Sport in Aurora - Vol. 5 Issue 3

Volume 5 \\\ Issue 3

St. Andrew’S College got gAme! PG.13

AURORA BARBS MAking the gAMe SAfeR PG.11

PickeRing cOllege life leSSOnS in SPORt PG.14

PLUS

LACROSSE girls field lacrosse Players take Over newmarket

FOOTBALL York Simcoe Buc’s football Riding a Positive Wave

SWIMMING Ducks Summer festival Provincial championships

AND MUCH MORE

It’s All About the

Kids at Cds summer CAmp

SPeCtrUm BAton golden At nAtIonAl CHAmPIonSHIP Pg.10

BUcS RiDing A POSitive WAve PG.08

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v5i3 / sport IN AurorA / 3

CONTENTS

05 Editor’s Letter

06 From the Director of Parks and Recreation

08 York Simcoe Buc’s Football Riding a Positive Wave

08 ACTC Continues to Grow Pickleball

09 Summer Festival Provincial Championships

09 Ontario Provincial Long Course Championship

09 Master Ducks Swimming Celebrates 20 Years This Season

10 Spectrum Baton Golden at National Championships!

11 Giving Back to Community Highlights Action-Packed Day

11 Barbs Rugby – Making the Game Safer

12 600 Girls Field Lacrosse Players Take Over Newmarket

13 St. Andrew’s College Got Game!

13 Local Special Olympics shines in the Aurora Sport Legacy Exhibit

14 Pickering College – Life Lessons in Sport

the CouNtrY DAY sChoolCDS Summer Camp offers fun for everyone between the ages of 6 and 17! Photo courtesy of Zach Lawton

10Volume 5 \\\ Issue 3

ST. ANDREW’S COLLEGE GOT GAME! PG.13

AURORA BARBS MAKING THE GAME SAFER PG.11

PICKERING COLLEGE LIFE LESSONS IN SPORT PG.14

PLUS

LACROSSEGirls Field Lacrosse Players

Take Over Newmarket

FOOTBALLYork Simcoe Buc’s Football

Riding a Positive Wave

SWIMMINGDucks Summer Festival

Provincial Championships

AND MUCH MORE

IT’S ALL ABOUT THE

KIDS AT CDS SUMMER CAMP

SPECTRUM BATON GOLDEN AT NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP PG.10

BUC’S RIDING A POSITIVE WAVE PG.08

08

09 12

1407 Cover storY

@soccernation_on

4 \ sport IN AurorA \ v5i3

July/August 2015 VOLUME 5, ISSUE 3

PublisherInsport Media & Publications Inc.

editorRon Weese – Sport Aurora e-mail [email protected]

director of salesLaurie MuellerPhone 905.713.5027 e-mail [email protected]

art directorFrank Di Tomasso e-mail [email protected]

editorial contributionSport Aurora Members Melony TeagueTown of Aurora Nancy BlackMayor Geoff Dawe Cindy VeitchBrent MacKinnon Kim Sillcox Kelly Hughes Naomi Cote John Reich

contact usInsport Media & Publications412 McCafferey Road Newmarket, Ontario L3X 1T5Phone 905.713.5027 e-mail [email protected]

editorial contributions Submissions are wel-come from writers, photographers, athletes, coaches and individuals. Contact Ron Weese, editor. We assume no responsibility for unsolicited material. Contributions are responsible for obtaining all approvals for publica-tion of photos and content prior to submission. All sub-missions may not be used. We may edit, publish, repro-duce, distribute and archive submissions in any form or medium without any compensation. We are not respon-sible for lost or damaged submissions. Contents copy-righted. All rights reserved. Reproduction or transmis-sion of any article, photograph or artwork in any form or by any means without permission from the publisher is prohibited. Sport in Aurora Magazine is published six times a year. For detailed circulation information, con-tact Insport Media & Publications Inc. Insport Media & Publications Inc. is committed to protecting your privacy as our customer. We may collect personal information only if it is required for the proper functioning of our business and only share this information with our busi-ness partners. The editors and contributors who write for Insport Media & Publications Inc. attempt to pro-vide accurate and useful information and commentary. However the editors, contributors and Insport Media & Publications Inc. cannot and do not guarantee the ac-curacy of this information. We assume no responsibility for any actions or decisions taken by any readers based on the information provided.

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In February of this year, Councillor Michael Thompson put forward a motion to develop a Sport Plan for the

Town of Aurora and since that time Sport Aurora has been busy by consulting with all 32 of our Sport Organization Members on what needs to be in this Plan.

Modelled on the Mississauga Sport Plan, seven areas of interest are to be included and if done in a comprehensive manner it will lay the foundation for sport for this Community for decades. It is something we all need to ensure that the right facilities are built and the right Programs are encouraged so we can help make Aurora “Canada’s Most Active Community”. We thank Councillor Thompson for his foresight and look forward to contributing.

