Classroom Champions: Siksika Nation students get tour of Olympic Oval with Team Canada speed-skater
Students from Siksika Nation had an elite field trip on Thursday, spending the day at the Olympic Oval as part of a private tour and training experience with a Team Canada speed skater.
"If one day coming to the oval inspires even one of them, that's exciting to me," said long-track speed skater Alison Desmarais, who hopes to compete at the 2026 in Milan, Italy.
She's also an athlete mentor for Classroom Champions, an international non-profit that connects predominantly underserved, rural and Indigenous communities in North America with athletes for lessons about community engagement, goal-setting, perseverance and teamwork.
Desmarais is currently living and training in Calgary, but hails from British Columbia and is of Metis descent
She had been conducting regular lessons and seasonal video calls with students from Chief Old Sun School and Chief Crowfoot School on Siksika Nation, 80 kilometres east of Calgary.
Desmarais says she wants to be a role model, especially for Indigenous youth.
"Its nice because she let us come here because she wanted us to see how it looks," said Measha Sitting Eagle, a grade three student.
Alison Desmarais takes students from Siksika Nation on a tour of the Olympic Oval through Classroom Champions on Thursday, June 8, 2023. Desmerais took the students one class at a time for a lap around the track (the ice had been removed for the summer), through the weight room, and passed around some of her gear including medals from the World Cup circuit.
She says sharing life lessons is what's most meaningful.
"They tell me the goals they have set, they tell me how they have been involved in their community, and it's really cool and it inspires me to see that what I learn in sport isn't just relevant in sport," said Desmarais.
Teachers and parent chaperones say the experience will leave a lasting impression.
Alison Desmarais takes students from Siksika Nation on a tour of the Olympic Oval through Classroom Champions on Thursday, June 8, 2023. "Most of them are overwhelmed with how much (there) is here, like seeing the track, seeing the gym, they've never seen stuff like this some of them. The fact they get to be here is just a big eye-opener for them," said Chief Old sun Elementary Grade 3 teacher Jasmyn McCulloch.
"Its good for them to get out here and see this and experience this, because it encourages them to carry on with sports or whatever they choose to do with life," said parent Taren Fast.
The students then hosted Desmerais at their school on Siksika Nation for the second half of the experience on Thursday.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.