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C’est notre moment: Opening Ceremony stirs emotions of Red Deer coming together

Feb 16, 2019 | 8:24 AM

RED DEER — The Opening Ceremony of the 2019 Canada Winter Games set the bar high Friday night for what should be a tremendous two weeks of amateur sports competition.

Emanating from the Westerner Park Centrium, the ceremony featured song and dance, including the melodies of Alberta’s own Brett Kissel, who only added to the western flair of the show.

The ceremony began with an address from Red Deer mayor Tara Veer who welcomed Canadians from all corners of the country to “Canada’s emerging city.”

“Tonight the power of sport brings Canadians together. Tonight the maple leaf unites us all,” Veer stated.

“Sport building is community building, and community building is country building. Above all, the Canada Winter Games is about the commitment of this village of 37 million people strong to believe in and support Canada’s youth in their sport development and aspirations.”

The program moved on to the Parade of Athletes which was led by the Red Deer Legion Pipe Band, meanwhile boisterous fans took turns shouting their province’s name.

Representatives of Red Deer’s Indigenous community then took centre stage, welcoming those in attendance for The Games to Treaty 6 and Treaty 7 territories, as well as what is recognized as a historical Metis gathering site. Local Metis elder Theresa ‘Corky’ Larsen-Jonassen accompanied two Indigenous Alberta athletes, Tyson Laventure and Shaelyn Corasinity, in delivering the greeting.

Performer Dallas Arcand, a world champion hoop dancer, also showed off his talents.

VIP greetings were then given by Tom Quinn, Chair of the Canada Games, and Julie Payette, the Governor General of Canada.

“It takes a huge effort to put such an enormous national event together and you did it Red Deer. Way to go. It’s going to be an extraordinary two weeks,” Payette said. “To you, the athletes, you’ve worked really hard, and you’re here because you are the best. You’re here to demonstrate what you can do. Please, give it your all, compete fairly, make new friends and you will gain experiences that will last you your lifetime and maybe even take you higher.”

Following greetings, a spoken word, music and film piece by Red Deer College students entitled ‘This is Red Deer’ was performed.

Then came a rousing rendition of O’ Canada, as performed by the ihana Youth Choir, the Soliloquy Choir, and the Iron Ridge Elementary Sign Language Choir. They were joined by cadets, a cadet flag party and members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

In celebration of Canada’s National Flag Day, each member of the sold out audience waved a miniature Canadian flag while a massive one floated over the athletes.

The show proceeded with ‘Come Together,’ a production number performed to an original bilingual song which celebrated Red Deer as the meeting place of central Alberta. Acrobats, as well as several local cultural and community groups participated.

Premier Rachel Notley then delivered remarks.

“We couldn’t be more proud to showcase what this incredible city has to offer,” said Notley. “To the organizers, the staff, and volunteers who have done so much to make these Games memorable, thank you. To all the incredible athletes, this is your moment.”

The Canada Games flag was then ushered in by the Red Deer Royals, as well as newly minted Canada Games Hall of Honour inductees Bruny Surin and Cindy Klassen, who rode in on a horse-drawn carriage.

The True Sport oaths were then read, with Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Lois Mitchell giving greetings before representatives for the athletes, coaches and officials read their respective vows.

Fifth-generation Alberta Francophone artist Mireille Moquin went on to perform ‘Somewhere’ alongside dancers from throughout the Red Deer dance community. The host society also gave greetings, presented by honourary Games co-chairs Ron and Cari MacLean.

‘Raise the Barn,’ also a bilingual segment of the show, brought to life the western Canadian theme of the night. Athletes and performers alike worked to launch a stylized barn raising, which went up around some of the athletes. AJ Silver, a trick rope performer from New York, performed a number of moves.

With the Opening Ceremony nearing its finale, the final torchbearers entered the arena, including Joan and Jack Donald, Del Billings, and finally Maddison Pearman and Mark Armstrong.

A rope fuse running from the floor to the Canada Games cauldron on stage was lit and the flame was ignited.

Finally, Brett Kissel concluded the show with the Frontier Spirit Finale segment. Accompanied by line dancing, the Juno Award-winning Kissel performed his hit tunes ‘Anthem’ and ‘We Were That Song’ to send people home happy.