Seniors Soar at Winterfest 2003

Winterfest 2003, also known as the Ontario Senior Games, was held in London, Ontario from February 16 to 18, 2003. The games, held every two years, showcase Ontario’s top senior athletes in ten different athletic events. This year’s event attracted close to 1,000 competitors from 40 districts across Ontario, each striving to surpass their personal bests.

Teams from 11 Ontario districts competed in the badminton competition of the Ontario Senior Games

But the games are about far more than competition. Winterfest gives senior sports enthusiasts a chance to display their talents, stay fit and have fun.

“Having this kind of fun when you are retired makes you feel like you are still part of society,” said event co-chair Doug Harris. “It is just tremendous the amount of effort and enthusiasm participants put into the event,” said Mary Lynne Patterson, who shares the co-chair title. The athletes, aged 55 years and up, competed in indoor and outdoor events including alpine skiing, badminton, five- and ten-pin bowling, curling, ice hockey, Nordic skiing, skating, volleyball, and 3-on-3 basketball, which is a demonstration sport.

A core group of 25 people began preparations for Winterfest in 2000, when the City of London was first awarded host honours for the second-ever winter games. However, it quickly became evident that many more volunteers would be needed to make the three-day event a success.

An Ontario Trillium Foundation grant for $57,700 helped offset the costs of staffing, marketing and transportation for the games and provided entertainment at the opening ceremonies. In the end, Winterfest 2003 was considered to be a huge success.

The Highland Curling Club played host to 16 teams of Ontario curlers who competed at Winterfest 2003

“We have more than doubled the number of participants since the last Winterfest, held in Collingwood in 2000,” said games director Janis Cookson, who attributed the success of the games to the enthusiastic commitment and active lifestyles of the more than 750 senior athletes who showed off their skills and talents.

At 81, Mary Nagata is one of those participants. She competed in her second Winterfest, after winning a bronze medal in the mixed doubles badminton competition in Collingwood in 2000. “I feel we are really fortunate at our age to be still competing,” said Mary. “During practices we try and play for fun, but when I am competing, I enjoy it more because the best of me comes out.”

Janis Cookson agrees. “Watching this age group participate was inspirational and there was no shortage of fun and laughter among the athletes. Their performances were outstanding, and they should be congratulated for being great role models to all ages.”