by Mary Macleod
I dug this old hat out of the trunk today, along with my Nova Scotia blue blazer from 1969, the year of the first Canada Summer Games in Halifax/Dartmouth. It’s “the hat” that all the Oxford track athletes have to hear about every year.
It was my Mom’s idea to have a hat for each track and field year, her idea to have my competitors and teammates sign the hats as mementos and memories of each competition and friendships made along the way. It was also her idea to have one specifically for the Canada Games.
At just-turned-seventeen, I really had little concept of how special an event this was to become. Initially, I was a little disappointed that because I qualified for the team, I had to give up my leg of the torch run. Realizing at opening ceremonies how many athletes, teams and sports were represented, I started to understand the enormity of the event.
Happily collecting signatures on my hat, I was surprised at the well-known names appearing in ink, and how amiable they were to the concept. But when we lined up for the 200m, and I found myself in the next lane to Olympic athlete, Irene Piotrowski, my senior by 10 years and Canadian record holder in the 100m and 200m, I was suitably humbled and overwhelmed at being there at all.
Which brings me to today and why I dug out my hat and blazer.
Oxford!! We have had Canada Games athletes from here in past years, and now we have another home town gal who will be competing at the Canada Games next week in the 100m hurdles and 4×100 relay. Maryn Smith, through hard work, dedication and more than a little natural talent, has earned her spot on the athletics team for Nova Scotia. She will be making her way to St. John’s on the weekend and competing on August 19th and 20th.
Also with ties to Oxford, and loaded with athletic ability, Carter Myatt, grandson of Darrell and Vivian Myatt, will be competing in the long jump and high jump on August 20th.
Unless you are an athlete, you might have little idea of the hours these athletes have dedicated to conditioning, training, driving to competitions and venues, overcoming injuries, and giving up time with friends to reach this point. What I wish for these young athletes is to enjoy every experience, collect many memories, meet lots of people, become overwhelmed by your accomplishment, and understand that you deserve to be there. Be humble, but be confident. Be receptive, but be tough. Be awed, but be focused. Be ready, you got this!
Are you ready to watch and cheer, Oxford? My lawn chair is positioned in the shade, the Canada Games app is downloaded and I’m ready to watch. I might even wear the hat!
RELATED:
2025 Canada Games (St. John’s, NL) website
Watch the 2025 Canada Games on CBC Gem Sports!
Wednesday Evening (August 20) Track & Field event direct link (you need to create a free account on CBC Gem to watch): https://gem.cbc.ca/live-event/52592
2025 Canada Games Broadcast Schedule
Mary MacLeod was a member of the first Nova Scotia Canada Games Athletics Team in 1969, competing in 200m, long jump and 4x100m relay. In 1970, she was a member of the Nova Scotia team competing at the Junior National Volleyball Championships in Calgary. She began coaching track and field in Oxford in 1975 until work schedule interfered. In 2022, she was invited back to assist coaching the Oxford Athletics Team, and has a high regard for the impressive young people she has met.
