The Saskatchewan Summer and Winter Games have become a big part of Stephanie Cuddington’s life.
Cuddington, who hails from Bienfait but now lives in Humboldt, is the daughter of Rose Cuddington and the late Jim Cuddington. She has had some type of involvement with every Games since 1988, but her introduction to the Games came when Estevan last hosted the Saskatchewan Summer Games in 1980.
She competed in track and field for Zone 1 (now known as the Southeast Connection Sport, Culture and Recreation District) at the Estevan Games.
“I was put into a couple events that I hadn’t really competed in before, one of them being shot put,” Cuddington said in an interview with Lifestyles. “I remember staying at the village and being a little bit shy, but meeting a whole bunch of people, and building lasting memories that way.
“The competition wasn’t important any more. It was more that there are other things to do.”
She was also in the 100 metres and the long jump. Her results weren’t very good, as it was her first big competition, but she enjoyed meeting so many people.
The Games Village in 1980 was held at Estevan Comprehensive School (ECS), just like it is this year. When she was there in 1980, it was her first time in the school, so she found it a little daunting, but she enjoyed interacting with the athletes in the school’s courtyard.
“I can pick out which room I stayed in, too,” said Cuddington. “It’s all still pretty fresh now that I think about it.”
Cuddington still proudly has her green Zone 1 jacket from the 1980 Saskatchewan Summer Games, and it still fits.
She admits that at the time, she didn’t grasp that the Games were held for her and the other athletes from across the province.
“I get it now, being on the other side, but I didn’t get how much stuff was done for us to make it so that we’re looked after,” said Cuddington.
Cuddington has been part of each Saskatchewan Games since the 1988 Summer Games in Melfort. She was the recreation director in Canora, and became involved with the Zone 4 (now Parkland Valley) mission staff.
She remained with Zone 4 for the 1990 Winter Games in Melville. In July 1992, she joined Zone 5 (now Prairie Central), as their sports council co-ordinator. She can rattle off each Games that she has been to since 1988.
The 1996 Summer Games in Moose Jaw are particularly meaningful, as that’s when she met her husband, Morris Sokul.
“He was recruited as mission staff for Zone 5, and I was in charge of the team,” said Cuddington. “I was in Humboldt, and he was recruited by the recreation director in Wynyard, who was our chairperson.
“We worked the mission desk one night, played a game of crib, and I beat him. After the Games, he just asked if he could call me, and that’s it,” she says, laughing.
She jokingly referred to the Estevan Games as their 10th Games anniversary.
Cuddington is now the executive director for the Prairie Central District for District for Sport, Culture and Recreation. When she came back to Estevan in late April for a Games site evaluation and mission orientation meeting, she marvelled at the new track and field facility at ECS.
“I think I even lined up as if I was going to run a race,” she said.
The rubberized surface that the track has had for the past year was a far cry from the shale gravel surface she competed on 36 years ago.
“That track is now beautiful,” said Cuddington. “The legacy that the Games is leaving here with that track facility is top notch. I think they’ll be able to host a lot of provincial track meets here.”
The Games committee in Estevan has done an excellent job of pulling things together for the athletes. Cuddington was impressed with the co-operation from the City of Estevan that allowed several streets in central Estevan to be closed for parts of three days, so the triathlon could be staged.
“You don’t see that everywhere,” said Cuddington.
The Games committee did an excellent job of organizing the event, she said, and the volunteers have been outstanding.
The challenges that have arisen have been taken seriously, although she quickly noted there hasn’t been a serious issue as of yet.
Her son, Rylan Sokul, is on the golf team for Prairie Central at this year’s Games, and her daughter, Jaslyn, participated in synchronized swimming in 2012.
Rylan has been impressed with the TS&M Woodlawn Golf Club, which has hosted the golf competition.
“When he went through the video online that’s available, he thought it was getting into some challenging areas,” said Cuddington.
And Cuddington is excited that her children are continuing the family tradition of participating in the Games.
Cuddington points out that the Games will be the biggest sporting event some athletes will participate in. For others, it’s a stepping stone, as they might eventually qualify for a Western Canada Games or a Canada Games.
“Being put into the same area, where you’re all at the same event, there’s a lot of uniqueness to that,” said Cuddington. “If you go to basketball provincials, it’s just basketball there. Here you gain an appreciation for other sports, and what kind of training and dedication others are putting into their sports.”
And, of course, there are the volunteers who dedicate so much time, and, as Cuddington pointed out, they have a knack for bringing communities together, like they have done in Estevan.
