麻豆社区

The Yukon鈥檚 麻豆社区ski siblings capped an outstanding season by receiving one of their home club鈥檚 top honours Tuesday morning.

Signs bearing the names of Graham Nishikawa and Emily Nishikawa were unveiled on the Whitehorse Cross Country Ski Club鈥檚 Olympic Trail, to applause by a gathering of the local ski community.

Emily Nishikawa became the first Yukon winter Olympian in more than 20 years last season, while Graham Nishikawa served as a Paralympic guide for blind skier Brian McKeever, leading him to three gold medals.

The two siblings were back in their hometown to pull the tarp off their new trail signs last week.

鈥淭his is incredible and so special,鈥� Emily Nishikawa, 25, told the assembled group of supporters. 鈥淚鈥檝e skied on the Olympic Trail since I鈥坵as a little kid and I always looked at the signs. It鈥檚 pretty cool to see my name up there now, and I鈥坔ope to see many more of your names up here soon.

鈥淭hanks for being such an incredibly supportive community,鈥� she added. 鈥淲e wouldn鈥檛 be here without you guys.鈥�

鈥淭his is very special,鈥� continued Graham Nishikawa, 31. 鈥淏oth of us had an amazing time in Sochi. I remember racing up here as a kid, looking at Alain (Masson鈥檚) sign and Lucy (Steele-Masson鈥檚) sign, so this is really, really special.鈥�

Olympic Trail鈥檚 origin came in the mid-鈥�90s following the performances of Yukon cross-country skiers Lucy Steele-Masson and Jane Vincent at the 1992 Olympic Games.

The easy two-kilometre trail begins at Sumanik Drive bridge.

Other athletes who have been honoured with trail signs include:鈥圸ach Bell, Jim Boyde, Stephanie Dixon, Daniel Hall, Katherine Hall, Jane Isaakson, Christine Larsen, Jeane Lassen, Alain Masson, Owen Munroe and Harvey Reti.

The two skiers were introduced by their longtime coach, Masson, who praised them for their hard work, positive attitude and determination.

鈥淭hey have exemplified the type of values that this ski community has seen in most of its skiers,鈥濃�圡asson told the crowd on hand.

鈥淭hey are amazing individuals ... It鈥檚 not a surprise that they have been able to reach the level of performance they have, making it all the way to the top. I鈥檓 sure we鈥檒l see many more (trail signs) in the future because we have lots of similar individuals as part of this community.鈥�

Masson also pointed thanks to the skiers鈥� parents and the ski community present for the ceremony.

鈥淭his level of achievement never happens on its own,鈥濃�坔e said. 鈥淚t requires a community for support.鈥�

The duo weren鈥檛 the only Nishikawas honoured last week.

The ski club also presented their parents, Bob Nishikawa and Joan Stanton, with the Father Mouchet award 鈥� named in honour of the late Oblate priest regarded as the father of cross-country skiing in the Yukon.

The award recognizes dedication, leadership and commitment to cross-country skiing, explained ski club official Claude Chabot.

鈥淏oth Joan and Bob have shown all of the qualities recognized by this award,鈥� Chabot said of the couple, who has been an integral part of the local facility for more than 25 years.

Bob Nishikawa, who referred to the Whitehorse club as the 鈥渂est in the country,鈥� is a high-level timing official, preparing many others in the leadup to the 2007 Canada Winter Games and 2010 Haywood Ski Nationals 鈥� both in Whitehorse.

Not to be outdone,鈥圫tanton served on the organizing committees of both events, and remains a dedicated volunteer in the community, said Chabot.

鈥淥ur ski club and our community have been enriched by your presence,鈥� Chabot told the couple.

Stanton said it was an honour to carry on Mouchet鈥檚 legacy by receiving the award in his name.

Yukon Commissioner Doug Phillips was also in attendance to honour Nick Stratis and Linda Stratis with Commissioner鈥檚 Awards for Public Volunteer Service.

鈥淭he selfless work of Linda and Nick Stratis epitomizes dedicated volunteerism,鈥濃�圥hillips said. 鈥淪ports programs and communities across the territory have grown thanks to their decades of generous personal contribution.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been people like Nick and Linda who have really made this a great place to live,鈥� the commissioner added. 鈥淭hey are the ones who really make it all happen. Thank you for that commitment.鈥�

Nick Stratis is one of the longest serving ski coaches in the territory, while his wife, Linda Stratis, has worked as a timing official for more than 20 years.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been our pleasure and our honour to be involved with such a great community,鈥濃�圢ick Stratis said during the ceremony held in the ski club鈥檚 wax room. 鈥淰ery positive for us. Hopefully it鈥檚 been very positive for you. Thank you very much. This is a terrific honour for us both.鈥�

Meanwhile, Linda Stratis was recognized with words from Cross Country Yukon president Jan Horton, who said Linda Stratis鈥檚 鈥減ersonal touch鈥� helped get many volunteers involved.

鈥淪he brings a spirit that just doesn鈥檛 stop,鈥濃�圚orton said of her friend, who has also spent time as mission staff and a board member supporting local cross-country skiing, and is well-known for her cookies.

鈥淭he standard line about Linda is: 鈥業f it鈥檚 moved in the Yukon, she鈥檚 timed it,鈥欌�� Horton added with a chuckle.

Each of the awards was met with a rousing ovation by members of the Yukon Ski Team.