MAPLE RIDGE, British Columbia – Langley’s Deschanel Donovan was presented the W.R. Bennett Award for Athletic Excellence on Sunday, July 21 at the Maple Ridge 2024 BC Summer Games.

The W.R. Bennett Award recognizes one athlete at each BC Winter and BC Summer Games who demonstrates athletic achievement and leadership. The award was named in honour of former premier Bill Bennett, who created the BC Games in 1978. Nominations are submitted by Provincial Sport Organizations and the winner receives a $2,500 bursary.

A softball athlete for Zone 3-Fraser Valley, Donovan was recognized moments after she helped lead her team to a gold medal, pitching in the final against Zone 5-Vancouver Coastal. The presentation was made by the Honourable Pam Alexis, Minister of Agriculture and Food and MLA for Abbotsford-Mission.

“I feel really good – it’s a really cool award to win and I’m very proud of myself for everything I’ve done,” Donovan told Global BC on Sunday. “I’m proud of all of [my team], we’ve all put in the work through the season and it’s come to this.”

Donovan has been a standout in her sport since she began playing a five years old. She currently plays for Fusion 2008 and the AI Bandits travel team located in the USA. Last year, she led her team to a national championship and was named Top Pitcher of the tournament. She was also a candidate for lowest ERA for the Alliance Top Tournament and named on the IDT All-Star Team. She pitches over 60 miles per hour with a current top speed of 67 miles per hour.

Her coach at the BC Games, Katelyn Ross, singles her out as a leader on the team who encourages positivity and makes time for her teammates. In her free time, Deschanel volunteers as a coach for a youth team and teaches pitching lessons.

“She works her butt off, so she’s putting in work at practices probably four to five days a week and then outside of practices as well,” said Ross. “I think the thing about her is that she has goals and ambitions and she’s really working towards those.”

CBC Radio-Canada sat down on July 11 with Caden Wong, who will be the first male to compete in artistic swimming at the BC Summer Games when he suits up at the Maple Ridge 2024 BC Summer Games from July 17-21. sport at the BC Games when he takes to the water in Maple Ridge next week

Wong was featured on On The Coast with Gloria Macarenko alongside his coach Meng Chen Pacific Wave Artistic Swim Club.

Listen to the full interview on CBC Radio-Canada’s website.

The Maple Ridge 2024 BC Summer Games are fast approaching and athletes are now registered to attend.

Learn everything you need to know about the BC Summer Games using our Guide to the Games booklet, G2G Sessions, and Registration Key Dates Timeline.

More resources:

• Participant Checklist
• Volunteer for the Games
• Technical Packages and General Rules
• Culture of the Games
• Participant List and Results (Coming Soon)
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Guide to the Games

The Guide to the Games booklet for the BC Summer Games is now available for download.

The Guide is a document produced before each BC Winter and Summer Games designed to fill participants in on everything they need to know ahead of the Games. The booklet has information on accommodation, transportation, ceremonies, the host community, and more.

View the Guide to the Games

Guide to the Games (G2G) Sessions

Prior to the Maple Ridge 2024 BC Summer Games, online G2G Sessions open to athletes, coaches, officials, and parents provide an overview of what to expect at the Games.

The sessions are meant to help:

• Increase understanding of the BC Games and the logistics of the Games.
• Explore ways athletes can gain full benefit from their BC Games experience.
• Provide specific information and tools to support preparation for the BC Games.
• Provide practical information regarding their upcoming BC Games experience.

Register for G2G Session

Registration Key Dates

National Volunteer Week, happening April 14-20, is a time to celebrate the integral contributions that volunteers make to the well-being of our communities. The 2024 theme ‘Every Moment Matters’ highlights exactly that sentiment, from the moment a volunteer commits their time, to all they do – every moment they give to an organization makes a difference.

DOWNLOAD FULL RELEASE (PDF)

“From July 17 to 21, 2024, Maple Ridge will host 2,782 athletes, 566 coaches and 375 officials from across BC. The motto for the Maple Ridge 2024 BC Summer Games is ‘Celebrating Competition & Community’ reflecting the over 2,500 volunteers that we’re recruiting to deliver an exceptional Games experience for our guests this Summer,” said Laura Butler, President of the Games.

She continues, “Maple Ridge’s volunteers bring their skills, expertise, and passion to every aspect of life in our community. From sports to the arts, faith organizations, service clubs and charity organizations, there’s no one in our community that’s not enriched by the investment in time that local volunteers make in Maple Ridge. On behalf of our Society, we’d like to say thank you to all the volunteers in our community for making Maple Ridge great.”

The Maple Ridge 2024 BC Summer Games Society volunteer recruitment drive is now live at www.bcsummergames.ca for both games time and planning positions. Sports enthusiast? Community advocate? Just looking for fun things to do? Whatever your skill set, if you’re interested in volunteering, we have a spot for you!

“There is a huge variety of roles that we need to fill to create ‘Team Maple Ridge’. From food service to accommodation, transportation, warehousing to events and marketing, there’s a place for all ages and abilities to bring your passion to this incredible event,” said Heidi Einhorn, the Games Director of Participant & Volunteer Services.

“One of the things that we saw during our visit to the Lhtako Quesnel 2024 BC Winter Games was the sense of community pride among the volunteers that we interacted with over the days of the competition. That’s the inspiration behind our Games slogan – ‘Celebrating Competition & Community.’ For five days in July, all of us who are volunteers will surround the athletes, coaches and officials to ensure that they have an incredible athletic competition and that when they head home, they remember the kindness and hospitality of all the volunteers,” said Heidi.

If you are interested in being a volunteer for the Maple Ridge 2024 BC Summer Games you can go to www.bcsummergames.ca and follow the links to the online sign up. Once you register, your name will be sent out to Directorate teams in your preferred area, and they will reach out to you to confirm what your availability is before and during the BC Summer Games. Athletes, coaches, and Games officials will be arriving on July 17 and the competitions and special events will run from July 18 to 21.

Look for Games recruitment out in the community over the next couple of months including at the 2024 Ridge Meadows Home Show on May 3, 4 and 5 where the Games will be co-located with the City of Maple Ridge. You can sign up on location at this event.

“A volunteer recognition event will be held on Sunday, July 21 once our guests have departed back to their homes across BC,” said Laura Butler. “I know, from personal experience, the tight bond that’s formed when you come together with neighbours to put on an event like the BC Summer Games. I think that ‘Team Maple Ridge’ will be one of the great legacies of this event. As we celebrate National Volunteer Week, please join us in delivering and incredible Maple Ridge 2024 BC Summer Games experience.”

For more information go to www.bcsummergames.com.

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