The 2025 Canada Summer Games in St John's (Newfoundland) opened for competition earlier today, with a pair of Sudbury athletes taking part (to the best of our knowledge - there is no easy way to know for sure that we have not missed anyone), and a few others with local connections out at the Games as well.

Local baseball talent Gabriel Larocque cracked the Team Ontario roster, though the squad lost a tough matchup with Québec on Sunday while Lo-Ellen Prep basketball star Sarah Guignard is also on site, anxious to begin her schedule on Monday versus British Columbia.

No surprise that Optimum Health owner and athletic therapist Danièle Gervais is on hand, the Games marking her fifth experience in providing athlete care at this biennial sports gathering.

Fresh off serving as medical team lead at the 2025 Ontario 55+ Summer Games in Sudbury, the go-getter is tag-teaming with co-worker Emma Naughton, one of the countless volunteers who is leaned upon to help make the Games successful.

And finally, a Sudbury connection of sorts as Emma Dongelmans is suiting up alongside Sarah Guignard for Team Ontario basketball. Though pretty much a life-long resident of Orillia and area, Emma is the daughter of Laurentian Voyageurs varsity basketball alumni Ted and Stephanie (Harrison) Dongelmans.