Canada Games - History

History

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 Canada.

Since 1967, over 75,000 athletes have participated in the Games with hundreds of thousands having engaged in try-outs and qualifying events. Over 100,000 coaches, officials and volunteers have been directly involved in the planning and staging of the Games. Cumulatively, $250 million has been invested in the Canada Games, about half of it in capital projects in the various host communities. From the Saint John Canada Games Aquatic Centre (1985) to the Hillside Stadium and Aquatic Centre in Kamloops, B.C. (1993); from the Corner Brook Canada Games Centre and Annex (1999) to the TD Waterhouse Stadium in London, Ontario (2001), a legacy of sports facilities has been built in over 16 communities across Canada.

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. The 2009 Canada Summer Games are being hosted by the entire province of Prince Edward Island. Two years later, Halifax, Nova Scotia will host this prestigious event.

Since their inception in 1967, the Canada Games have played a prominent role in developing some of Canada’s premier athletes. The Games have acted as a stepping stone for many of Canada’s celebrated athletes, including: Toller Cranston (1967), Bob Gainey (1971), Ian Bridge (1977), Sylvie Daigle (1979), Catriona LeMay Doan (1983 and 1987), Bruny Surin (1985), Marianne Limpert, Annie Pelletier and Anne Montminy (1989), Hayley Wickenheiser and Marc Gagnon (1991), Andrea Neil (1993), Steve Nash (1993), Maryse Turcotte (1995), Alexandre Despatie (1997), Dwayne De Rosario (1997), Patrice Bernier (1997), Adam Van Koeverden (1997), Heather Moyse (1997), Jeff Francis (2001), Kara Lang (2001), Erin McLeod (2001) Jared Connaughton (2005), Krista Betts (2005), Sidney Crosby (2003), and Steven Stamkos (2007).

The Canada Games Council is the governing body for the Canada Games. As the Games move from one host community to the next, the Council provides the continuity, leadership and support to Host Societies in key areas such as sport technical, organizational planning, ceremonies and protocol, marketing and sponsorship.