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21TuesdayMay72013SportsRecreationArcticWinterGamesByRENEFRANCOEURNorthernsportministersareraisingconcernstotheArcticWinterGamesInter-nationalCommitteeovertheeliminationofsixkeysport-ingeventsforthe2016Arc-ticWinterGamesinNuukGreenland.Dogmushingcurlinggymnasticsspeedskatingmidgethockeyandgureskatinghavetraditionallybeenapartofthegameslineupbutwillnotbeheldin2016duetothelackoffa-cilitiesinGreenland.AspecialdelegationoftheGNWTsMunicipalandCommunityAffairsMinis-terRobertMcLeodGovern-mentofYukonCommunityServicesMinisterElaineTaylorandotherkeyrep-resentativesfromNunavutAlaskanorthernAlbertaandGreenlandmetwiththecommitteeinVancouveronSundaytoreviewtheoptionsforincludingallsports.WewouldliketoseesomesortofresolutionastohowwecangettheseaffectedsportsrunningandgiveourathletesanopportunitytocompeteMcLeodtoldTheJournallastThursday.Ihadameetingwithsomeoftheaffectedterritorialsportor-ganizationsandtheywerequiteconcerned...Theyrejustafraidtheywilllosethewholecycleofdevelop-mentforalotofouryoungathletes.AccordingtoMcLeodtheeliminationswillseeasmanyas400athletesslicedfromparticipatinginthegames.Thatisahugeblowsoitisanissue.Theseeventsarecoresports.Inspeedskatingwerestartingtoseealotofgoodathletesupandcoming.WewanttoseethemcontinuetodevelopsoMinistersdisputemissingsportsatArcticWinterGamestheycancompeteatthena-tionallevelMcLeodsaid.Itsbeenprovenourfolkscancompetewiththerightopportunities.Itisntthersttimethegameshavehadtoeliminateevents.TherewasnoalpineskiinginYellowknifein2008becausethereisnoskihill.In2002whenthegameswereheldinGreenlandsomeeventsrequiringanarenawereco-hostedwithNunavutandathleteswereownbackandforth.Thatisanoptionthedel-egationisbringingupagaintothecommitteeMcLeodsaid.ThenextArcticWinterGamesaretobeheldinFairbanksAlaskain2014andwillincludeallsports.ByRENEFRANCOEUROnApr.30Canadalostoneofitsgreatestcross-countryskilegends.Afterbattlingcancerforthepastyearandahalffour-timeOlympianShirleyFirth-Larssonpassedawaypeace-fullyatherhomeinYellow-knifesurroundedbyfriendsandfamily.Shewas59.Shewasaone-of-a-kindladyatruerolemodelDougRentmeisterexecutivedirec-torofSportNorthtoldTheJournal.Shehadaveryquietandcalmingdemeanorabouther.Shewasastronglisteneraclassyindividual...Shegaveunselshlytothesportingcommunity.Firth-LarssonandhertwinsisterSharonFirthweretherstAboriginalwomentoformanationalskiteamrepresentingtheNorthwestTerritories.ThesistersoftheGwichinFirstNationfromAklavikwerealsotherstAboriginalwomentorepre-sentCanadaincross-coun-tryskiingattheOlympicscompetinginfourconsec-utivewintergamesfrom1972-1984.Thetwowerealsothesub-jectoftheCBCdocumentaryTheOlympiansTheFirthSistersfromtheTundra.Firth-Larssonwon42Ca-nadianNationalChampion-shipmedalsthroughouthercareerandreceivedmanyothernotablerecognitionsincludingtheOrderofCan-adain1987andtheQueensGoldenJubileeMedalin2002thesameyearshere-ceivedherdiplomainteach-ingfromtheUniversityofParis.ShirleywasalsovotedtheCanadianWomensNor-dicSkieroftheYearsixtimesbySkiRacingMagazine.SheandherhusbandJanLarssonspent23yearsinParisFrancewheretheyraisedtheirthreedaughters.DuringthistimeFirth-Lars-songaveanumberofschoollecturespromotingDeneandInuitcultures.ThefamilyreturnedhometotheNWTin2005.ShewasinductedintotheCanadianMuseumSkiHallofFamein1991andtheNWTSportHallofFamein2012.Wewerehonouredandprivilegedtohaveherpres-entatherinductionRent-meistersaid.Shewasillatthetimebutshestillmadetheefforttocomeout...Itwasveryhumbling.Wehaveal-wayslookedtoherforguid-anceandinspirationatSportNorthandshealwaysofferedherinsight.BlairandLindaDunbarwerelivinginInuvikfrom1969-1975andwiththehelpoftheFirthsisterstheylearnedtocross-countryski.ThetaughtuswhentheywereapartoftheTESTTer-ritorialExperimentalSkiTrainingprogram.TheywerebothsotoughtraininginsuchadverseconditionsLindatoldTheJournal.Shirleywasade-terminedgirlandshealwaysstoodherground.Shewasex-tremelyfocusedasanathlete...Ispokewithherwithinthelastmonth.Wehaveallstayedincontactforthepast40years.TheFirthsisterswereaninspirationtoavidcross-countryskierSarahDaitchofFortSmith.OnceIstartedtoraceIwasgivenaposterofShirleyandSharonracingforCanadaattheSarejevoOlympics.Ihungthisposteronthewallofmybedroomandwenttosleepdreamingaboutrepre-sentingCanadaontheinter-nationalstagethewaythattheyhaddonesosuccess-fullyshesaidinanemail.TrainingonmyowninanisolatedcommunitysomedaysIwouldfeeldiscour-agedorthatmydreamswereimpossibleduetopoortrainingconditionsweatherorlackoftrainingpartners.WhenIlookedattheposterinmyroomIwouldimaginewhatitwaslikeforShirleyandSharontraininginInu-vik.Knowingthattheyhadovercomeeverypossiblechallenge-harshweatherandterrainequippedwithfewtrainingfacilitiesbeingawayfromtheirfamilywhileatresidentialschooltheirabilitytoblazeatrailallthewaytotheOlympics-moti-vatedmetogetoutthedoorandgetmyworkoutsdone.NWTLegislativeAssem-blyspeakerJackieJacobsonexpressedhiscondolencestotheFirth-LarssonfamilylastWednesday.Shirleywasnotonlymyex-ecutiveassistantbutmygoodfriendanditwasanabsolutehonourtoworkwithher.Shewillbemissedbymanypeo-pleshetouchedsomanylivesandwassuchaninspirationtoAboriginalwomen.TheNorthhaslostanamazingpersonhesaidinapressrelease.Inplaceofflowersthefamilyhasaskedthatpeopledonatetowomenandfamily-centeredcharities.Shewasaone-of-a-kindladyatruerolemodelTrailblazingOlympicskierShirleyFirth-Larssonpassesawayat59SportsRecreationSkiingPhotoDarrenHornCross-countryskilegendShirleyFirth-LarssonpassedawayonApr.30inYellowknifeat59.