I also want to applaud our Mayor, Geoffrey Dawe for announcing on August 11th that he is forming a Task Force to help build Aurora as an “Active and Healthy Community”. I think this is historic as I can’t remember a Task Force being developed for any purpose in Town. It is a bold move and something positive

that we can all get behind and support. It is clear that our Mayor and Members of Council believe that an active community is a healthy community.

Sport Aurora has also been busy on the “Active Community” front and has formed a Working Group started called “Activate Aurora”. This cross-sectorial Working Group is made up of Sport Aurora Members as well as those from Municipal Recreation, the York Region District School Board, York Region Public Health, Seneca College, Southlake Hospital and the Seniors Association. They are laying the groundwork for the development of our “Active Community” across all ages and stages of development and with the Mayor’s Task Force, we now have confidence that we can move this project forward and effectively.

As the summer comes to a close (I can’t believe I am saying that) we look forward to a busy fall and winter for all our sports. Some are ramping up and some are starting their off-season training programs, but all are busy. As a parent you may wonder what sports are

in-season, who is registering and what Programs they have to offer. One way is to visit our web site at www.sportaurora.ca and gather information about our mem-bers…but for the first time ever, please stay tuned for an announcement this fall about a special day for Sport in Town where everyone is invited to meet all the sport organizations and learn more about what they have to offer. It will be a “one-stop shop” for you.

See you at the rinks, pools, gyms and fields!

Ron Weese Editor, Sport in Aurora Magazine

The Mission of Sport Aurora is to promote participation in sport and recreation for all citizens of the community we serve. For more information on Sport Aurora, visit our web site at:www.sportaurora.ca

sport AurorA HELPiNG WiTH THE AurorA sport plAN

EDITOR’S LETTER

www.aurora.caTown of Aurora 100 John West Way, Aurora, ON L4G 6J1 • 905-727-1375

Upcoming Special Events

TOWN OF AURORA

PLEASE NOTE, WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO CANCEL, AMEND OR CHANGE LOCATIONS AND ACTIVITIES.

Allan DowneyDirector, Parks & Recreation Services Town of Aurora

Movies in the Park Tuesday, September 1 and Thursday, September 3Hickson Park / Norm Weller ParkThe Town of Aurora takes movie watching to a whole new level by taking it outdoors! Our September lineup includes Frozen and The Lego Movie. Movies start at dusk. Arrive early to enjoy pre-movie surprises! For more information, visit www.aurora.ca/moviesinthepark

Aurora’s RibfestFriday, September 11, Saturday, September 12 and Sunday, September 13 Machell ParkThe tastiest event of the year returns for its 10th anniversary in Aurora! Enjoy mouth-watering ribs served by award-winning rib teams. This event also features a beer garden, live entertainment, children’s activities and the Magna Showdown. NEW! A wristband and age of majority policy is in effect. For full details, please visit www.aurora.ca/ribfest

Colours of FallThursday, October 8 Town ParkAs the leaves turn colour in the fall, enjoy our last concert of the year in beautiful Town Park. This event features fiddling, pumpkin carving, live entertainment and an old-fashioned community corn roast.

To learn more about these and other Town of Aurora events, please call 905-726-4762 or visit www.aurora.ca

With the last month of summer now here, we hope that residents take part in all the fun and exciting events before returning to school.

Join us for the Movies in the Park Series running until the beginning of September. Enjoy the outdoors and warm weather with family and friends while watching popular movies under the stars.

On another note, I would like to keep you informed about Aurora’s Sport Plan and the Parks & Recreation Master Plan review and update. The Town has a growing population with a high-demand for quality sporting facilities and programs.

In order to meet the needs of our current residents and expected growth, the Parks & Recreation department issued an RFP to engage a consultant to assist with this project. Montieth Brown Planning Consultants Limited has been tasked to prepare a strategic and comprehensive Sport Plan and Parks & Recreation Master Plan for Aurora.

The Sport Plan will create a vision for the future of sport in the Town and recommend strategies for delivery of services. The Master Plan will serve as a guiding document for the development and implementation of future Parks & Recreation services and facilities for the community. The plans will focus on creating and enhancing community partnerships, fostering public engagement and improving sport delivery in Aurora.

I’m also excited to promote the Play Day Initiative for youth, taking place in October 2015. This event will invite students from Aurora to participate in a variety of fun and enjoyable sporting activities. Students will be introduced to physical literacy and help promote physical activity at home and school.

