Team Ontario Mission Staff Announcement

TORONTO, ON--(Marketwired - July 29, 2016) - In celebration of one year out from the 2017 Canada Summer Games, Team Ontario Chef de Mission Stacy Halonen is pleased to announce the Team Ontario mission staff who will lead Ontario's athletes, coaches and managers at the Games taking place from July 28 to August 13, 2017 in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

As leader of Team Ontario, Halonen said, "It's hard to believe we are already a year out from the next edition of the Canada Summer Games. With the Canada Games celebrating their 50^th anniversary, in the year of Canada's 150^th birthday, we are very excited to be part of the Games' festivities and look forward to sending a full delegation of Ontario's most talented and dedicated athletes, coaches and managers to represent and compete for Team Ontario in Winnipeg come this time next year."

"Planning for the Games is well underway with a team of 19 committed and hard-working mission staff already engaged in the preparations, working with the Provincial Sport Organizations to ensure we are well prepared in advance of the Games," stated Halonen. "It is our goal that, come July 2017, Team Ontario members will perform to the best of their ability, with dignity, humility and a sense of pride and fair play, leading to outstanding performances, personal best and hopefully many podium finishes for Ontario!"

"I am proud of our dedicated Team Ontario mission staff who will support our athletes on their journey to the podium at the 2017 Canada Summer Games," said Eleanor McMahon, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport. "Coming off an incredibly successful showing at the 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games, Team Ontario is ready to compete and win at the Canada Games next year and I can't wait to watch!"

Mission staff are the "team behind the team" responsible for ensuring all of the needs of the athletes, coaches and managers are addressed. From liaising with the host society on travel, accommodation and the sport schedule, to delivering mandatory training for all participants in human rights and drug-free sport and working with the media, the mission staff work tirelessly so the athletes can concentrate solely on their competitions.

Team Ontario's 2017 Mission Team:

Team Ontario Quick Facts:

• Funding for Team Ontario is provided by the Province of Ontario through Games Ontario, the Government of Ontario's Centre of Excellence for sport events.
• Team Ontario at the 2017 Canada Summer Games will be comprised of 450 athletes, coaches, managers, chaperones, technicians and mission staff.
• Former Team Ontario athletes who have qualified to compete for Team Canada at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro include: Michelle Williams, Kylie Masse, Martha McCabe, Kennedy Goss and Mackenzie Darragh (Swimming), Michelle Li (Badminton), Adam Van Koeverden (Canoe-Kayak), and Michelle Fazzari (Judo).