2023 Canadian Masters – President’s Welcome / Mot de bienvenue du président

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A Welcome from the President of Weightlifting Canada Haltérophilie Masters Mark Gomes

On behalf of Weightlifting Canada Haltérophilie Masters, I welcome competitors, coaches, officials, volunteers, family members, friends and spectators who are joining us for this historic event in beautiful Midland, Ontario. This is our twenty-eight Masters National Championships. Joining me today to welcome you is Karine Brouillard, President of la Federation Haltérophilie du Québec. I am fortunate to have this President by my side to provide my welcome in the French language.

 

Weightlifting Canada Haltérophilie Masters recognizes that the location of our National Championships is on land which is the traditional and Treaty territory of the Anishinabek people, now known as the Chippewa Tri-Council comprised of Beausoleil First Nation, Rama First Nation, and the Georgina Island First Nation.

 

We are the first Masters weightlifting organization in the world to categorize itself as a separate national sports organization. We have successfully advocated and supported Canadian Masters Weightlifting at the National and International level since 1996. Our success is directly related to our strong organizational team, the commitment of our dedicated members and the support of every Provincial Weightlifting Association. We are officially recognized by the International Masters Weightlifting Association as Canada’s only sports organization representing masters weightlifters.

 

Driven Barbell Club organizing committee, under the leadership of Joanne Jeffrey and Alison Blackhurst has done an excellent job preparing this year’s Championships. The Ontario Weightlifting Association team, spearheaded by President Michael Miller, Vice President Linda Rosario-Earnshaw, and Competition Director, Dimitrije Mancic are commended for their undaunting support of the Masters weightlifting movement in Ontario and for all their hard work this weekend. I would also like to thank the town of Midland for allowing us to use this excellent sports facility, to RockTape for their generous donation of athlete knee sleeves, BMR Elmvale for platform building materials, Kelly Donaldson for the logo design and signage and Brenda Gyarmati for weightlifting belts.

 

I know how focused you will be on your session of this competition, but I invite you to visit and explore the sites in and around the town of Midland; such as Saint-Marie among the Hurons, Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre, the Midland Murals, the Huronia Museum and Ouendat Village, Midland Harbour and the Georgian Spirit Cruises just to name a few. I hope you will enjoy this weekend, whether at the Competition, exploring Midland or touring around Simcoe County.

 

Good luck and I wish you all personal bests at this year’s Championships.