Prince George, B.C. – Led by Nanguz, the mascot for the 2015 Canada Winter Games, Team Alberta  was the first team to  enter the  Agora at the University of Northern BC for the  Closing Ceremonies of the Canada Winter Games.  Team Alberta carried a banner,  that read “Thank you Prince George”,  which  was yet another  recognition  of the  warm welcome  given all Athletes  and visitors attending  the Games,  and  to the  incredible volunteers who made the Games happen.

( at right,  visitors wait for closing ceremonies to get underway at the UNBC Agora)The ceremony at  UNBC is by invitation only,  with the general public  encouraged to gather at Canada Games Plaza.  There are about 400 people gathered there to watch the  closing ceremonies as they are  live streamed to the big screens in the Plaza. (see photo at right)

There are mixed feelings as the Games   come to a close. Brad McClain of Prince George  says the Games were “The best thing I’ve seen in my 20 years here.  You get to talk to  people from all over the country.  It’s a little sad to see it end, but  I’m looking forward to  sleeping.” McClain  was a volunteer during the first week at the Coliseum, and  between  working and volunteering, he was running short on sleep.

The closing ceremony honoured the Lheidli T’enneh by  lighting the  Games torch in a traditional  pit house, located on the UNBC  campus.  Two Lheidli T’enneh representatives carried the torch into the Agora, a moment that was followed by  a choir made up of 100  young people dressed in red and white, honouring Prince George’s  100th  anniversary , sang the national anthem.

“What a show you have witnessed in Prince George British Columbia” said  Tom Quinn, Chair of the Canada Games Council. Quinn  offered thanks to  Anthony Everett and Stu Ballantyne for “delivering a great  Canada Games.”  Quinn also offered thanks to  the volunteers,  saying they were “simply amazing.”

Quinn urged the athletes to  “dream Big”  and to plan for their  next steps and future challenges “You’ve impressed a nation, and isn’t it great to be a Canadian!”

 ( a left,  folks in plaza watch choir sing national anthem)

Governor General  David Johnston  took to the  podium  to say “The finish line is in sight” and congratulated the Lheidli T’enneh for being the first official host first Nation.   His excellency had  just one word to   describe the efforts of all the athletes “Wow!”  He then added, “Diversity, excellence and fair play, were all on display in Prince George  over the past 18 days”.

Games Host society  Chair, Anthony Everett    “I’ve never been more proud to come from this community” said Everett, moments after  repeating his  opening ceremonies “selfie”  and  encouraged the  crowd to  give applause to those who wore the green jackets,  the thousand of volunteers who  assisted  everyone during the Games.  He  asked the  athletes if  the Games Society had delivered on its promise to  make the 2015 Games  an unbelievably wonderful experience,  the athletes answered with cheers  and  applause.

Winnipeg  will  host the next Canada Games,   in the summer of 2017.

Lieutenant Governor Judith Guichon passed the  Official Canada Games flag to  Mayor Lyn Hall,  who passed it over to Tom Quinn of the Canada Games,  who made the final  hand off to  Brian Bowman, Mayor of Winnipeg.

( at right,  Brian Bowman, Mayor of Winnipeg, waves the Canada Games flag – image courtesy TSN):

And then, to wrap up the night,  another spectacular fireworks display from Connaught Hill (image 250News)