As a final note, don’t forget about one of the most exciting events of the season. Aurora’s Ribfest will be coming to town on Friday, September 11 to Sunday, September 13 with a variety of food, fun, friendly competitions and live entertainment for the whole family to enjoy! Find out more at www.aurora.ca/specialevents

Enjoy the rest of the summer!

2015 Sport In Aurora July.indd 1 31/07/2015 2:59:06 PM


SUMMER CAMP – The Country Day School

/// by Kim sillcox /// photo Courtesy of Zach lawton

it’s all about the Kids at Cds summer Camp

Ask any child who has attended a CDS Summer Camp what they liked most about their camp experience and 9 times out of 10 their response will be “the counselors!”

“Our counselors were the main attraction, bar none,” explained camp Co-Director, Andrea Switalski. “They were selected based on their enthusiasm and approachability. Each one of them really spent time getting to know the kids, and by the end of the week the campers were quite taken with them.”

Not only were the counselors approachable and fun, but they have either played competitive sports at university, or intend to as they prepare for their first year. The quality of coaching offered by the counselors, or one of the five expert coaches on staff (all teachers and university athletes themselves), ensured that campers could really hone their skills in a particular sport (or specialty program) over the course of the week.

Now in its third year, CDS Summer Camp has grown in numbers and expanded its programming to include high-level sports instruction in: Basketball, Tennis, Soccer, Multi-Sport, as

well as specialty programs in Robotics and Drama. This summer they added an extra week of Robotics to meet demand.

The counselors, all but one of whom were CDS alumni, and the Leaders in Training (LITs) worked hard to develop new games to keep things fresh over the five weeks. In particular, the camp-wide game played every day after lunch, whether that was Fireball, Capture the Flag or Stones, was always a highlight.

Cara Tiemens was a counselor with the Basketball program and on any given day could be found surrounded by little fans. Having just finished an exciting first year at Ryerson University as a starter on the Women’s Basketball team, Buckets, as the campers affectionately called her, “loved teaching the kids basketball and watching them get excited about improving their game.”

“It just keeps getting better and better,” said Switalski. “This was by far our best summer yet and we’re already planning for next year!”

CDS Summer Camp Counselors (l-r) Meredith Langston ’13, Jack Lombardi ’15, Cara Tiemens ’14, and Mitch Romanin ’15


FOOTBALL – York Simcoe Minor Football Association

YorK simCoe buC’s Football RiDiNG A POSiTivE WAvE

The York Simcoe Minor Football Association (YSMFA) or Bucs Football has plenty to cheer about as organizers prepare to kick off their fall season. For starters, the

Association has just wrapped up another successful spring, demonstrating it has fast become one of the finest youth football developmental programs in Ontario. While young Bucs have been actively honing their gridiron skills with the encouragement of volunteer coaches in recent months, the Association’s Executives have been very busy off the field developing partnerships and programs to enhance upcoming play and participation.

Most notably, is the YSMFA’s announcement of a new football partnership in the York-Simcoe Region with the York University Lions that will enable coaches to directly acquire preparation skills and training techniques to effectively help players at all levels improve. “This regional alliance with the Lions is truly a win-win for our respective programs in the short and long run,” Buccaneers President, David Lovegrove, proudly announced. “Our Association immediately benefits by gaining outstanding CIS coaching instruction that can be passed on to all our house league and rep teams now, while York Lions, under Team Canada head coach Warren Cranney, benefits by showcasing its program to local student-athletes creating inspiring recruit-ment connections as well as developing coaches and players throughout the region.”

Flag football is another growing part of their player devel-opmental program plans that the Buccaneers are pleased to promote this September. The Bucs’ President appreciates how flag football is a good introductory option to tackle football for many boys and girls. “Since players do not have physical contact or equipment, parent’s concerns about size, experience and gender differences are naturally eliminated.” Lovegrove is

quick to add that flag football is a great compliment to traditional football as it teaches essential game skills including running, throwing, catching, covering, play-calling and most importantly teamwork.

New initiatives like the York U. partnership and flag football expansion are important to growing game enjoyment for minor players and parents in positive and realistic ways. The Association recognizes one of the ongoing challenges to keep-ing youth engaged in healthy physical activity is to identify ways to improve personal experiences without being scoreboard absorbed. The Bucs entire Executive understands that very few minor athletes, make the big leagues, but is not the least bit discouraged. “Our football program is not focused on simply trying to develop future scholarship winners or pro athletes. Our aim is to help each child reach their own potential and learn positive life lessons within a team environment that they hopefully can apply at a later date – while having fun right now.”

As labour unrest amongst Ontario teachers builds and a cloud of uncertainty about academic and extracurricular activities hangs over students and parents heads as this school year is about to begin, the ever-optimistic Buccaneers Football President offers assurance, “I promise you, our Bucs’ coaches and volunteers will be here all fall for the kids come rain or shine.”

