Fédération du Sport Francophone de l'Alberta (FSFA) brought their 25th edition of Alberta Francophone Games to the Lac La Biche region over the weekend.
Fédération du Sport Francophone de l'Alberta (FSFA) brought their 25th edition of Alberta Francophone Games to the Lac La Biche region over the weekend. The Games are a competition that brings hundreds of young Albertan Francophone athletes from age 13-18 together from across the province.
Around 475 participants from nine different zones throughout Alberta competed in various sports and arts competitions. The weekend events also welcomed more than 150 volunteers, coaches, referees, organization committee and markers to the area.
Zone 1's power forward jumps up to shoot while Saturday's qualifier mixed basketball game against zone7
Women's volleyball between Zone 8 and zone 9, eventually placing second and third place respectively
Zone 7 player smashes the ball while Zone 9 players (who placed 1st place) leap up to block during Men's Volleyball qualifier round on Saturday
Competitions
At venues throughout the region over the weekend, a number of sports were played, including basketball, volleyball, soccer, ball hockey, badminton, an ultimate frisbee. Artistic competitions were also held, in the fields of music, visual arts and improvisational skills.
Ball hockey, basketball and volleyball were played at the Bold Center, while soccer and ultimate frisbee were played at the Knights of Columbus soccer fields. Kinball — a unique game originating in Quebec in the 1980s that sees three teams compete to catch and control a 48-in diameter ball — was being played at the Portage College's gym. A badminton completion took place at the Light of Christ School gym, while all the arts events were hosted at J. A. Williams high school.
Some visiting athletes also heard about the county's chalk the walk event, grabbed some chalk from the Bold Center and contributed towards the sidewalk's handiwork
Zone 5 participant screams 'Omnikin' as she pushes the ball away during Saturday's Kinball competition at the Portage College gym
Zone 6 and Zone 8 ultimate frisbee players trying to reach for the spinning frisbee at the KC grounds
During Sunday's final, zone 8's midfielder looking to push the ball up the field as Zone 5's defenders close in
Zone 9 coach's team talk during half time. The team went ahead and won first place beating zone 5's team 4-0
Zone 9's Men's Volleyball team celebrates after they beat Zone 5's team during Sunday's final
Students gathered at the JAWS lawn behind the school for a BBQ supper after the competitions
Raja Israel, RJ Foronda and Ben Arao from Master Caterers (Bonnyville) were busy working the grills. They made more then 700 burgers in the afternoon catering for Sunday's BBQ
The line-up was huge during lunch hour as hungry athletes came looking for food
Danielle too from Zone 4 placed first in Visual Arts competition while Katherine Quimper from zone 1 placed third
Volunteers were in shocking pink shirts throughout the weekend competitions. There were more than 100 volunteers that helped organized the activities
Zones
The different zones were categorized by different regions within Alberta. Zone 1— blue —was Airdrie, Brooks, Canmore, Cochrane, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat and Okotoks. Zone 2 -— yellow — was Beaumont, Canmore, Fort Saskatchewan, Leduc, Red Deer, Sylvan Lake and Wainwright. Zone 3 — orange — was Calgary. Zone 4 — red —was Edson, Hinton, Jasper, Legal, Morinville, Spruce Grove, St. Albert and Stony Plain. Zone 5 — dark green — consisted of Bonnyville, Cold Lake, Lac La Biche, LLoydminster, Plamondon, St. Paul and Vegreville. Zone 6 — navy blue — had Edmonton and Sherwood Park area. Zone 7 — light green — was Athabasca and Fort McMurray. Zone 8 — black — consisted of areas including Donnely, Fairview, High Prairie, Falher, Girouxville, Peace River and Valleyview. Grande Prairie and Whitecourt were zone 9 - with athletes in burgundy.
First time in Lac La Biche
Yann Gingras is the president of the Board of Directors with FSFA. While speaking with the POST, he was grateful to have Lac La Biche as this year's hosting community. Even though they have been in the area before — the Games were hosted in Plamondon in 2014, — it's the organizations first time bringing the events to Lac La Biche, says Gingras.
"We had beautiful weather ... The facilities were amazing... We were in Plamondon 4-5 years ago so, not the first time in the area, but the first time in Lac La Biche... It all went amazing. People were amazing and everything was amazing. So, definitely we are looking forward to come back here. It's beautiful here," said Gingras.
The Francophone Games hit the national stage next year — as they are every three years. The National Francophone Games will be hosted in Victoria, BC starting July 14 to July 18.
At this year's provincials, Zone 5 team from the Lac La Biche, Plamondon and Lakeland area did will in the competition earning four silver medals and three golds.
Winners
Mixed Basketball
Bronze — Zone 9, Silver — Zone 6, Gold — Zone 8
Women's Basketball
Bronze — Zone 8, Silver — Zone 9, Gold — Zone 6
Men's Basketball
Bronze — Zone 1, Silver — Zone 9, Gold — Zone 6
Women's Badminton
Bronze — Zone 9, Silver — Zone 8, Gold — Zone 5
Men's Badminton
Bronze — Zone 7, Silver — Zone 9, Gold — Zone 1
Mixed Soccer
Bronze — Zone 4, Silver — Zone 5, Gold — Zone 9
Kinball
Bronze — Zone 8, Silver — Zone 6, Gold — Zone 5
Ultimate Frisbee (Juniors)
Bronze — Zone 6, Silver — Zone 8, Gold — Zone 8 (team 2)
Ultimate Frisbee (Seniors)
Bronze — Zone 9, Silver — Zone 5, Gold — Zone 6
Women's Volleyball
Bronze — Zone 9, Silver — Zone 8, Gold — Zone 5
Men's Volleyball
Bronze — Zone 7, Silver — Zone 5, Gold — Zone 9
Music
Bronze — Zone 6, Silver — Zone 5, Gold — Zone 8
Visual Arts
Bronze — Zone 1, Silver — Zone 8, Gold — Zone 4
Best Team Spirit — Zone 6
Most Improvement — Zone 9
Best Team Work — Zone 3
Overall winner with most points — Zone 9