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Speed
Skating
Canadian
speed skaing team to have distinctive local flavour
By Fred Sherwin
The Orleans Star
Two
athletes with local roots will lead Canada's long track
speed skating team this season after winning five titles
between them at the recent Canadian Single Distance Championships
in Calgary.
Colonel
By Secondary School alum Isabelle Weidemann won three
titles (3,000, 5,000 and Mass Start) and Garneau grad
Ivanie Blondin had a pair of wins (1,000 and 1,500) to
nearly sweep the women's finals. The 500-metre event was
won by Saskatchewan native Marsh Hudley.
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Orléans
native Isabelle Weidemann won three events at the recent Canadian Single Distance
Championships in Calgary. Speed Skaing Canada Photo
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Weidemann
and Blondin both competed at the Winter Olympics in Korea
last February. Weidemann finished 6th in the 5,000 and
7th in the 3,000, while Blondin finished 4th in the 5,000
and 5th in the 3,000.
It
was Blondin's second Winter Games and Weidemann's first.
Previously
a long distance specialist, Blondin is now focused on
the intermediate distances. Her winning times in the 1,000-
and 1,500-metre events at the Canadian championships have
qualified her for the upcoming World Cup season at both
distances. She is also pre-qualified in the 5,000 metres
based on her past results in international competition.
The
same is true for Weidemann who qualifed in the 3,000,
5,000 and Mass Start by winning all three races.
The
23-year-old Weidemann easily met the Wolrd Cup qualifying
standard in the 3,000 with a time of 4:02.68 and she bettered
the qualifying standard in the 5,000 by five seconds,
despite being the only skater in the event.
The
two women are now preparing for the first World Cup event
of the season which will take place in Obihiro, Japan
from Nov. 16-18. A week later they will compete in Tomakomai,
Japan.
Other
World Cup events are being held in Tomaszow Mazoviecki,
Poland (Dec. 7-9); Heerenveen, Netherlands (Dec. 13-16);
and Hamar, Norway (Feb. 1-3). The World Single Distance
Championships will take place in Inzell, Germany on Feb.
7-10 and the World Cup Final will take place in Salt Lake
City on March 9-10.
(This
story was made possible thanks to the generous support of
our local business partners.)
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ORLÉANS
CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. on June 6 and
7 and from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday, June 8 in the
Centrum Blvd. Festival Plaza. Presented by Orléans
Festivals and the Heart of Orléans BIA featuring
craft beer from 29 different craft brewers. Food vendors
will include Orléans own Meatings BBQ. Live music
all three days. For more information visit 
THE
WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ presented by the Ottawa School of
Theatre at the Shenkman Arts Centre. This is an all ages
production. Showtimes June 7 at 7 p.m. and June 8 and 9
at 2 p.m. Tickets $17.50 for adults and $12.50 for children
and students. For more information visit 
ORLÉANS
OUTDOOR MARKET from 12 noon to 6 p.m. in the Ray Frield
Centre parking lot on Tenth Line Road. Come meet local vendors
and artians from across the east end.
SHEKNMAN
ARTS CENTRE 10TH ANNIVERSARY BLOCK PARTY from 
CARIVIBE
BLOCK PARTY from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the Orléans
Festival Plaza on Centrum Blvd. featuring an All-Star International
D.J. Lineup, Caribbean food, dancers and the Kids Carnival
Village. Visit the Latin Street Party stage and enjoy Bachata,
Kizomba, Salsa Romantica and Latin Dance Workshops, brought
to you by A.S.A Dance Production. Advance tickets $15.00.
Kids 12 and under FREE. Tickets can be purchased by visiting
SANTÉ
CHIROPRACTIC & WELLNESS CENTRE: Where healthy
people go
180-FITNESS
CENTRE: Home of the Biggest Loser