Based on clear vision of those at the helm of the York Simcoe Buccaneers, it appears to be smooth sailing on the horizon for the organization and its participants in the months and years ahead.

Registration opportunities are still open. To learn more about York Simcoe Bucs Minor Football Association or to register visit Bucsfootball.ca

YorK sImCoe Club uNveIls YorK uNIversItY pArtNershIp & hoIsts more FlAgs

The ACTC Pickleball Program has grown to more than 40 members to date. We are very thankful for

the financial support of the Federal Government – New Horizon’s funding pro-gram that enable us provide our Program. Also, we received invaluable letters of sup-port from the Town of Aurora, the Aurora Seniors Association and Sport Aurora.

Pickleball is a fun sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong. It’s a game for all skill levels and ages. Seniors especially enjoy the social aspects and the opportunity to

stay active. ACTC is providing space for up to four Pickleball courts on two tennis courts in the afternoon, three times per week.

We recognize the importance of offering a sport like Pickleball to people who are looking for a fun social recre-ational activity that isn’t stressful to aging joints and muscles. Pickleball at ACTC is offered to beginners, intermediate and competitive players.

We are inviting local schools to utilize our Pickleball equipment over the winter months. Our senior Pickleball players will mentor and instruct teachers on the game of Pickleball.

Teachers can contact Brent MacKinnon to take advantage of this opportunity – [email protected]

ACTC Pickleball Committee: Annette Gagne, Bill Reid, John Seaman, Brent MacKinnon (regrets Doug Kilpatrick, Susan Ross)

ACtC CoNtINues to grow pICKlebAll\\\ story and photo Courtesy of brent macKinnon,

ACtC pickleball Coordinator


Six Ducks travelled to Nepean to compete in the Ontario Provincial Long Course Championships which were held July 2nd to July 5th. This elite level meet marked the finale of the 2014-15 Season for top Ducks performers: Soorna Choheili (15),

Maxwell Jones (14), Carter McWilliams (15), Natalie Shears (16), Hayden Spiers (15) and Chloe Taylor (15).

Soorna Choheili, Hayden Spiers and Chloe Taylor advanced to the Finals and achieved a top 8 position(s) in the province: Soorna Choheili, 7th, 50 m Freestyle, Male 15 Year Old Category; Hayden Spiers, 8th, 200 m Butterfly, Male 15 Year Old Category; and, Chloe Taylor, 4th, 200 m Breaststroke and 5th, 100 m Breaststroke, Female 15 Year Old Category.

Up Next… The Ducks are currently on summer hiatus; however, summer camps for current members and swimming enthusiasts are offered the weeks of August 24th and August 31st at the Stronach Aurora Recreation Complex. The 2015 – 2016 Swim Season kicks off on September 12th.

SWIMMING – Ducks Swimming

summer Festival PROviNCiAL CHAMPiONSHiPS /// by Kelly hughes, Ducks swimming /// photos Courtesy of Ducks swimming

September 2016 marks the 20th anniversary of the Aurora Master Ducks Swimming Club and to lead up to the big celebration they have a year of special things planned

for the upcoming season. They plan on attending this year’s Ontario Masters Swimming Championships en masse. New this year is the introduction of Tritonwear which will allow swimmer/coach real time communication and workout assessment. Triton wear is in the forefront of a ground-breaking and industry changing product and the Master Ducks will be the only adult swimming program in Canada licensed to use it.

In addition to training together for fitness in the pool, the usual social aspect of the team, which will include weekly and monthly events, will allow for team building and for members to spend time together on a social level. The work outs will range from basic, beginner swimming, ranging through all levels of swimmers in fitness, competitive and triathlon based training methodology to suit your fitness needs. For the benefit of

cross training, indoor cycling and Aurora Cross fit and Yoga programs will also be included in the Master Ducks training regime.

Take advantage of the August early bird registration rates and full registration will take place in September. Visit their brand new website for more information at www.masterducks.ca or email the administrator, Kate Bayne: [email protected]

MASTER DUCkS CELEBRATES 20 YeArs thIs seAsoN/// by melony teague /// photo Courtesy of the master Ducks swim Club

Left to Right: Thomas Nelander, Toma Noda, Brent Davison, George Zizakovic,

Tyler Da Ponte

Nine swimmers represented Ducks Swimming and the Town of Aurora at the Summer Festival Provincial Championships held at the Canada Games Aquatic

Centre in London, Ontario on June 27th and 28th. Holly Biasi (12), Tyler Da Ponte (9), Brent Davision (11), Hunter Edwards (13), Abigail Juhola (12), Nicolas Machell (13), Thomas Nelander (11), Toma Noda (11) and George Zizakovic (11) topped off a tremendous swim season with personal best performances at this prestigious event. This is the largest team of swimmers that Ducks Swimming has sent to the Festival Provincial Championships.

