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Olympian toasts Hometown Heroes

Denny Morrison captured the hearts and minds of Canadians and sports fans around the world during the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. So it was only fitting the four-time Olympic medallist who grew up in northern B.C.
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The newest group of Hometown Heros with Denny Morrison. From left, skier Adam McCraw, UBC women's hockey player Danielle Dube, Morrison, Special Olympics figure skater Emily Walzak and gymnastics coach Alana Jensen.

Denny Morrison captured the hearts and minds of Canadians and sports fans around the world during the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.

So it was only fitting the four-time Olympic medallist who grew up in northern B.C., received a hero's welcome Saturday afternoon in Prince George to honour some hometown heroes of their own.

Morrison was at Pacific Western Brewing Company's Community Foundation Hometown Heroes program event, where teaming up with the 2015 Canada Winter Games under the blistering sun, four B.C. athletes received PWB bursaries worth $2,000 each in the lead-up to the 2015 Games hosted by Prince George in February.

"Funding athletes really helps," said the 28-year-old speed skater, who grew up in Fort St. John and now lives and trains in Calgary. "A lot of them have full-time jobs on the side and they're trying to train and compete. And some have school on the side so $2,000 will go a long way.

"I was really lucky to have mentors and heroes growing up and that was part of why I've achieved levels of success that I have."

Saturday's event marked round two of four rounds of PWB bursary awards ahead of the start of the 2015 Games. The winners included freeskiier Adam McCraw of Revelstoke, gymnastics coach Alana Jensen of Smithers, UBC women's hockey player Danielle Dube and Special Olympics figure skater Emily Walzak from Victoria.

In May, Morrison was on hand in Vancouver to recognize the first four winners: Quesnel paralympics hopeful Landon McGauley, Kelowna speed skater Nick Goplen, Port Alberni educator and coach Tom McEvay and North Vancouver javelin thrower track star Andy White.

"The Hometown Heroes Community Foundation program supports the values of the 2015 Canada Winter Games of sportsmanship, leadership, and citizenship," Morrison told the crowd at PWB Saturday. "These outstanding British Columbians have overcome challenges, set lofty goals and given back to their communities."

In February at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, Morrison won a silver medal in the 1,000-metres on the speed skating track. His Canadian teammate Gilmore Junio gave up his spot in the race (after Morrison failed to qualify when he fell at the Canadian trials) to give Canada its best chance at a medal.

Morrison followed that up with a bronze in the 1,500m.

Junio's generosity and how Morrison paid him back by winning a medal captured not only the hearts of Canadians but Olympic fans around the

world.

Since he's returned home and the competitive season has ended, life, he said, has changed somewhat.

"It's been a lot harder to train and I'm travelling around the country more and sharing my story. The good thing about it is is it's true and it's easy and a lot of fun to share with people young and old."

He's committed to compete the 2018 Winter Olympics in Korea. But this summer he's doing some cycling on the side to push himself to an even

more higher level.

"Once you reach that high level, that pinnacle that I did in Sochi, you can't stay there," he said. "You've got to go back and rebuild and that's what hopefully cycling will do. My coach is confident that I can reach that pinnacle and sustain it again."

PWB's Hometown Heroes program will recognize 16 athletes and coaches

sharing a minimum of $32,000 representing a portion of PWB proceeds

from the sale of Cariboo Genuine Draft 20 packs. The program was started in 2002 and has supported many young athletes and other community heroes.

PWB is continuing to accept applications to the end of January 2015 with two more rounds of selections. In each round, a Hometown Hero is selected from four major provincial regions - the northern and southern interior, greater Vancouver and Vancouver Island.

The program is open to any B.C. resident currently engaged in sports as an athlete or coach, or otherwise excelling in a community mentoring activity. Applicants must be at least 19 years old. Visit www.pwbrewing.com for more info.