Weyburn City Council paid tribute to an accomplished athlete who has been representing not just the city, but the country. Curtis Minard is a Paralympic snowboarder and was in Pyeongchang, South Korea earlier this year competing in the Winter Paralympics. He represented the city and country well, finishing sixth.

At Monday night’s council meeting, he was presented with a gift from the city.

“It’s a huge honour to be recognized by my hometown, where really, it kind of all began,” Minard said after receiving the gift, and making a presentation of how own to the council. “You know, I kind of grew up on the streets, riding skateboards to playing hockey all over.”

Minard said the skateboarding started in the parking lot of the Weyburn Credit Union, across the street from City Hall, not knowing what would come of it from there.

While he was competing in South Korea, the well-wishes from Weyburn were heard loud and clear by Minard, and he was thankful for it.

“It meant so much to me to know I had the support of Weyburn behind me while I was at the Paralympic Games in Pyeongchang. Not only there, but every World Cup event I attended.”

Mayor Marcel Roy pointed out the amount of talent which has come out of Weyburn, a city which has seen athletes, artists, singers, musicians and much more start a career here before moving on to becoming recognized across the country, and around the world.

“Such a wonderful athlete, going up against all the disabilities he has, and he has overcome these disabilities, and he has done really well for Weyburn,” Roy stated after Monday’s council meeting.

Next for Minard will be a return to the World Cup circuit. He is searching for the one finish which has eluded him through his career so far, and that is a gold medal. He is also thinking of the possibilities of his hockey career, and being a multi-sport athlete.

He is looking to be a part of the national amputee standing hockey team, which will be holding their world championships this year.

No matter where he goes from here, he knows his hometown, the city of Weyburn will be cheering him on every step of the way.