Top eight performances were achieved by Holly Biasi who captured 6th spot in both the 50 m and 100 m Freestyle events in the Girls 12 Year Old Category and Hunter Edwards who took 5th place in the 100 m Breaststroke and 8th in the 200 m Breaststroke in the Girls 13 Year Old Category.

Chloe Taylor

oNtArIo provINCIAl loNg Course ChAmpIoNshIps



The Spectrum Baton Club of Aurora/

Newmarket competed at the Canadian National Baton Twirling Championships at UOIT/Durham College from June 29 – July 2 2015, with excellent results!

The club’s Senior Twirl Team, Pompeii, reclaimed the National Gold Medal with an inspiring, exciting performance.

“We really trained for this and we definitely had our sights set on gold, but the competition was stiff! I really credit the girls for their teamwork, and support of each other, which enabled us to rise to the challenge” said Jennifer Meron, Club head coach and technical director.

The club’s individually competing athletes also did themselves proud.

The senior pair of Amanda D’Attolico and Natalie Seguin claimed the silver medal with a crowd pleasing routine.

Teija RomColthoff, who will compete at World International Cup in Abbotsford BC in August earned a spot on the podium in 3 baton, solo and solo dance.

Leyla Ozturk had a wonderful perfor-mance to claim silver in the Senior 2 baton division, and Bridget Lynagh earned silver in the Junior 3 baton division.

Additionally, several of the club athletes turned in personal best performances to earn top ten national placements.

“I am so proud of all the girls for their work ethic and dedication to their sport, and their support of each other” said Meron.

Next up, Meron and two of the clubs elite athletes: Teija RomColthoff and Natalie Seguin will travel to Abbotsford BC to compete at the World Baton Twirling Federation International Cup. This is RomColthoff’s second world event, and the first for Seguin. “Its especially

exciting to be competing in this World event right here in Canada” said Seguin. Both women will compete in Solo, 2 baton, and Artistic Twirl, and RomColthoff will also compete in 3 baton.

Back home, the twirlers are looking forward to a couple summer informal performance opportunities, such as half time at the Aurora Concerts in the Park series, and before long, another new and exciting baton season will begin. The club looks forward to welcoming back about 12 competitive athletes, and 25 recre-ational, pre-competitive athletes. “Last year we had a great influx of new twirlers and we hope to welcome even more new members this year. We love introducing new people to our amazing sport!”

spectrum baton golden at National Chamionships\\\ story and photos Courtesy of spectrum baton

BATON – Spectrum Baton ClubBATON – Spectrum


The incident of concussion, its cause, prevention, treat-ment and long term effect have taken up a great deal of attention among players in all contact sports as well as

their coaches, trainers and loved ones. With a view to providing a higher level of care, the Aurora Barbarians Rugby Club have engaged a professional medical services company to make a baseline health assessment of all players in its Under-12 and older age groups through to senior men and women.

Dr. karen Chrobak a member of the Barbarian’s senior women’s team and the Club’s Medical & Player Safety Officer is also a principle of Sportside Medical Services in Etobicoke and arranged to bring in a team of fifteen practitioners to complete the assessment over two evenings at Fletcher’s Fields.

Dr. Chrobak describes the process as “the baseline measures we use are the third generation Sport Concussion Assessment Tool or SCAT Three test, the king-Devick test and a full clinical history and physical. The combination of these three measures enables us to get a full picture of the athlete at baseline while also allowing us to collect the information in a timely and sideline-feasible fashion”.

The SCAT 3 test is a standardized tool used to evaluate athletes for concussion. It combines reporting of subjective symptoms along with objective tasks for memory and reaction time. The king-Devick test is an evaluation of visual saccade

(quick simultaneous movements in both eyes) and consists of a series of test cards and numbers. The tests become progressively more difficult to read due to variability in numbers. Both errors and speed of reading are used in deriving a baselines score.

Dr. Chrobak adds, “If a player is deemed to have a suspected injury, diagnosis is primary made on clinical judgement whereas baseline measures may be used more often to guide a safe return to play. It allows practitioners to know where the athletes stands in comparison to their initial baseline and monitor progress and resolution of symptoms. These measures are an extremely helpful adjunct to guide a safe return to the pitch”.

Club President Steve Hall confirms that player safety is a cornerstone of Aurora rugby’s development. “Our goal is to introduce rugby as a game for life” he offers. “That means a healthy lifestyle that is meant to last fifty years and more. We promote physical well-being including brain health above all else. And while this effort has been ongoing, the contribu-tion of Dr. Chrobak and her team to establish a baseline for all of our players that can guide them back to a safe return to the game is a progressive step for this program and very much appreciated”.

