Carrying on the Legacy of Winnipeg 2023

It’s time consuming to carry on a first responder role and also train and travel to compete in the World Police & Fire Games. Imagine also taking on a major volunteer role as an organizer hosting the massive Games.

Cheri Bergman, a Correctional Officer for the Manitoba Justice System, knows this workload very well, having been involved as a board member helping the Winnipeg Host Committee win the bid to bring WPFG to Canada in 2023. Cheri, who has played Hockey and done Bench Press, Push-Pull, and Open Water Swim in the past, focused on Indoor Rowing due to her demanding role as Manager of Athlete Services for 2023. “For the last three games, I had to pick something that was quick,” she explains. “I've done rowing for a long time and I'm decent at it.” Despite her hectic responsibilities and limited training time Cheri earned three bronze medals to add to her previous gold and silver wins.

The 49-year-old dynamo formed lasting relationships with her host team, and is part of a quartet of other Manitoba first responders who were also instrumental in securing the 2023 Games, including (see photo) Chad Swayze,  Cheri Bergman, Renee Vermette and Dave Pettigrew. “We call ourselves ‘The Core Four’ and we’ve stayed together for the Games since 2011 when I started my career,” she says. 

The organizers were proud that the Games were well-received and featured over 900 Manitoba participants. The board wanted the momentum to continue among the first responders in the province by introducing a Legacy Program to help cover the cost of registration for every Manitoba athlete going to the 2025 WPFG in Birmingham.  

“We all decided that that was an important part of something we wanted to leave behind from our games for our future athletes in Manitoba,” Cheri explains. “The incentive of our games was to promote physical fitness within our first responder community. It also benefits mental health and builds relationships, not just between you and your co-workers, but others from all over the world. It just makes you feel better about your career and your path going forward.”

Cheri is ready for Indoor Rowing competition, and with more time in Birmingham she is eying Orienteering and is hopeful to help put together hockey and dragon boat teams from Manitoba. She also looks back in wonder at what she and her Canadian colleagues accomplished.

“These games are a monster to control,” she says flatly. “It was the craziest thing I've ever done, and the most work I've ever done on anything in my life. But it was gratifying. When the games are over, and you look and see what you've helped to do, you're like, ‘wow, I did this.’ It was a huge success for Winnipeg.”

By Del Moon