News Release: Town of Paradise celebrates Team Canada Pitcher Heather Healey

The Town of Paradise tonight celebrated one of its residents, Team Canada pitcher Heather Healey at an event to accept baseball memorabilia. The Town’s 2017 Female Athlete of the Year presented baseball memorabilia to be displayed at the Paradise Double Ice Complex.

“Heather is a dedicated athlete who has shown us that with hard work and determination you can play on the international level,” said Mayor Dan Bobbett. “The Town is honoured to receive baseball memorabilia from Heather.  It will be proudly displayed in the Trophy Case in the lobby of the Paradise Double Ice Complex and will be an inspiration to all residents and that hard work, dedication and love of sport can lead them to play provincially, nationally and internationally.”

Heather was first introduced to the sport of baseball at the age of five and came up through the Paradise Minor Baseball system. Last year, she was starting pitcher for Team Canada on the U20 national team in the Women’s International Cup in Dominican Republic and helped Canada win the gold. In summer 2014 she was the first female to be drafted into the St. John’s Amateur Baseball League for the intermediate division and in 2016 to the senior men’s division. She also played with the Capitals in the Men’s Junior A provincials, another first for a female baseball player. Last September, Heather travelled to South Korea with the Canadian Women’s National Baseball Team to play in the World Cup and helped Team Canada to win a silver medal. She is the Town of Paradise 2017 Female Athlete of the Year and provincial 2017 Senior Female Athlete of the Year.

“I have loved the sport of baseball since I first started playing as a kid in here in Paradise. To play for Team Canada was a goal of mine, and wherever I travel with that team I proudly state that my hometown is Paradise, NL.  It is a wonderful honour to be celebrated by my hometown,” said Heather. “I encourage all young athletes to pursue their sporting dreams.”

Heather, her parents Fred Healey and Heather Whalen, her brothers John and Michael, her sister Danielle, and family joined Mayor Dan Bobbett and Paradise Town Council along with Minister Dale Kirby, MP Ken McDonald, Senator Beth Marshall, MHA David Brazil, MHA Paul Davis, Craig Walker, President Paradise Minor Baseball Association, and Ryan Garland, Executive Director Baseball NL for the event. It was hosted by Jonathan Crowe and held at that Paradise Double Ice Complex.