Making the gaMe Safer!/// by John reich, Aurora barbarians rugby Football Club

The temperature continues to rise. There is little rain in the forecast. As the ground dries out and the

grass fights every last urge to turn to a crisp golden brown, four staff, covered in sunscreen and drenched in sweat, push themselves and fight Mother Nature to prepare their sanctuary.

The multi-sport field at Seneca College’s Newnham Campus has been home to the Sting from its’ inception nearly fifty years ago.

Three teams call the field home for competition while four others train at one of Ontario’s best-kept natural grass collegiate fields.

Highlighting the venue schedule this fall will be a day full of community and campus activities as well as athletic competition.

On Sunday, September 20, the Terry Fox Run will celebrate its’ thirty-fifth anniversary with an event at Newnham Campus. Community members are encouraged to bring families and friends out for the 9:00am start and take part in this annual event.

In its’ 22nd year at Newnham Campus, the Terry Fox Run has raised over $250,000.00 for cancer research with

more than 2,800 participants. This year, the site goal is to raise more than $10,000.00 for this great cause.

Participants have the opportunity to ride, walk, skate or run and the course is stroller-friendly.

Following the Terry Fox Run, the Women’s Softball team will host the Conestoga Condors in a double header at 10:00am and Noon. During the day, basketball and volleyball alumni games are

also planned for the Newnham Campus Gym. The day will be capped by a pair of soccer home openers as the Sting host the Humber Hawks. The women start at 3:00pm followed by the men at 5:15pm. Admission is free for all Sting home games and will be highlighted by a free barbeque (on the 20th only).

The festivities will not be limited to just the field at Newnham Campus. The Men’s Rugby team will kick off their season at 2:00pm against the Algonquin Thunder

at Seneca College’s Markham Campus.It will be a packed day at Seneca College’s Newnham Campus on September 20 with fun and excitement for families, friends

and the student-athletes competing. It is with that

thought in mind that the Sports Centre Operation staff brave the elements preparing their home turf.

More information about the Seneca Sting and the Terry Fox Run can be found

at www.SenecaSting.ca.

gIvINg bACK to CommuNItY hIghlIghts ACtIoN-pACKeD DAY /// story and photos Courtesy of seneca College

COMMUNITY – Seneca College



LACROSSE – Lady Redbirds

The Lady Redbirds Lacrosse organization hosted a week-end of girls lacrosse at Ray Twinney Park and George Richardson Park in Newmarket June 13-14 – and was

the first time ever that Newmarket has played host. The Lady Redbirds draw players from Newmarket, Aurora, Richmond Hill and other parts of York Region.

Girl’s field lacrosse is played outdoors in a season that runs from mid-April to late July. Now in its 3rd season, the Lady Redbirds organization has rep teams at the U11, U 13 (two teams) and U15 age groups. There is also a fledgling house league program that is new this season and there are plans for a U17 rep team next season.

For the rep teams, there are generally one or two practices a week, and then on either a Saturday or Sunday there is a festival of games where a dozen girls’ lacrosse associations from central Ontario come together at a rotating host site and each team plays two games on the same day. Over the course of the season each rep team will play 16-20 games culminating in a trip to the Provincial Championships – the U13 Redbirds took silver in the 2013 season. Besides York Regions’ Lady Redbirds, the other towns in the loop are Brampton, Halton Hills, Hamilton, kawartha, kitchener-Waterloo, Oakville, Orillia, Oshawa, Owen Sound, Six Nations, St. Catharines and Toronto/Mimico.

On June 13-14, 40 teams – more than 600 girls – came together in Newmarket for the first time in the organization’s three year history and games were played all weekend between 8:30am and 7pm at Ray Twinney and George Richardson Parks.

Girl’s lacrosse is a very different game from the boys’ game. As U15 coach Fraser Cowell explains, “The first three things someone will likely notice are that each team has 11 players plus a goalie (vs 9 + 1 for boys), that the girls wear almost no equipment except for eye protection, and that the goalies also have much less equipment – to the point that they look human.

The girls’ game is a non-contact game, and there is no cross-checking. The girls are allowed a certain level of stick checking (called a c-check).” Cowell goes on to explain that “The girls’ sticks have virtually no pocket to cradle the ball, and thus run-ning and passing become critical skills. You’ll also notice that the girls carry their stick higher, about face height, and the lack of a pocket causes them to cradle the ball carefully. The lack of a pocket really encourages a skill game vs a physical game.”

