Local Heroes in the News

Cold, long & dreary as the winter may be here in NorthWestern Ontario, these past few weeks have been filled with excitement, pride and honor for our little community!

It all started with the Sochi Olympics 2014 where local figure skater Eric Radford competed in the pairs and team events. Canada won a historic silver medal in the first ever Olympic figure skating team event. Eric and his partner Meagan Duhamel performed a dazzling pairs performance, a season's best and second place points. which helped their team win a silver medal. They also skated a short program where they were the highest ranking Canadians and placed fifth overall. Eric Radford had actually composed the routine's music in honor of his long-time coach Paul Wirtz and "enjoyed every minute" of their short program experience.

Eric, born and raised in Balmertown, Ontario visited and toured our community this week and was greeted warmly by his adoring fans and supporters. The mayor of Red Lake, Phil Vinet, even declared February 28 as Eric Radford day! Eric toured the schools, the mine and even took the ice with local figure skaters.

In other news, local aerobatic pilot Pete McLeod took his first podium win March 1st in Abu Dhabi's Red Bull Air Races. They called him red hot as he finished 3rd place and won a spectacular three-way battle for the victory in the blue skies of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Zooming all across the world, Pete McLeod of Red Lake has made history by becoming the youngest pilot and first Canadian ever to compete in the elite Red Bull Air Race World Championship. He is described at impressively smooth and precise in his flying and his personality makes him a favourite wherever he competes. Here's to hoping we get to see him fly over Rahill Beach this summer!