Excitement is building
Canada Games taking place in Winnipeg beginning July 28
The Canada Games turns 50 this year and I am really looking forward to being a part of it.
During the next eight weeks I look forward to sharing information about Team P.E.I., and the many wonderful athletes and dedicated volunteers who coach and lead our teams.
I also plan on including some historical facts as we celebrate this milestone that may bring back memories to the more than 3,400 Islanders who have worn P.E.I. colours at past Games.
For 50 years, P.E.I. has been sending athletes to different parts of Canada (except for 1991 and 2009 when they were hosted here in P.E.I.) to compete in a variety of sports while enjoying the energy and excitement of the Canada Games. Don’t get me wrong, this is a sporting event, but it’s a sporting event with a lot of other things such as national unity and cultural diversity rolled into one. This was part of the vision for the first Games, which were held in Québec City in 1967.
This summer it’s Winnipeg’s turn to shine a light on the Games while celebrating the 150th anniversary of Canada as a nation and the 50th anniversary of the Canada Games.
The Team P.E.I. delegation will feature about 310 athletes, coaches and administrators representing 21 teams and competing in 15 sports.
As the Games unfold this summer, we will once again get to read about the wonderfully talented, young athletes our province consistently send to the Canada Games.
I was recently working on a project looking at past Team P.E.I. athletes and it was impressive to see the number of alumni who hold a number of leadership positions in the province, not just in sport, but in all walks of life.
The Games will happen during 17 days this summer, with the majority of events happening in Winnipeg. However, the sailing venue will be held in Gimli, Man., and the rowing venue will be held in Kenora, Ont., due to facility requirements.
The athletes will be treated to wonderful facilities, many of which were used for the Pan Am Games, and an entire two-week “Festival at the Forks” that will be a celebration of all things Canada.
The Games will begin with the lighting of the torch during the opening ceremonies at MTS Centre on July 28, and will wrap up on Aug. 13 with the closing ceremonies at Investors Group Field. During those dates, all the athletes will reside at the athlete’s village located at the University of Manitoba.
I know the excitement is building among members of Team P.E.I. as we move inside of 60 days to the Games and I look forward to introducing you to our teams during the next number of weeks. Francois Caron is the central region co-ordinator for the sport, recreation and physical activity division of the P.E.I. Department of Health and Wellness. He has attended nine Games and will be Team P.E.I.’s assistant chef de mission during the second week of the 2017 Canada Games.