Cote Gearing Up For Sports Hall Induction

Cote Gearing Up For Sports Hall Induction

Friday, June 17, 2011 at 14:26

A First Nations elder is being honoured this weekend for his contribution to building sports in Saskatchewan.

Tony Cote — originally from the Cote First Nation — is being inducted into the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame in the Multi-Sport Building category

Cote established the Indian Summer Games in 1974 and created many other sport opportunities for First Nations people in the province.

He says up until then, it was hard for First Nations athletes to compete on a fair playing field.

Cote is also credited with building the Cote Recreational complex, creating hockey clubs for all ages, and coaching a girls’ softball team to an American championship tournament.

While not an athlete himself, the 76-year-old says his vision has always been for First Nations youth participating in sports — even the Olympics.

The induction dinner is being held at the Conexus Arts Centre in Regina on Saturday.