Canada Winter Games Ready to Begin

From February 13 - March 1, 2015, Prince George and Northern British Columbia will play host to 2,400 athletes, 1,000 coaches and officials, up to 4,500 volunteers, hundreds of media and thousands of visitors.

This event will be the largest multi-sport and cultural event to ever be held in Prince George and northern British Columbia and is forecasted to generate an economic impact of over $90 million while building champions and inspiring dreams amongst Canadian youth.

Prince George is the first city in British Columbia to host a winter edition of the Canada Games and together with the Official Host First Nation, the Lheidli T'enneh, Canada can’t wait to extend a heartfelt welcome to the athletes from over 800 communities who will be attending for the 2015 Canada Winter Games. 

The Canada Games are a powerful, nation-building event that promotes unity, cultural understanding and diversity.

The first Canada Games were held in Québec City in 1967 and were an outstanding success. They paved the way to what is now Canada’s largest multi-sport competition for young athletes. As the best in their age group, amateur competitors from all over Canada come to the Canada Games from the 13 provinces and territories across the nation and compete for the Canada Games Flag and Centennial Cup.

These athletes are our country’s next generation of national, international and Olympic champions. Some of the best sports stars to ever come out of Canada, gave us their first glimpses of success at the Canada Games, including:

• Sidney Crosby, Team NS - Men's Hockey: 2003 Canada Winter Games in Bathurst-Campbellton, New Brunswick

• Steve Nash, Team BC - Men's Basketball: 1993 Canada Summer Games in Kamloops, British Columbia

• Hayley Wickenheiser, Team AB - Women's Hockey: 

• Catriona Le May Doan, Team Sask - Speed Skating and Athletics: 1983 Canada Winter Games in Saguenay/Lac-St-Jean, Quebec; 1987 Canada Winter Games in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia

• Stuart Ballantyne CEO, 2015 Canada Winter Games, Team BC - Swimming, 1977 Canada Summer Games in St. John's, NL

The Canada Games — a celebration of youth, sport, culture and community — are the product of an ongoing collaboration between the Government of Canada, provincial/territorial governments, host municipalities, strong private sector partnerships and the Canada Games Council.

In 2015, 19 sports ranging from traditional winter, traditional summer, Paralympic, and Special Olympic will make up the 2015 Canada Winter Games. The 2015 Canada Winter Games will also include:

• over 2,400 young Canadian athletes - ranging in age from 12 - 35

• over 1,000 coaches, team managers, and officials

• 13 teams: ten provinces and three territories

• 18 days of the 2015 Canada Winter Games

• 14 days of official competition

A full list of the sports is available at this link.

The Games have a long and distinguished history.  Full information is available at this site.