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The gold, silver and bronze medals that Ontario athletes will earn at the Ontario Winter Games were designed by Renfrew County resident Erin Mask.
RELEASE DATE:
January 30, 2023
Medal winners at the Renfrew County 2023 Ontario Winter Games will be going home with a little piece of Renfrew County.
The Games medals were inspired by the forestry industry, which is a key part of the heritage of Renfrew County and a major player in the local economy.
“We are really pleased with the medals, which were handcrafted by an independent jeweller and are inspired by the forests of our region, while reinforcing the important values of the Games,” said Cindy Burwell, Games Manager.
The medals were designed by Erin Mask, a graphic artist from Madawaska Valley, with the Ontario Winter Games logo and coniferous trees, indigenous to our area, on the front of the medals and the County of Renfrew logo and the Games’ Values on the back. The medals were fabricated by a small Ontario jeweller, Personal Illusion Jewelers.
“I would say that the clean, simple image of the trees on the front of the medal represents, to me, the best our area has to offer – industry, space, beauty and abundant opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors,” said Mask. “We are privileged to live here.”
Mask’s family moved from Toronto to Barry’s Bay when she was just eight years old, after they visited a cottage on Kaminiskeg Lake for a few summers and decided to trade the city life in for the rural beauty and pace of the Madawaska Valley. She went to George Brown College for Graphic Design and Advertising, returned to the Madawaska Valley and came back to the Valley to raise her family 12 years later. She works full time with the Renfrew County District School board and does freelance graphic design work on the side.
“I hope the medals remind the visiting athletes of their great accomplishments here in Renfrew County surrounded by vast beauty and opportunities that will draw them back to visit often,” added Mask. “I am thankful for the opportunity to contribute to this great event!”
The medal ribbon colours also have special meaning; on the gold medal is red which represents “inspiration” and Team Ontario’s official colour; the silver medal ribbon is blue, which represents “community” and green ribbon for the bronze medal represents “opportunity”.
An important part of these Renfrew County Games are the Games’ Values, sponsored by Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL). CNL has long served as a major employer in Renfrew County, and as a trusted and reliable partner to local communities and businesses. The Games have adopted CNL’s core values and seek to abide by these values and share them with all participants. The six core values encompass the back of the medal, surrounding the Renfrew County logo in the centre: Safety, Integrity, Respect, Teamwork, Accountability and Excellence.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RenfrewCounty2023
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RC2023OWG
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/renfrewcounty2023/?hl=en
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Cindy Burwell Games Manager, Renfrew County 2023 613-433-1037
Tina Peplinskie Media Relations Coordinator 613-735-7288
The Ontario Winter Games gold medal is pictured with a pile of lumber behind it, the medals' design incorporates the forestry industry, which is a key part of the history of Renfrew County.
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