The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
The following Private Member's Statement was spoken in the Manitoba Legislative Assembly by Flin Flon MLA Gerard Jennissen on Friday, April 23. "Mr. Speaker, Frontier School Division is the world's largest division, with 43 schools across the province. Thirty years ago Frontier School Division initiated Frontier Games. Frontier Games are a time for students from many schools across the division to get together, compete and meet one another. Frontier Games were first held in 1974. The Games were the brainchild of Mr. Dan Reagan, a well known educator and a former superintendent of the Frontier School Division, Area 4, and later Flin Flon, who was then living in Norway House. It was his idea to bring students from all over the enormous division together for annual athletic competitions and camaraderie. Incidentally, the Minister of Conservation, the Minister of Healthy Living and I, at one time or another, were teachers working for Mr. Reagan. Mr. Speaker, the first Frontier Games committee helped to develop the basic idea and to plan the travel and accommodations. The first Games in 1974 involved 160 students and were held in Cranberry Portage. This year the games took place March 3, 4 and 5 and again in Cranberry Portage. These games were hosted by the Frontier Collegiate Institute and Cranberry Portage Elementary School. Over 350 athletes participated. Students from ages 12 to 15 competed in many events such as badminton, floor hockey, basketball, cross-country skiing, snowshoe racing, table tennis and trap setting. This year's games began on Wednesday evening with an opening ceremony led by fancy shawl dancer, Olivia Caribou, and hoop dancers, Monica Soulier and Deven Wood, all of Frontier Collegiate. Boxer, Kent Brown, spoke to the young people about achieving goals. Friday evening's awards banquet celebrated the successes of the games' athletes. Mr. Speaker, the Cormorant Lake School cheerleaders and the Rod Martin School square dancers provided the entertainment. Mr. Speaker, I would like to convey a special thanks to this year's planning committee, especially Brian McMillan, Audrey Neufeld, Darren Cable and Wayde Knight. Thanks to all volunteers, staff, teachers, coaches, bus drivers, kitchen staff, maintenance workers and custodians who put in many hours of work to make this year's games a huge success. Mr. Speaker, the good idea started 30 years ago by Mr. Dan Reagan has evolved into a proud tradition for Northern Manitoba."