The Lady Redbirds organization has seen steady growth in their three years of operation, and the hope is that next season there will be an expansion of the house league and the addition of a U17 team. The Lady Redbirds will be hosting three “Welcome to Lacrosse” clinics aimed at girls interested in giving the game a try – one this fall, one this winter and one early next spring in advance of the 2016 season – dates and locations to be finalized.

For details about the clinics, the June 13-14 action and girls lacrosse in general, please contact Dawn Beal-Nacevski, by email [email protected] or phone 416-689-8875.

600 gIrls FIelD lACrosse plAYers tAKe over NewmArKet

\\\ by Kim sillcox, lady redbird lacrosse \\\ photo Courtesy of the lady redbirds lacrosse Club


Independent school vibrant contributor to

Aurora’s sports heritage for close to 90 years

seneca

ST. ANDREW’S COLLEGE GOT GAME!/// by Cindy veitch /// photo Courtesy of st. Andrew’s College Archives

SAC – St. Andrew’s College

Sports within Aurora are showcased at the Legacy of Sport Exhibit that was recently launched in June 2015

at the Aurora Museum & Archives. One display that certainly catches your eye is the display for Special Olympics Ontario – Aurora (SOO – Aurora).

The images that make up this display manage to showcase over 90 athletes in five different sports which include swim-ming, golf, bocce, basketball and softball. What is not yet shown are photos of our newest sport, rhythmic gymnastics that will soon launch in early October, 2015. Pretty amazing for an Organization that is only nine years young!

The mission of Special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition for individuals with intellectual disabilities. As demonstrated by our booming programs, that mission is being carried out in Aurora. In addition to that mission, an ancillary goal of the

executive of SOO – Aurora is to ensure that others in the community are also aware of these programs.

Participation in the Legacy of Sport Exhibit is an excellent way to make sure that all members of the community know about these excellent programs and learn a little more about Special Olympics. SOO-Aurora also has an annual golf tournament and artisan/craft show at Christmas that encourages the community to get involved. The primary objective of those initiatives is fundraising, but any time our athletes or volunteers are active in the community, Special Olympics is being promoted and celebrated.

Speaking of celebration and legacies, during this Year of Sport 2015, Special Olympics Ontario – Aurora is working on a strategy to create a Legacy initiative that will actively promote awareness of Special Olympics in this community and to encourage greater participation from

individuals in our community with an intellectual disability. Watch out for more details in the future!

Special Olympics Ontario – Aurora display can be found at the Aurora Museum and Archives (22 Church St, Aurora).

loCAl speCIAl olYmpICs shINes IN the AurorA sport legACY exhIbIt\\\ by Nancy black


St. Andrew’s College is among several participants featured in a retrospective that salutes sports

through the ages in Aurora.A Legacy of Sport is the inaugural

exhibition for the new Aurora Museum & Archives, located on the second floor of the Aurora Cultural Centre. The collection of photographs and vintage artifacts chronicles the evolution of sports in the town and aligns with its 2015 theme, the Year of Sport.

“Our sports heritage is closely inter-twined with the Town of Aurora’s,” says Sue Hayter, SAC’s Librarian & Archivist. While combing the School’s archives to create the exhibit, Dr. Hayter found numerous sports photographs dated 1926, the year SAC moved to Aurora.

“When the School moved here from Toronto, it brought along a sporting tradition that was more than a quarter-century old and included varsity team championships in football, cricket, and hockey.”

The new Aurora school also boasted a gymnasium and indoor swimming pool that made it possible to form teams in sports such as boxing, fencing, basketball, volleyball, and swimming.

Over the ensuing almost nine decades, the College has established a long tradition of athletic excellence. Many high-calibre athletes have graduated from SAC, including hockey hall of famer Harry Watson, class of 1916; world rowing champion bronze medalist, Pete McClelland, class of 2002; and cur-rent Philadelphia Flyer, Michael del Zotta, class of 2008.

The display by the Aurora Sports Hall of Fame (ASHOF) features two St. Andrew’s College inductees: former Headmaster, Bob Bedard, for tennis achievements; and alumnus Greg Hotham for his National Hockey League career in the ’70s and ’80s.

“For a small, academically-focused school, St. Andrew’s produces a disproportionate number of athletes,” says Michael Roy, Director of Admission, Marketing and Business Development and a graduate of the class of 1985.

“In the past five years, 24 SAC gradu-ates have gone on to play for NCAA teams and close to the same number to the CIS.” Mr. Roy credits this in part to the quality of its sports programs and its tremendous facilities, including the recent addition of a new athletic complex and an arena.


ATHLETICS – Pickering College

liFe lessons in sportAthletICs Are “vItAl to the leArNINg, growth AND DevelopmeNt oF everY stuDeNt”\\\ by Naomi Cote, pickering College \\\ photos Courtesy of pickering College

Pickering College is gearing up for another exciting year of athletics!

