Champions Crowned in Montreal

Courtney Sarault of Moncton, N.B., and Montreal’s William Dandjinou secured the women’s and men’s overall titles at the Canadian Short Track Championships on Sunday. The event, held in Montreal, showcased the country’s top skaters competing for national supremacy ahead of the international season.

Sarault’s Golden Streak

Sarault delivered a near-perfect performance throughout the competition, winning nine consecutive gold medals. Her victories in Sunday’s 1,500-metre and 500-metre finals brought her total points to 30,000 — comfortably ahead of Olympic medalist Kim Boutin, who finished second with 21,760 points. At just 25 years old, Sarault continues to solidify her status as one of Canada’s leading female skaters.

Dandjinou Edges Roussel

On the men’s side, Crystal Globe winner William Dandjinou repeated as overall champion, narrowly edging teammate Félix Roussel by 1,000 points, finishing with 28,000. The competition between the two Montreal skaters came down to the final races, highlighting the depth of talent within Canada’s men’s short track program.

Dramatic Turns on the Ice

The men’s 1,500-metre final saw both Dandjinou and Roussel crash after a late passing attempt, opening the door for Mathieu Pelletier to win gold. Pelletier was joined on the podium by Maxime Laoun and Philippe Daudelin. Dandjinou rebounded with a silver in the 500 metres, while Laoun captured gold in 41.049 seconds.

Why the Wins Matter

These victories serve as momentum builders for both Sarault and Dandjinou ahead of the international circuit. For Sarault, the dominant performance underscores her consistency heading into a busy season. For Dandjinou, the repeat national title reinforces his place among Canada’s top contenders despite admitting he “wasn’t the best skater” over the weekend.

Looking Ahead

With the national championships concluded, Canada’s elite short track athletes will turn their attention to upcoming international events. Sarault and Dandjinou are expected to play central roles in Team Canada’s push for podium finishes on the World Cup stage and at future world championship events.

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De Grasse Withdraws from Canadian Championship

Ottawa, August 1, 2025 – Canadian sprinting icon Andre De Grasse announced his withdrawal from this weekend’s Canadian Track and Field Championships in Ottawa, citing tightness in his hamstring. The decision, made public on Friday, came as a precautionary measure to avoid aggravating the minor injury ahead of next month’s World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.

De Grasse, a seven-time Olympic medallist and 2024 Paris Games 4x100m relay gold winner, addressed the media saying, “I picked up a little tightness a couple of weeks ago… I’m going to play it safe and not do any extra damage.” Despite sitting out the competition, De Grasse made an appearance at the venue, engaging with fans through autograph signings and meet-and-greets.

Recovery Aimed at World Championship Readiness

The 30-year-old sprinter, who also won Olympic gold in the 200m at Tokyo 2021, emphasized that his current condition is manageable. With six weeks remaining until the World Championships (Sept. 13–21), De Grasse stated he is undergoing treatment from team doctors and remains optimistic about competing in Tokyo.

“It’s just a little tightness. I’ve been getting a lot of treatment… I should be good when it matters,” he affirmed

Leduc Claims Women’s 100m National Title

While De Grasse was absent from the track, Friday night delivered electrifying performances, particularly from Gatineau’s Audrey Leduc. The 26-year-old sprinter stormed to victory in the women’s 100m final with a time of 11.06 seconds.

Leduc, Canada’s national record holder in both the 100m (10.95) and 200m (22.36), edged out Olympian Sade McCreath (11.09) of Ajax, Ont., and Jacqueline Madogo (11.21) of Ottawa, the 2023 national 200m champion.

Asemota Edges Brown in Men’s 100m Final

In a tightly contested men’s 100m final, Montreal’s Duan Asemota clinched the title with a 10.12-second sprint. He narrowly beat Toronto’s Aaron Brown, who finished at 10.13 seconds. Brown, a member of Canada’s gold-winning relay team in Paris, was followed closely by Ottawa’s Eliezer Adjibi, who clocked in at 10.21 seconds.

The event brought together Canada’s top sprinters in a championship that not only crowned national champions but also served as a key preparation milestone ahead of the global stage in Tokyo.

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Surrey Teens Make Waves in National Science Competition

Three students from Surrey, B.C. earned national recognition for their scientific innovation at the Canada-Wide Science Fair (CWSF), held in Fredericton, New Brunswick, showcasing the city’s strong presence in youth STEM excellence.

Canada’s Largest Youth STEM Fair

The Canada-Wide Science Fair is the largest science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) competition for youth in the country, bringing together 390 students from Grades 7 to 12. This year’s event provided a national platform for future innovators to present their groundbreaking research and technological solutions.

Schools Represented by Surrey Youth Innovators

Representing Surrey, Sreya Kurup of Frank Hurt Secondary and Chase Wang and Omar Imrani of SAIL (Surrey Academy of Innovative Learning) competed among Canada’s best young minds. Their projects tackled real-world problems, ranging from medical research to emergency response systems and food waste reduction.

Awards and Scholarships Earned

Kurup, a Grade 11 student, earned the Silver Senior Excellence Award in the disease and illness category. Her work also secured her a total of $13,000 in entrance scholarships from prestigious institutions including Western University, Dalhousie, and the University of Ottawa.

Imrani, in Grade 10, received the Bronze Intermediate Excellence Award for an app designed to enhance emergency services response times. His innovation also earned $4,000 in scholarships, further affirming the project’s practical value.

