The first events of Day 2 are just starting to get under way. While we are waiting for the results, here  is a photo recap of last night's Opening Ceremonies:

The Procession of Legion Members, Athletes, and Special Guests

The stands were backed with athletes, their families, and their fans!

The New Torch! Presented by Torchbearer Marie-Josee Le Jour

Once everyone was introduced, they settled in for a wonderful ceremony, filled with tradition.

Stay tuned later in the day for a few more snapshots from the Opening Ceremonies.

Coming up soon we will start posting the results from the events this morning!

For more information about the athletes, the events, and the Championships, please visit yo.ca.

Live at the 2013 National Youth Track and Field Championship

The stands are quickly filling up, as people look forward to a full day of events in beautiful conditions! 

Guess Who’s Coming to Langley? Nova Scotia locals are headed to Nationals!

Josh Bell had never been a part of his school track and field team in Nova Scotia until this year.

This weekend he will be competing at Nationals! In fact he currently holds the provincial gold medal for Discus in Nova Scotia.
 
In every competition he’s attended this year, he had surpassed his personal best and we can’t wait to see what he’s going to accomplish at the 2013 Legion National Youth Track and Field Championships!
 
Josh isn’t the only local kid representing Team Nova Scotia. Joining him are Sarah Milton (a fellow Bluenose Athletics athlete), James Lucas, and Tobias Wolter – the 2012 Canadian record holder for the 1500m Steeplechase.
 
Read all about Josh’s story in South Shore Now here.
 
Keep following our blog to stay up to date with all of the action at McLeod Athletic Park this weekend.
 
Day One starts TOMORROW! Sign up for Breaking News Alerts at YO.ca

Canada’s Top Youth Athletes Are Coming to Langley!

With our Press Conference coming up at 1:30pm, and our athletes arriving any time now – we are very excited that the Langley Times wrote this great article about the Legion National Youth Track and Field Championships.

They even interviewed our Event Coordinator Sharel Fraser!
 
Check out the full article to find out more about the Championships and YO.ca.
 
Click on these links to find us on Facebook and Twitter.

Candlelight Tribute Honoring Military Valour and Sacrifice

Date               Monday, August 12, 2013
Time               5:30 PM
Location        Trinity Western University
Setting           Banquet Area in front of Memorial
                         National War Memorial (replica)
Setting           Grass area outside Banquet area
 
Officials       Gordon Moore, Legion Dominion President
                        Ed Pigeau, Legion Dominion Sports Chair
                        Karen Crashley, BC/Yukon Legion President
                        Ladies’ Auxiliary                                              

Special Guests

To be determined – If George Derby Veterans are there they will participate

Sequence

Outside on the grass area the words “Thank You” and “Merci” will be laid out by tape and candles will form the words.
 
The candles will be lit in late afternoon ready for the arrival of Banquet guests.
 
Inside by the replica, the Top Male Athlete and the Top Female will participate with Gordon Moore and Karen Crashley in a symbolic passing of the Torch of Remembrance.
 
The speaking part will be done by the Master of Ceremonies explaining the symbolism. A script will be written.
 
Gordon Moore and Karen Crashley will pass a candle to the two Youth Athletes who will place the candles by the Memorial.
 
As this is happening, Ed Pigeau will cite the Act of Remembrance.

For more information about the Championships, please visit YO.ca

BC/Yukon Ladies' Auxiliary Announces Voice of the 2013 Legion Championships

LANGLEY, BC July 31st, 2013
 
The Legion proudly announces, Olympic Medalist 3000m LA 84, Lynn Kanuka, as the Voice of the 2013 Hosting of the Legion National Track & Field Championships being held August 9, 10, 11 at McLeod Athletic Park in Langley, BC.

Lynn is an Alumni of the Championships, having had her start with the Legion as a young, aspiring track star many years ago.  Her athletic and life accomplishments are impressive.
1984 Bronze Medal Olympian 3000 Los Angeles
1989 Bronze World Championships Norway
Commonwealth Gold Scotland '86
Canadian Record Holder 1500m
Former Canadian Record Holder 3000m, 5000m, 10K on the roads
Olympic, BC and Saskatchewan Halls of Fame
YWCA Woman of Distinction Award
Professional Career as a Coach and Motivational Leader
 
As an inspiration for the 2013 Legion Championships’ youth
athletes, Lynn has encouraging words. “The parallels between being
 successful in life and what it takes to be a high performance athlete, are huge. Commitment ~ preparation training ~ striving to be the best you can be ~ and above all else, believing in yourself.”  
 
Lynn also has high praise for The Royal Canadian Legion. “I am honoured to be part of the 2013 Legion Championships,” comment Lynn. “For me, it’s like giving back to the Legion for the opportunities they gave me, putting me on a path of personal growth, development and discovery.  The Legion believes in Canada’s youth, I am proof of that.”    
 
For further information:

Sharel Fraser 778.772.1585 or sharelfraser@shaw.ca

For more information about the Championships, please visit YO.ca

BC/Yukon Ladies' Auxiliary Announces Torch Bearer for 2013 Legion Championships

LANGLEY, BC August 3, 2013 – Marie-Josée Le Jour is travelling from Ontario as one of the volunteer Coaches for the 2013 Legion National Youth Track & Field Championships being held August 9, 10, 11 at McLeod Athletic Park in Langley, BC.  Ms. Le Jour is also an Alumna of the Championships dating back to 1994 and will be one of this year’s Torch Bearers.