A love of sport is something that is deeply entrenched in the culture at Pickering College. So much so that participation in athletics is built right into the school curriculum.

Pickering College’s mandatory Co-curricular Program takes place every afternoon Mondays to Thursdays between the final academic period and dismissal. Students in Grades 7-12 are required to participate in at least one competitive team or be a member of one (or more) school clubs or recreational sports per term.

And, with a wide range of sports and activities to choose from, there’s something for everyone. In addition to the very popular options of soccer, volleyball and basketball, Pickering has some unique athletic offerings including equestrian, mountain biking, alpine skiing and snowboarding.

Cristy Drake, Director of the Co-curricular Program, says that when students participate in co-curricular sports and activities it really extends the learning to outside of the classroom.

“I think one of the things that makes our program so exceptional, besides having dedicated time set aside during the school day to participate, is that the coaches are members of our staff and faculty. This helps to further cement this mentoring relationship in a different setting and it is part of what makes Pickering so special,” Drake says.

In addition to the Co-curricular Program, Pickering College offers a supportive environment for students with elite-level athletic pursuits outside of school.

The High Performance Student Athlete (HPSA) Program is designed to offer greater academic flexibility for students who spend a significant amount of their time devoted to an elite-level individual or team sport. The mission of the program is to assist exceptional student athletes in achieving their academic potential while striving for athletic excellence.

Each year, approximately 10 students in Grades 9-12 participate, including 2015 graduate Matthew Yustin, who will attend Core Golf Academy, Orlando, starting in September. Yustin says the HPSA program was a very good experience as it gave him the opportunity to focus on his golf game, while still carrying a full course load.

“I am very thankful for the support I received from Pickering,” says Yustin. “Golf is a very mental game, so my participation in the HPSA allowed me to balance school, golf and my social life. It has really given me a leg up on the competition, as there are few schools in Ontario that offer this kind of program.”

Participation in athletics is vital to the learning, growth and development of every student, says Drake. The lessons and skills that can be acquired are extensive; sportsmanship, team play, leadership, resiliency, sense of belonging and ethics.

“These lessons are often unique to sport but can be transferred to a variety of settings in life,” she says. “Our hope is that students continue to be active for years to come. In a school community, competitions play a key role in enhancing school spirit and pride.”

For further information about Pickering College, please visit their website at www.pickeringcollege.on.ca

Matt Yustin playing in an American Junior Golf Academy tournament in Championsgate Florida.

LEARNING FOR LIFE.CREATING THE FUTURE.

MAKE A FRESH START IN SEPTEMBERat Pickering College in Newmarket

Contact our Admission Office to learn more about the Pickering College experience.

Phone: 905-895-1700 ext. 259 Email: [email protected]: www.pickeringcollege.on.ca

At Pickering College we focus on the whole child, where students learn to excel, to develop character, to make friends and prepare for future endeavours and opportunities. It’s their community and the experiences that they have at school shape them as they become citizens of the world.

Our students, faculty and staff live the values that have guided our school since 1842 in a stimulating and collegial environment. With 400 students, including 100 international boarding students from more than 20 countries, our entire school community benefits from a global perspective.

Diverse programming in small class settings allow students to excel academically with 100% of our graduates moving on to the post-secondary institution of their choice.

JOIN US FOR AN OPEN HOUSE

Wednesday, October 14 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Meet students, staff, faculty and parents. Learn more about our specialized programming and go on a personal tour of our historic campus.

SPEND-A-HALF DAYYour child can attend class, meet our teachers, join us for lunch! Registration required.

Friday, October 16 8:15 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

BOOK YOUR PERSONAL TOUR!You and your family can join us for a Personal Tour led by current students (during class time) and followed up by Admission staff.

We invite you to ask any questions you may have about Pickering College and our programs. Please contact our Admission Office to book your Personal Tour, today.

Independent Co-educational Day and Boarding School • Since 1842 JK to University Preparatory • 16945 Bayview Avenue, Newmarket, ON

When he opens the door to St. Andrew’s College, he opens his mind to a world of possibilities. Since 1899 we have provided enriched academics, unparalleled athletics, and dynamic arts programs resulting in strong, independent and intelligent young men.

Five minutes could change his next 50 years. Check out our 5-minute video at www.sac.on.ca/video.

Open House • Tuesday, September 29 • 6:30 - 8:30pm

Experience SAC Day • Wednesday, October 21 • 9:30am - 12:30pm

Your son. Our mission.Currently o�ering an enrolment incentive of $5,000 for grades 5 & 6and $2.3 million annually in scholarship and bursary assistance.

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Sport in Aurora - Vol. 5 Issue 3

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Transcript of Sport in Aurora - Vol. 5 Issue 3