(August 15, 2007)

Long-time skating volunteer Linda Leblanc from Memramcook, NB, will be inducted into the Order of New Brunswick. Linda will be one of ten inductees including former New Brunswick Premier Bernard Lord and famous Moncton actress Viola Léger.

Linda is being honoured for her dedication to the development of figure skating in New Brunswick. She has served on many committees celebrating and promoting figure skating on a local, provincial and national level for the past 25 years. Linda received the Investors Group Volunteer Sport Administrator Award and the Skate Canada Volunteer Award of Excellence for New Brunswick in 2006.

“I never thought I would receive such a distinction for volunteer work I love so much. I started volunteering in figure skating because of my children, Raoul, Fernande, and Lisanne, and the friends I met throughout the years contributed to make me stay involved for so long,” says Linda. “My children received a lot from being involved in skating, but I received even more.”

Linda is affiliated to the Club de patinage de la Vallée de Memramcook. She has served as Vice-President of Programs at Skate Canada-New Brunswick and was the registration coordinator at the 2006 BMO Financial Group Skate Canada Junior Nationals. She also held the role of team manager at the 2006 BMO Financial Group Skate Canada Eastern Challenge and at the 2006 BMO Financial Group Canadian Championships.

The ten new appointees will receive the 2007 Order of New Brunswick at a ceremony this fall, bringing the total membership to 58 since the Order was established in 2000.

“I am very excited for the induction ceremony. To be inducted with New Brunswick’s former Premier Bernard Lord and the great Viola Léger makes this honour even greater for me,” says Linda.

Congratulations to Linda Leblanc for this great honour and thank you for your dedication to figure skating throughout the years!