontario.