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Sports Briefs: Sarah Burke to be featured on stamp

Skiing icon included in sportswomen series to be released in February
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Send it with Sarah Sarah Burke will be featured on a new stamp to be released in February. Photo by Eric MacKenzie

Canada Post has announced that Sarah Burke will be featured on a new stamp to be released in February to coincide with the 2014 Winter Olympics.

The freestyle ski icon will be one of three late Canadian women who made a considerable impact on their respective winter sports to be honoured in the series. Joining Burke will be two Olympic gold medallists — curler Sandra Schmirler and figure skater Barbara Ann Scott.

Canada Post media relations director Anick Losier told Pique that Burke's impact on the upcoming Olympics played a big role in her selection for the series.

Though Burke herself never had the chance to compete in an Olympic Games, as she died following a crash in training in 2012, her tireless efforts to have freestyle ski events included on the Olympic program were ultimately successful. Halfpipe and slopestyle ski competitions will be included at the Games in Sochi this winter for the first time.

Burke was also inducted posthumously to the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame as a builder last year.

Losier said the image that will adorn Burke's stamp has not yet been selected.

Saints take top seed into playoffs

The Whistler Saints clinched the No. 1 seed and a bye in the first round of the playoffs by winning the final game of their North Shore Football League regular season.

The flag squad topped the North Vancouver Vikings 24-14 on Sunday, Nov. 3 to lock up top spot in the division with an 8-1 record.

Benyon McKeen helped Whistler to victory by scoring on a kick return and adding another rushing touchdown. Liam Forsyth and Marlowe Gaddes also reached the end zone to help secure the win.

The Saints return to action on Nov. 17 in a division semifinal, facing the winner of this weekend's playoff match-up between the Packers and 49ers, who both finished at 3-6.

Fundraising campaign now online for d'Artois

Last week, Pique brought you the story about how Whistler's own Simon d'Artois, a member of the national halfpipe ski team who recently had his funding cut for the season, was reaching out to local businesses for small donations to help finance his upcoming season.

Now, the 21-year-old has also launched an online fundraising drive through pursu.it. D'Artois is hopeful to bring in more than $10,000 through the campaign as he looks to keep his dream of qualifying for the Olympics alive.

His campaign went live on the website on Monday, Nov. 4. By the end of the following day, d'Artois had reached 30 per cent of his target. Visit www.pursu.it/campaign/simon-dartois/ to make a donation.