Introduction
February 1967, in Québec City, the dream was finally realized. 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.
Held every two years, alternating between summer and winter, the Canada Games are a key event in the development of Canada’s young athletes. As the best in their age group, these young competitors come to the Games having trained long and hard to be among those chosen to represent their respective province or territory and compete for the Canada Games Flag and Centennial Cup. With the Canada Games poised as a key step in the development of Canada’s future stars, Canada Games athletes are Canada’s next generation national, international and Olympic champions.
The Canada Games and their lasting legacies continue to be the catalyst for the growth of sport and recreation across the country.
In the forty-four year history of the Canada Games new and existing sports venues have benefited from capital improvements because of the opportunity to host a Canada Games. From arenas to pools, fields to courts, close to 500 venues in total have been upgraded to national standards through the Canada Games resulting in the availability of quality venues to host other provincial, national or international events.
The Canada Games name lives on with stadiums and complexes (Charlottetown, Summerside 2009), Aquatic Centres (Saint John 1985, Kamloops, 1993), and Canada Games Centres (Corner Brook 1999, London 2001, Whitehorse 2007, and Halifax 2011), and a legacy of sports facilities has been built from coast to coast. Cumulatively, over $250 million has been invested in the Canada Games; about half of it in capital projects in the various host communities. From individual sport fields-of-play to multi-sport complexes, infrastructure upgrades have represented legacies that have become community centers and landmarks within the municipalities.
The Canada Games, a celebration of youth, sport, culture and community, are the product of ongoing collaboration between the Government of Canada, provincial/territorial governments, host municipalities, the private sector and the Canada Games Council. In August 2013, thousands of our country's best and brightest will set their sights on La belle province as Sherbrooke hosts the Canada Summer Games.
Canada Games Facts
- The Canada Games are the largest national multi-sport event for young athletes,
- They are held every two years alternating between summer and winter,
- Sports are selected to a particular Canada Games program approximately five years in advance of the Games,
- The Canada Games Council sends a call for applications with a detailed sport selection process,
- The sport selection process includes minimum eligibility criteria, including a level 3 technical program or its equivalent under the National Coaching Certification Program.
Economic Impacts
Economic impacts surrounding the Canada Games begin with the pre-bid preparation, continue on through the construction phase and pre-Games test events and culminates with the staging of the actual event.
2009 Canada Summer Games
- total economic activity generated in the Province ofPrince Edward Islandwas $81.5 million,
- the combined capital, operations, and visitor expenditures directly associated with the Gamestotalled $38.7 million,
- overall, 778 jobs were supported throughout the province by hosting the Canada Summer Games.
THE SPORT LEGACIES
Athlete development
One of the key strategic directions of the Canada Games Council is to strengthen sport development in Canada. The Canada Games Council works in partnership with the national, provincial and territorial sport organizations as well as the provincial and territorial governments to ensure the Canada Games are a relevant and integral component of the developing athlete’s pursuit of excellence in every sport on the Games program.
2009 Canada Summer Games
- a $3.3 million dollar surplus from the Games that will help fund emerging athletes on Prince Edward Island.
Coach Development
Another of the Canada Games contribution to the sport system is its investment in the development of coaches and officials. Coaches must be fully certified under the National Coaching Certification Program to at least Level 3 or Competency-based Education and Training equivalent. In addition, in order to ensure equitable participation and opportunities by both genders, a Women’s Coaching Mentorship Program was piloted at the 2003 Canada Winter Games in Bathurst-Campbellton, New Brunswick.
Infrastructure Development
As part of all Canada Games, new venues are constructed while others are upgraded to national standards resulting in the availability of quality venues to host other provincial, national or international events.
In preparing a Canada Games’ bid, communities will often complete a feasibility study to determine if they have the infrastructure necessary to host a Games and if not, prepare a firm plan for facilities development. Some of the infrastructure is not a direct result of the Canada Games but the Games assist in moving the project ahead.
Enhanced Sport Programming
The athletes, coaches and officials who attend the Canada Games are the product of provincial and territorial sport programming. In addition, hosting the Canada Games often leads to enhanced sport programs and training opportunities for the host athletes.
Equipment purchased for the Games are also an important legacy, providing clubs and schools with new bats and balls, mats and goals. The Host Society of the 1997 Canada Summer Games in Brandon, Manitoba distributed over $500,000 of equipment to clubs and organizations to use to develop their respective sports.
CANADA GAMES HOST CITIES
1967 – First Canada Winter Games – Quebec City, Quebec
1969 – First Canada Summer Games – Halifax/Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
1971 – Canada Winter Games – Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
1973 – Canada Summer Games – New Westminster/Burnaby, B.C.
1975 – Canada Winter Games – Lethbridge, Alberta
1977 – Canada Summer Games – St. John's Newfoundland
1979 – Canada Winter Games – Brandon, Manitoba
1981 – Canada Summer Games – Thunder Bay, Ontario
1983 – Canada Winter Games – Saguenay-Lac St. Jean, Quebec
1985 – Canada Summer Games – Saint John, New Brunswick
1987 – Canada Winter Games – Cape Breton County, Nova Scotia
1989 – Canada Summer Games – Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
1991 – Canada Winter Games – Charlottetown, P.E.I.
1993 – Canada Summer Games – Kamloops, B.C.
1995 – Canada Winter Games – Grande Prairie, Alberta
1997 – Canada Summer Games – Brandon, Manitoba
1999 – Canada Winter Games – Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador
2001 – Canada Summer Games – London, Ontario
2003 – Canada Winter Games – Bathurst-Campbellton, New Brunswick
2005 – Canada Summer Games – Regina, Saskatchewan
2007 – Canada Winter Games – Whitehorse, Yukon
2009 – Canada Summer Games – Prince Edward Island
2011 – Canada Winter Games – Halifax, Nova Scotia
