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18 Independent & Free Press,Thursday, April 28, 2011 SPORTS & LEISURE Southgate excited to join Pan-Am organizing team By EAMONN MAHER Staff Writer The Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games may seem a long time away for most of us, but Georgetown's Jon Southgate has already jumped on board the organizing team at the ground level. The 24-year-old former Georgetown Jr. A Raider was among 10 former Canadian university athletes selected for the Pan Am Gateway Grad program, providing jobs and opportunites to recent graduates. Southgate, who played one sea`From an son for the University of Guelph organizational Gryphons' varsity standpoint, gethockey team, was granted a two-year, ting involved full-time entryfrom the start level employment contract to help and watching it plan, organize and deliver Canada's grow has already largest-ever games. been really Each Gateway Grad is teamed exciting.' with an executive or managerial mentor, and is committed to providing professional development opportunities. Southgate has worked since September 2010 as an associate with the TO2015 Human Resources department. "I majored in HR at Guelph and when I heard about this opportunity to add to my previous sports experience, I jumped all over it," said Southgate, who is based in the TO2015 head office in Toronto. "It's only been a few months since we started, but this has opened my eyes to a few different fields that I hadn't considered before related to sports and event organizing. My boss (mentor Bill Senn, senior vice president of TO2015 Infrastructure) has had experience working with professional sports franchises like the New York Jets and the Miami Heat, and you learn so much working with someone with the wealth of knowledge he has." The Pan Am Games are held every four years and it's expected that over 10,000 athletes and officials from 42 countries will come to southcentral Ontario in the summer of 2015, with 48 sports having to be organized in 17 different municipalities. Southgate's Infrastructure department has five major venue construction projects to oversee and another 22 minor builds or refurbishments to undertake, meaning he'll eventually travel to work at the various sites. "From an organizational standpoint, getting involved from the start and watching it grow has already been really exciting," added Southgate. "When you just look at the statistics-- 10,000 people competing, 250,000 tourists and 48 sports-- you realize that this is an opportunity to show that Toronto is a worldclass city, and the surrounding communities will play an important part in making this whole thing a JON success." SOUTHGATE As entry-level staffing needs increase, the Gateway Grad program will welcome new applicants "We expect these new hires to take on meaningful responsibilities, jump in and learn by doing with support and guidance from the best in our senior management team. The Gateway Grad program is a great opportunity for young athletes to experience the planning of TO2015 first hand while also gaining valuable business experience and knowledge that will boost their careers post 2015," said Halton Hills resident Ian Troop, CEO of TO2015. Southgate, who spent three seasons with the Jr. A Raiders, including their run to the Royal Bank Cup Canadian championship tournament in 2005, continues to play hockey at a competitive level for the Monkton Wildcats of the Western Ontario Athletic Association senior men's AA league. He was a point-a-game forward this season for the Wildcats, who were defeated last week in the WOAA championship series by the Saugeen Shores Winterhawks. Watch the birdie Kate Harris (right) and doubles' teammate Shana Toale were one of several Christ the King students who competed in last week's Golden Horseshoe Athletic Conference championship tournament in Milton. Results were not available from organizers. Photo by Graham Paine/Metroland West Media Group Top Cheese wins tournament A team made up entirely of Georgetown Minor Hockey Association graduates recently won the City of Mississauga Adult Hockey League's Division I championship after five years in the loop. The Top Cheese Hockey Club finished second during regular season play and ended up facing first-place Puck U in the finals. After taking a 3-0 first-period lead, Top Cheese needed some spectacular goalkeeping from John Moon in order to hold on to a 3-2 victory and put a halt to previous playoff frustration. Team members are: Jaimie Bottomley, Curtis Hoogendaam, Dave Sproule, Jon Howell, Jeff Hohendorf, Shane Thompson, Marcus Sargent, Mark Aldridge, Rob Larose, Jamie Briggs, John Moon, Rob Macleod, Matt Hilts and Darin Finlayson. VERSATILITY OVER 2,000 LITRES OF CONFIGURABLE CARGO SPACE 0.9%* Lease for 48 months or finance up to 60 months on select CR-Vs and Civics *on approved credit www.georgetownhonda.ca Serving Georgetown for over 30 years! 316 Guelph Street, Georgetown 905-873-1818 905-874-3021 HONDA