BURSTBulkley Valley athletes are home from the BC Winter Games that were held in Trail last month, and one of them brought home a medal.
Smithers’ own Cole Ostapowich won bronze in Judo – Shiai in the 44kg – Male category.
Zone 7 athletes (North West) brought home one gold in cross country skiing from Vanderhoof, two silver medals in artistic gymnastics from Prince Rupert, one bronze medal in artistic gymnastics from Prince Rupert, a bronze medal in male skills curling from Terrace, a judo bronze medal from Smithers, a male karate team bronze medal from Kitimat and a female team karate bronze medal from Kitimat, in addition to the Houston/Terrace ringette bronze medal.
Opening ceremonies were held Feb. 25, 2026, at the Trail Memorial Centre. The ceremony featured entertainment, an athletes’ parade, guest speakers, and the lighting of the Games torch. Athletes were encouraged to dress in their zone colours, which, for the North West, was purple.
More than 1,400 athletes, coaches, and officials attended the Games, joined by another 1,600 volunteers from across the West Kootenay.
Travel to the games involved a charter flight to Kelowna for northwestern athletes followed by a bus ride to Trail.
Events were held at a variety of facilities, including the Black Jack Ski Club and Red Mountain in Rossland, the Beaver Valley Arena in Fruitvale, Selkirk College in Castlegar, and the Curling Centre in Trail, where the last rock was thrown, and the last of 479 medals were presented at around 9 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 28.
Zone 5 (Vancouver Coastal) won the most medals, 117, with 40 gold, 34 silver and 43 bronze; followed by Zone 4 (Fraser River) with 111 – 38G, 33S, and 40B; Zone 2 (Thompson Okanagan) 62 – 13G, 28S, and 21B; Zone 6 (Vancouver Island- Central Coast) 62-11G, 22S, 29B; Zone 3 (Fraser Valley) 50 – 18G, 13S,19B; Zone 1 (Kootenays) 38 – 14G, 11S, 13B; Zone 8 (Cariboo North) 30 – 12G, 6S, 12B; and Zone 7 (North West) 9 – 1G, 2S, and 6B.
With files from Jim Bailey.