Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games

Enjoyed the Olympic Winter Games and Paralympic Winter Games? Bring the excitement into your classroom!

Book Artefact Talks: Follow Your Dreams – to learn about one of Canada’s Most Decorated Winter Olympians, Cindy Klassen and Canada’s First Gold Medallist in track cycling, Lori-Ann Muenzer!

Artefact Talks are live, virtual programs! With Q&A engagement and 360° software showcasing one-of-a-kind artefacts, these inquiry-based education programs simulate an in-person field trip.

Cindy Klassen

Until Cindy finished school, she played every sport she could possibly fit into her schedule. By the age of 23, Cindy won her first Olympic medal, a Bronze in the 3000m, at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, but she wanted more. Using strategies like visualization and goal-setting, alongside intense training, Klassen managed to have one of the best seasons by a Canadian athlete on the World Cup speed skating circuit with 13 Gold, three Silver, and five Bronze medals. At the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Turin, Cindy became the first ever Canadian Olympian to win five medals in one Olympic Games; Gold in the 1500m, Silver in the 1000m, Silver in the Team Pursuit, and Bronze in the 5000m and 3000m, making her the most decorated Canadian Winter Olympian in history, with a total of six medals. Cindy also overcame a difficult double-knee surgery and won gold at the Ladies World Speed Skating Team Pursuit in 2011. She retired from professional speed skating and gives back to her community as a constable with the Calgary Police Service.

Lori-Ann Muenzer

Entering track cycling at the age of 28, Lori-Ann Muenzer would experience and overcome many challenges, obstacles, and physical setbacks, most notably a mountain biking accident in 1999 where she plunged off a cliff that almost ended her career, and a ruptured appendix in 2002 while competing in South America. Instead of quitting, she raised the bar. Using strategies like visualization and goal-setting, alongside intense training, Muenzer won gold at the 2004 Athens Olympic Summer Games, being the only Canadian, to this day, to do so. Even though Lori-Ann’s career began later in life than most athletes, she accumulated 13 National Championship Titles, 4 World Championship medals, 11 World Cup medals, 3 Commonwealth Games medals, and is a two-time Olympian (2000 & 2004) to become one of Canada’s most successful cyclists of all time. Lori-Ann gives back to her community by volunteering, supporting fundraising events for cancer research, penning self-help books, and providing motivational speaking.


To view Cindy and Lori-Ann's artefacts, click here!