1999 Canada Winter Games – Spotlight – Cross Country Nova Scotia

by Cross Country Nova Scotia, Staff, February 27, 2023

As our athletes prepare to compete in the 2023 Canada Winter Games, we recall the 1999 Canada Winter Games, held in Corner Brook Newfoundland, from February 19th – 27th. Three teammates from the 1999 Games are currently serving as support staff for the 2023 Games; Daniel Murray, head coach; Lilla Roy, assistant coach/ para-nordic; and Kris Doyon, wax technician. We re-cap a few highlights from the 1999 Games.

The 1999 CWG support staff included Sue Hill, coach; Don Mackinnon, coach; and Dennis Doyon, manager. The athlete roster included: Ian Murray, North Highlands Nordic, NHN; Charles Curtis, NHN; Daniel Murray, NHN; Chris Algar, NHN; Kris Doyon, NHN; Margret Scallion, Arctic Fox, AF; Meg Payne, AF; Krista MacLean, BA; Kate Scallion, AF; and Lilla Roy, AF.

Athletes earned fifteen top 30 finishes. Result highlights include Ian Murray securing eighth place in 10km freestyle, eleventh in the 15km freestyle pursuit, and 16th in the 10 km classic; and the the male 4 x 10 km relay secured sixth place. The relay team was comprised of the following athletes: Chris Algar, Charles Curtis, Daniel Murray and Ian Murray. View top 30 results.

Head coach Sue Hill kept very detailed race reports and team newsletters – on top of all the duties that come along with being a volunteer head coach. Thank-you to Linda Murray who kept these reports for our reference. Throughout the 1999 Games, Sue initiated a daily report to be completed by athletes. In the report Sue wrote, “I have asked each member of the team to write up one day so it is a more rounded report of the week. I sometimes will add my comments in italics.” View the athletes perspectives (report PDF).

In addition to the historic results for the Nova Scotia team, another highlight of the 1999 Games was a mascot race, as recounted by athlete Meg Payne.

Then we had our final race of the day, the mascot race. Kris [Doyon] went in as the Nova Scotia mascot and blew the competition away, actually he blew them over! As we packed up our skis after the race, Sue got a bit of a surprise as she found out that there was a protest against one of the Nova Scotia athletes. She worried her way to the jury to find out that Tautuit was protesting against our mascot’s wingspan.
Meg Payne, 1999 CWG athlete

Daniel Murray also commented on the mascot race.

Then it was Nova Scotia’s moment of glory when our mascot, Osie, kicked Tautuit’s butt in a mascot race. That bunny didn’t stand a chance either. It goes to show that Nova Scotia has the best mascot cross-contry ski racing program in the country.

Daniel Murray, 1999 CWG athlete

Thanks to all of our provincial team alumni for representing Nova Scotia at the Canada Winter Games. We hope you had the time of your life.

Mascot Photos