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Senior athletes return to Powell River with medals

Competition showcases communities around the province
senior games
WINNING SENIOR: Victor Njume has participated in track and field events since he was a high-school student in Cameroon. He recently brought home medals from the BC Seniors Games. Dave Brindle photo

Exercise, camaraderie and meeting people through the BC Seniors Games makes Victor Njume appreciate Powell River even more than when he first arrived in 1974.

“I’ve met a lot of people in various areas where we have attended track and field, it’s nice to chat with them, experience life in those communities and compare it with Powell River,” said Njume. “I’d rather live here. That’s not to say those places are not good; they are very nice areas to live in, but I prefer it here.”

When he first arrived, however, Njume said his first thought was, “Oh my goodness. What am I doing here?”

Njume originally came to Powell River from Vancouver for one year to take a position teaching grade 11 and 12 at Max Cameron Secondary School; that was 30 years ago. He is originally from Republic of Cameroon, on the west coast of Africa.

“I have gone back to Cameroon three times, by myself and with the family,” he said. “I have mixed feelings about poverty there and most of my friends who I went to high school with are dead. Probably if I was there, who knows? I might have been gone by now.”

Njume and his wife Linda have three sons. Growing up, they were also in track and field but moved on from Powell River due to lack of work for young people, he said.

Njume was on the track team when he lived in Cameroon and coached community track and field in Powell River for more than 15 years when the track was in Westview, before the new Timberlane Track and Field Park was built.

The number of local seniors who compete in the seniors games has dwindled over the years, according to Nancy May Lalonde, who took a string of bronze medals in swimming in Coquitlam, BC, where the event was held from September 20 to 24.

“There used to be a team of seven and they moved or passed away,” said Lalonde, whose father came to Powell River to work as a logger after World War II and stayed for the rest of his life.

At the most recent seniors games, where participants must be 55 years of age or older, three athletes from Powell River competed. Njume and Lalonde participated in the 74 to 79 age category while Mel Chatwin competed in the 91-plus age bracket.

Lalonde brought home three bronze medals in swimming, Njume won one gold and two bronze medals in track and field and Chatwin reached the top of the podium with a gold medal, also in track and field.

According to Paul Kingan, zone two director for the BC Seniors Games Society, the games “represent seniors who don’t want to sit around in a rocking chair. They want to stay active, participate, have fun and compete.”

Kingan said approximately 4,000 people descend on host cities for the games.

“The object of the BC Seniors Games is to try to showcase our societies throughout the province,” said Kingan. “Because of the number of participants, there are certain cities and towns, such as Powell River, that physically cannot accommodate those numbers. Unfortunately, they get left out of the mix.”

Njume said he would like to see Powell River host the event, but recognizes how prohibitive it would be.

“If communities can handle up to 4,000 people, from a venue standpoint and an accommodation standpoint, they can submit a bid,” said Kingan.

Next year, the games will be held in Vernon, BC.