Today’s Newsletter: Snowshoeing Hearts (Heats with heart), Target Shooting Tips and buff’s at Table Tennis.

It’s the first day and this newsletter is going out late as it has been packed with action! It may be chilly outside, but the volunteers are staying warm with dancing and good deeds.

For the “noon” newsletter, enjoy and be ready for more stories in your inbox in the morning! — Editor, Heidi Atter

Brookelynn Keefe is one of the most seasoned of The Northern Star, despite being still a teenager! Watch for her at the Labrador Winter Games throughout the week and be blown away at how incredible this young person is. — Heidi Atter

Brookelynn Writes:

“It’s been such a pleasure to get to watch the snowshoe race but even more of a privilege to be one of the youth doing media for it.

Working media leads be to be working very closely to the athletes so I’ve gotten to watch from the pre game jitters, the stretching, take off to the moment their shoes hit the finishing line. Hearing the supporters, yell , whistle ,and encouraged their fellow athletes has proven that this is truly a uniting event for Labrador.

I have to highlight a special moment for me, as I was waiting by the finish line with the camera as each runner was hitting the line, I was filled with pride getting to see the joy that they were coming up to it but also seeing the athletes collapse as their feet hit the line made me cry, it completely overwhelmed me with admiration for these amazing people. It showed me that it’s more than just a race, it’s time, training, support and mental strength. It a physically demanding sport but even more a mental one.

I am beyond stoked to return tomorrow to continue recording for the snowshoe finals.

— Brookelynn Keefe

Mia Morris is the youngest at The Northern Star and was able to watch her friend Isla Morris compete! Isla is the youngest at the games and was one of the torch bearers at the Labrador Winter Games.

Mia writes:

It was amazing! I loved watching the snowshoe races and being able to cheer, take photos, and see my friends from Cartwright that I missed so much. I love photography so I enjoyed taking photographs.

It was so exciting to see Isla race because I saw her training for this moment and she is definitely not a quitter and the crowd knew that too. The crowd was so big and so cheerful it made me so happy knowing that there was a supportive crowd cheering everyone on!

I can’t wait to watch badminton tomorrow, badminton is truly one of my favourite sports because of all the friends I made through talking about my love for it.

Respect Campaign 2026 – Care is Prevention

As communities gather for the 2026 Labrador Winter Games, Violence Prevention Labrador (VPL) is once again holding the Respect Campaign.

This year, the framing is simple:

Respect — Because how we treat each other matters, especially when we gather.

The Games are about more than sport. They are about community, belonging, friendship, pride, and culture. When we gather, we have powerful opportunities to impact one another.

In Labrador, care has always been part of who we are — how we survive, support, and look out for one another. Through the Labrador Cares Coalition, we recognize care as prevention — not only through programs, but through everyday moments.

The Respect buff is a symbol — not a badge of perfection.It represents a shared commitment to care, connection, and responsibility.

Care is not limited to services.

Care belongs to all of us.

#Respect2026 #LabradorCares #CareIsPrevention

How to get a buff!

Find VPL throughout the Games and share a reflection with us:

Stay tuned for a heartwarming mother-daughter story, volunteer love, firearms interviews and more! The next newsletter goes out at midnight!