Locals ready to represent southern Alberta at Summer Games in Winnipeg

The Canada Summer Games fired up Friday in Winnipeg with a southern Alberta presence at this year’s games.

A total of 16 athletes and coaches from Lethbridge and area are among 438 Team Alberta participants at the games, which run until Aug. 13.

Local participants inlcude Wendy Nelson (Coaldale, coach, swimming), Kaleb Muller (Cranford, cycling mountain bike), John Evans (Lethbridge, basketball), Chase Florendine (Lethbridge, baseball), Caleb Kadijk (Lethbridge, basketball), Naomi Leam (Lethbridge, swimming), Dave Waknuk (Lethbridge, coach, female basketball), Ethan Choi (Pincher Creek, golf ), Navarra Houldin (Pincher Creek, athletics, paralympic), Hunter Graves (Raymond, athletics, paralympic) and Peter Waeckerlin (Taber, wrestling).

2017 marks the 50th anniversary of the first Games in 1967 in Quebec City, Lethbridge hosted the Canada Winter Games in 1975.

The Canada Games are the largest national multi-sport event for young athletes, and alternate every two years between summer and winter.

Competing athletes are the best in their age group, and represent Canada’s next generation of international athletes.

Lethbridge Canada Games alumni that represented Canada at the 2016 Rio Olympics include Heather Steacy and Zack McAllister.

The events begin today with baseball, male and female basketball, female soccer and male softball.

For Team Alberta information including results, news, photos and sport schedules visit and follow on-line at

and Twitter

teamalberta.org Facebook.com/TeamAB @GoTeamAB Instagram @GoTeamAB

canadagames.ca/2017

or visit the Games website to catch live streaming throughout the Games.