Dempster Names 2026 Labrador Winter Games Board of Directors and Announces Increase in Funding Support

Minister of Labrador Affairs and Minister of Environment and Climate Change Lisa Dempster announced the members of the Board of Directors for the 2026 Labrador Winter Games at an event held on September 11 in the Happy Valley-Goose Bay area.

Dempster also announced a contribution of $800,000 from the Provincial Government to support the 2026 Labrador Winter Games, an increase of more than 50 per cent from a base level of $500,000.

The board is chaired by Pauline Russell of Mary’s Harbour, the first female to chair the board of directors. She is joined by:

• Joan Hibbs and Devon Ryan (Labrador West)

• McKinley Winters and Julie Dicker (Labrador North)

• Donna O’Brien (Labrador South)

• Chief Eugene Hart and Andrew Battcock (Labrador Central)

• Mina Campbell and Rex Goudie (culture and tourism)

• George Russell, Jr. (Aboriginal Sport and Recreation Circle of Newfoundland and Labrador)

The board is supported by ex-officio members:

• Lt.-Col. Colonel Aleem Sajan of 5 Wing Goose Bay

• Michelle Watkins of the Department of Labrador Affairs;

• Randy Letto of Destination Labrador

• Andrew Wright of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation.

A director from the Town of Happy Valley-Goose Bay will be named at a later date.