Ms. Le Jour credits the Legion Championships as being a “life turning point”. “Thanks to the Legion, I found a passion for track and field. Through this passion, I travelled the world, I met amazing people, and I had incredible experiences. I even earned an athletic scholarship in the NCAA, which allowed me to get a Bachelor’s degree and two Masters for free. Most importantly though, I learned the value of hard work, dedication, perseverance, and commitment.”

In 1993, a Quebec Coach sent Ms. Le Jour a pamphlet about the Legion Championships.  She decided to give it a try even though soccer, gymnastics, and badminton were her sports of choice.  In 1994, 1995, and 1996, she qualified for the Quebec Team and became a track and field rising star. “If it hadn’t been for the opportunities given to me by the Legion, I am convinced my life would have turned out very differently. Athletics has played a crucial role in all aspects of my life. I am very grateful to the Legion for giving me my first taste of national competition and for giving the same opportunities to some of the athletes I coach, almost 20 years later.” commented Ms. Le Jour.    

1. Legion National Champion in the discus in 1994 (U16) and 1996 (U18). Two-time NACAC medalist for Canada in the discus and shot put. Canadian Senior National Champion in the discus in 2002, 2005, 2006, and 2009 and 14-time national medalist in the discus and shot put from 2000 to 2013. NCAA All-American and Academic All-America First Team at the University of Arkansas.

2. Ms. Le Jour is still competing at the elite level and will be representing Canada at the Jeux de la Francophonie in Nice, France this upcoming September. She is also actively involved in coaching the throwing events for the University of Toronto Varsity Blues and the University of Toronto Track Club. Two of her pupils (Cyerra Cassell and John Reston) will be competing in their first Legion Championships in Langley.  

 
 
 
For further information please contact Sharel Fraser at 604.899.1585 or Bruce Poulin at Dominion Command, The Royal Canadian Legion at (613) 591-3335 ext. 241 or by cell at (613) 292-8760 or bruce.poulin@legion.ca .

Find out more information about the Championships at YO.ca

Press Conference to Launch Championships and Honoring National Peacekeepers Day

Date               Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Time               1:30 PM
Location        Trinity Western University
Setting           Pond Area at Entrance
                         Ladies’ Auxiliary Cross ~ Wreath Laying
 
Officials      Gordon Moore, Legion Dominion President
                       Ed Pigeau, Legion Dominion Sports Chair
                       Karen Crashley, BC/Yukon Legion President
                       Ladies’ Auxiliary
                       Lynn Kanuka, Voice of the Championships
                       Hosting 1984 Olympic Medal
                       Nicole Clarke, Athletics Canada
                       Lesley Maudsley, Legion Host Chair
                       Brent Dolfo, Host Track Club Langley
                       Mustangs
                       Torch Bearer ~ Youth Athlete                      

Special Guests

                        Jim Harris, Veteran Yugoslavia 1992 (UNPROFOR); 1990 Gulf
                        War; 34 Years Service, Canadian Military Engineer
                        Barry Drews, SAA 3^rd CAv ROME Unit
                        Silver Cross Mother, Diane Street
                        Youth Athletes from various Provinces
                        Langley Youth for the Fallen, Michael & Elizabeth Pratt

Sequence

Gordon, Ed and Nicole say a few words to launch the Championships
 
Lynn Kanuka says a few words about the importance of the Championships
 
Karen, Lesley and Brent present the Torch to the Youth Torch Bearer
 
Youth Athletes present the Certificate for the Commemorative Tree to the Langley Youth for the Fallen
 
Youth Athletes present Certificates and Flowers to the Silver Cross Mothers
 
Youth Athletes, Veterans and Silver Cross Mothers lay a wreath in honour of National Peacekeepers Day

ONE OF A KIND IN CANADA The Unveiling of the Torch!

Unlike anything you’ve seen before

37^thLegion National Youth Track & Field Championships
 
 See the New Torch on our Facebook Page!

The new torch was carved in the Lower Mainland from a single piece of Ash.
 
PRESS CONFERENCE
Wednesday, August 7th
1:30 PM
Reimer Student Centre, Building #4
Trinity Western University, 7600 Glover Road, Langley

 
Check out YO.ca
Check out bcathletics.org
Check out athletics.ca
 
Canada’s Young Olympians get their start at the
Legion National Youth Track & Field Championships.
 
 
For further information:
Sharel Fraser 778.772.1585 or sharelfraser@shaw.ca
Bruce Poulin, Dominion Command, The Royal Canadian Legion 613.591.3335 ext. 241 or 613.292.8760

1000 Shining Stars on Their Way to BC!

It's not 100 or 500 ~
it’s 1000 Shining Stars on
their way to British Columbia!
 
37^thLegion National Youth
Track & Field Championships

FASTER! HIGHER! FURTHER!
 
They’re coming to train with the best coaches in Canada.
They’re coming to beat their own personal bests.
They’re fierce and want to win gold.
 
Canada’s premier National Youth Track & Field
Championships for the 14 to 17 age group will
rock the stadium at McLeod Athletic Park
in Langley, August 9, 10, 11.
 
Athletics Canada and the Legion are primed for 1,000
youth athletes from across the nation, the best of the best,
not settling for anything but medal standing.
 
Check out YO.ca
Check out bcathletics.org
Check out athletics.ca
 
Canada’s Young Olympians get their start at the
Legion National Youth Track & Field Championships.
 
 
For further information:
Sharel Fraser 778.772.1585 or sharelfraser@shaw.ca
Bruce Poulin, Dominion Command, The Royal Canadian Legion 613.591.3335 ext. 241 or 613.292.8760