Wang, a Grade 8 student, created an AI-powered food tracker that helps reduce household waste by generating recipes based on available ingredients. He received the Bronze Junior Excellence Award and a $1,000 scholarship from Western University.

Why This Matters

These achievements not only bring pride to the Surrey School District but also highlight the importance of fostering STEM education at the local level. The students’ success underscores the district’s commitment to innovative learning and positions Surrey as a rising hub for future scientists and engineers.

Path to National Recognition

The students advanced through regional science fairs before being selected to represent B.C. at the national level. Their participation was supported by teachers, mentors, and the broader educational community. The fair offered not just awards, but also networking opportunities, university exposure, and a platform to inspire other youth.

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London Secures Major Track and Field Championships

Athletics Canada has officially announced that London, Ontario will serve as the host city for two of Canada’s most prestigious track and field events in the coming years. The city will welcome the 2027 Canadian Track and Field Championships and the 2028 Bell Track and Field Trials, both to be held at Western Alumni Stadium.

Why London Was Chosen for the National Stage

The selection follows a successful joint bid by Tourism London, the London Western Track and Field Club, Western University, and city leadership. The decision underscores London’s reputation for excellence in athletic event management and its strong historical ties to Canadian track and field.

“London is an ideal choice to showcase our athletes on their road to the World Championships and Olympic and Paralympic Games,” said Mathieu Gentès, CEO of Athletics Canada.

Events to Determine Olympic and World Teams

The 2027 Championships, running from August 9–15, will serve as the primary qualifier for Team Canada at the 2027 World Athletics Championships in Beijing. The 2028 Trials, scheduled for June 14–18, will be a key part of Canada’s Olympic selection process for the Los Angeles 2028 Games.

Legacy of Excellence in Athletics

London boasts a proud track and field legacy, home to stars like Damian Warner, the 2020 Olympic decathlon champion, and Alysha Newman, who secured a bronze medal in pole vaulting at the 2024 Olympics. The city’s facilities and sports culture have made it a go-to destination for national events.

In recent years, London has also hosted the 2023 Tim Hortons Brier, the 2024 Ontario Summer Games, and the 2024 Canadian Cross Country Championships, showcasing its capacity to deliver large-scale sporting spectacles.

Thousands Expected to Attend and Participate

According to Athletics Canada, these championships typically attract over 2,000 athletes, coaches, and officials, not to mention thousands of spectators. The economic and cultural impact for London is expected to be substantial, boosting local tourism, hospitality, and community engagement.

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National Spotlight on Scottsdale Lanes This June

Surrey is set to host a major national event that celebrates one of Canada’s most iconic homegrown sports—5-pin bowling. From June 23 to 28, the 2025 Masters National Championships will roll into Scottsdale Lanes, one of the last few remaining centres in the city that still offers 5-pin bowling, a sport uniquely Canadian in origin and culture.

A Gathering of Canada’s Top Bowlers

The championships will bring together over 200 elite-level 5-pin bowlers from across eight provinces, including singles competitors and teams from both tournament and teaching divisions. Players like Ken Tyers, Jordon Schuss, and Kelly Gorsek—longtime Surrey residents and seasoned bowlers—will represent British Columbia as they compete for national bragging rights.

A Dwindling Legacy in Local Communities

The event takes place across four Metro Vancouver venues—Scottsdale Lanes (Surrey), Galaxy Lanes (Abbotsford), Poco Bowl (Port Coquitlam), and Grandview Lanes (Vancouver). The selection of venues is a nod to the increasing scarcity of traditional 5-pin lanes due to rising land values and redevelopment pressures. Scottsdale Lanes, which recently converted a third of its lanes to 10-pin, remains one of the few facilities in the region preserving the 5-pin tradition.

A Deeply Personal and Cultural Game

For competitors like Schuss, who began bowling at age three, 5-pin is more than a game—it’s a lifelong passion. Despite the sport’s relatively low public profile, bowlers often describe it as a tight-knit community. “I never thought I’d love it until I got good at it,” said Schuss, a longshoreman who once won nationals and now trains at Scottsdale.

The sport fosters connections across the country, noted Jo-Anne Borgford, co-chair of the national tournament. “This is a Canada-only sport… and because of it, I have friends across the country,” she said.

Youth Participation and Urban Challenges

Despite its rich heritage, 5-pin bowling faces declining youth engagement and rising operational costs. “Kids don’t seem into such sports anymore,” Borgford lamented. Meanwhile, the infrastructure demands and property taxes make operating bowling centres financially unviable in many urban areas.

Kevin Jewell, tournament media representative, emphasized the urgency of youth participation. “We have to promote the game to younger players… a new generation has to come up,” said Jewell, who still bowls competitively in his 60s.

Competitive Yet Inclusive

The Masters Nationals includes a range of skill levels, with systems like “pins over average” allowing players to compete based on consistency rather than just high scores. Ken Tyers, who plays in the seniors division, appreciates this approach. “It keeps guys like me in the game… because I’d have no chance beating someone like Jordan otherwise,” he shared.

Looking Ahead: Preserving a Canadian Tradition

As the Masters National Championships prepare to strike excitement across the region, they also shine a light on the cultural and recreational significance of 5-pin bowling. For venues like Scottsdale and bowlers across the country, the tournament is more than a competition—it’s a celebration of a sport worth preserving.

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