1967 - 2007 The Canada Games have come a long way since the first Games were hosted by Quebec City in February 1967. For the first time in Canada’s history, 1,800 athletes from 10 provinces and two territories gathered to compete in 15 sports. Under the Games motto ‘Unity through Sport’, these first Canada Winter Games paved the way to what is now Canada’s largest multi-sport competition for young athletes. Now celebrating its 40th Anniversary, the Canada Games have now been hosted by all provinces and territories in Canada. To celebrate this milestone, the Canada Games Council created a special committee to plan and implement activities centered on celebrating this special occasion. The committee (which consists of Games Council staff and board members, members of the 2007 Host Society, past Canada Games Presidents and General Managers, as well as Canada Games alumni) has worked hard in planning activities and celebrations around this special landmark. Four initiatives will be launched at the 2007 Canada Games as part of the 40th Anniversary of the Canada Games: Hall of Honour, Alumni Flag Bearer Program, Merchandise Program, and Host City Recognition Program.

Hall of Honour

A Hall of Honour has been established to recognize the many key contributors to the Canada Games over the years. These contributors include people involved in the Games in any number of ways, from the many volunteers to the athletes themselves. The Canada Games are such a large undertaking that they require hundreds of volunteers at each Games to make them happen. The Hall of Honour is a way for the Canada Games Council to express their gratitude to the many contributors, without whom the Games could not happen. The inaugural induction into the Hall of Honour will take place on February 22nd, 2007 at a ceremony in Whitehorse, Yukon.

Alumni Flag Bearer Program The Canada Games Council has asked eight Canada Games alumni representing all aspects of the Games over the years to participate in the 2007 Opening Ceremonies onFebruary 23rd. These eight alumni will proudly walk into Atco Centre carrying theofficial Canada Games flag.

Host City Recognition Program Each past Canada Games Host Community has been asked to join the celebrations and remember the positive impact the Games had on their community and its people. To show their support an official Canada Games flag has been sent to all current Mayors of past Host Communities which is to be displayed outside City Hall for the duration of the 2007 Canada Games. To learn more about past Host Communities, visit our Canada Games Interactive Map.