The Canada Games is a multi-sport and cultural event that brings together the best athletes and artists in a specified age group from each Canadian province and territory. The primary objective of the Games and the Games movement is national and provincial sport development of Canadian youth. The Games provide the stimulus for Canadian youth to reach their athletic potential, pursue personal excellence and develop socially and culturally within the context of ethical competition. The Games rotate across the country and facilities built for the Games often serve as a sporting legacy to the host communities.
The Canada Games Council is the not-for-profit organization responsible for all aspects of the Games, including the philosophy, objectives and the development of policies and procedures to guide the preparation and staging of the Canada Winter and Summer Games. Their partners include federal, provincial and territorial governments, National Sport Organizations and their affiliated Provincial Sport Organizations. Additionally, host cities, provinces, and territories, Host Societies and corporate sponsors are partners in the staging of each Canada Games event. In 2009, the Province of Prince Edward Island will host the Canada Games August 15-29th.
The thought of staging the Canada Games first arose in 1924, at a meeting in Winnipeg of the Amateur Athletic Union of Canada. For more than 40 years it remained a frequent subject of discussion. Finally, in 1966 in Quebec City, the governments of Canada and Quebec gave their joint approval to a proposal to hold the first Games the following year, coinciding with Canada’s 1967 Centennial celebrations.
Since then, at two year intervals, twenty more ceremonial torches have been ignited to signal the start of successive Canada Games with now over 50,000 participants. With Prince Edward Island having hosted the 1991 Winter Games, each province has now hosted the Games at least once, with several having hosted twice already. In 2007, the first Games were held north of the 60th parallel, in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory. Lots of participants had tire studs on their vehicle!
Canada Games has taken on a new importance over the past number of years in Canada’s overall sport strategy. Canadian sport policy positions Canada Games as to target next generation National Team members and future Olympians.