After bitterly cold weather caused the City of Humboldt 2016 Awards Recognition Night to be postponed earlier in January, Humboldt’s finest graced the Elgar Petersen Arena ice during the first intermission of the Broncos’ home game against the Kindersley Klippers on Jan. 24.
Athletes from a number of different sports including track and field, swimming, karate, golf, bowling, gymnastics, soccer, and baseball were recognized during the evening.
City of Humboldt Mayor Rob Muench says it is important to recognize the athletes, give them positive reassurance and to encourage them to keep working at it.
“It also says thanks to their family, coaches and to the other people involved whether it’s the facility people and the leisure services people that provide the facilities for them. We’re all in this together.”
Those athletes combined to bring home national and provincial championships and provincial medals of all colours.
Seeing such a tremendous amount of talent is great, says Muench, especially seeing that talent in so many different sports.
“It’s good that the kids have a choice of what they do in the community and we’ve got a number of really strong clubs with really nice facilities.”
Remembering where they came from is important, says Muench, who told the athletes during his speech not to forget where they came from.
“We really appreciate when somebody like Brianne Theisen-Eaton gets on the national stage or international stage and says she’s from Humboldt and recognizes how she had a good time growing up in the community.”
This makes everyone in the community feel good, says Muench, and makes the community want to get behind their athletes.
Being able to have the awards recognition night during the Broncos game and having such a good relationship with the Broncos is really nice, says Muench, who notes that it makes for a perfect fit.
“There’s sort of a built in crowd and a good opportunity and I think we work well together.”
Overall Muench was really pleased with how the evening went, despite there being less athletes than originally planned in attendance due to the cancellation of the original evening.
“Seeing all the kids smiling when you congratulated them and shake their hand, it made me feel really good. The kids are very appreciative that they’re being recognized by their community.”
