Media Releases
July 28 , 2006
Landice Yestrau Wins Prestigious Canada Games Award
Swimmer Landice Yestrau of Winnipeg today became the fourth Manitoba athlete to win the Roland Michener Canada Games Award.
The Roland Michener award is presented every two years to two Canada Games athletes, one male and one female, who exemplify strong leadership skills on and off the playing field, combined with an ongoing commitment to scholastic and athletic excellence. While the athletes’ performance at the Canada Games is taken into consideration, the selection committee also looks at other factors such as cooperation, attitude, and effort.
Yestrau swam in nine events at the 2005 Canada Summer Games in Regina last August, where she was also flag bearer for Team Manitoba at the Opening Ceremony. She made the finals in eight of her events, and won gold medals in her two specialties, the 50m and 100m backstroke, establishing new Canada Games records in both events.
Yestrau is a member of the Canadian National Swimming Team. She also swims with the Bisons, while completing a Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Manitoba. The swimmer was valedictorian at her High School graduation in 2005, and she has won numerous awards for both academic excellence and achievements in sport. Earlier this year she was named Sport Manitoba's Youth Female Athlete of the Year.
"It is a great honor for me to receive such a prestigious award", said Yestrau. "It’s very exciting to be recognized for my achievements both inside and outside the pool. I’m very proud to represent my club and the Province of Manitoba and so grateful of the support they have given me over the years."
Other Team Manitoba athletes who have won the Michener Award include Swimmer Sara Alroubaie (1997), Biathlete Craig Mackie (1999) and Ringette player Nicole Hekle (2003).
Wegadesk Gorup-Paul of Victoria, B.C., a member of the National Senior Diving team and gold medalist in the platform at the 2005 Canada Summer Games was selected the male winner of the Michener Award.
Both recipients also represented Canada in the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia, and are hoping to eventually be part of a Canadian Olympic Team.
The Roland Michener award was created in February 1992 to recognize the valuable contribution that the late Right Honourable Roland Michener made to Canada, in particular to sport and physical activity in Canada.
"Roland Michener was a great motivator of Canadian youth and he encouraged them to be part of Canada’s great future by achieving their full potential," declared Larry Smith, Chairman, Canada Games Council. "Landice and Wegadesk are two outstanding athletes who exemplify the meaning of this award. The Canada Games Council is very proud to recognize them and there is no doubt that we will be hearing a lot more about both of them in the very near future."
Held once every two years, alternating between summer and winter, the Canada Games represent the highest level of national competition for the next generation of national team athletes and future champions.
The organization of the Canada Games is made possible through the tireless dedication of the local Host Society, the contribution and support of the federal, provincial/territorial and host municipal governments and the Canada Games Council. The next Canada Winter Games will be held in Whitehorse, Yukon, in 2007.
For more information, contact:
Barry Moroz
Sport Manitoba Communications
925-5903
