2019 Canada Winter Games
Inaugural Canada Games Torch Relay kicks of in Ottawa
First-Ever National MNP Canada Games Torch Relay Kicks Off
(Ottawa, Ontario) – Today, the first-ever national MNP Canada Games Torch Relay kicked off on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, and the Canada Games flag was raised across the country in past Host Communities. As part of Canada Games tradition, the Canada Games Roly McLenahan Torch was lit from the Centennial Flame with guest of honour Minister of Sport, Kirsty Duncan. The Canada Games Torch Lighting is a significant element of the Games and has united communities across the nation for the past 51 years. In celebration of the lighting of the torch, past Canada Games Host Communities raised the Canada Games flag. For the first time in the history of the Canada Games, the Roly McLenahan torch now embarks on a relay across Canada before arriving in Red Deer, Alberta for the Opening Ceremony of the 2019 Canada Winter Games on February 15, 2019.
“The MNP Canada Games Torch Relay is an exciting opportunity to share the spirit of the Canada Games across the nation,” said Lyn Radford, Board Chair of the 2019 Canada Winter Games Host Society. “We are proud to partner with MNP to deliver the first-ever national MNP Canada Games Torch Relay and celebrate sport and culture in communities across the nation from now until the Opening Ceremony of the 2019 Canada Winter Games in Red Deer.”
“This inaugural MNP Canada Games Torch Relay will give Canadians across the country the opportunity to experience the true spirit of the 2019 Canada Winter Games,” said the Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science and Sport. “The flame will pass through communities in every region of the country providing Canadians an opportunity to cheer on our athletes as they strive for excellence but also to be inspired by their love of sport.”
“Alberta is proud to host the 2019 Canada Winter Games in Red Deer,” said Ricardo Miranda, Alberta Minister of Culture and Tourism. “We will be eagerly watching the torch as it makes its way across the country before arriving in the heart of Alberta. Good luck to all the torchbearers and we look forward to welcoming you to Alberta soon.”
“As the torch starts its journey on the road to Red Deer, it provides a unique opportunity for our fellow Canadians to become a part of the 2019 Canada Winter Games in their respective communities,” said City of Red Deer Mayor Tara Veer. “Through the torch, Canadians from coast to coast to coast across our country will become a part of the energy and excitement that Red Deer will experience this February when we welcome the nation to our city”.
“We are thrilled that the MNP Canada Games Torch Relay is now underway and that the iconic Roly McLenahan Torch is set to travel across our beautiful country, galvanizing Canadian pride for youth and sport,” said Tom Quinn, Canada Games Council Chairman. “The Torch visits communities that have hosted past editions of the Canada Games and a feeling of nostalgia and effervescence is sure to take over as residents reminisce about how impactful the Canada Games were to their city and community.”
“For MNP, the opportunity to participate in the coast-to-coast Torch Relay is a real honour and a wonderful way for us, as a ‘Made in Canada’ firm, to celebrate our 60th anniversary,” said Jason Tuffs, Chief Executive Officer of MNP. “We wish all the athletes, their families, Games organizers, leadership and volunteers a fun and successful 2019 Canada Winter Games.”
The first torch relay stop is Halifax, Nova Scotia on October 9 and then the MNP Canada Games Torch Relay heads west visiting almost 50 communities across Canada through a series of torch relay and community celebration stops before arriving in Red Deer for the Opening Ceremony of the 2019 Games.
Torch relays are hosted in 26 communities, information on torchbearers is available at canadagames.ca/2019/torchbearers.
For the complete MNP Canada Games Torch Relay schedule, please visit canadagames.ca/2019/mnptorchrelay.
2019 Canada Winter Games
Red Deer’s Lyn Radford joins new Chair Catriona Le May Doan on Canada Games Council
News release from the Canada Games Council
Hall of Fame Athlete Elected Chair of Canada Games Council Board of Directors
The Canada Games Council (CGC) is thrilled to announce the election of Canadian sport legend Catriona Le May Doan as Chair of the organization’s Board of Directors. Joining Le May Doan in officer positions are Vice-Chair Sean O’Donnell, Treasurer Sheri Somerville and Secretary Lyn Radford.
“I am very excited and honoured to be taking on the role of Chair of the Canada Games Council,” said Le May Doan. “I have been a part of the Canada Games Movement for almost 42 years. The Canada Games were my first multi-sport Games and had a huge impact on my career and I continue to believe in and witness the power of the Canada Games in building sport in our country, but also strengthening our communities.”
A three-time Olympic medallist and icon in Canadian speed skating, Le May Doan is a true champion on and off the field of play. She is a tireless ambassador for the transformational power of sport and a distinguished member of Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame and the Canada Games Hall of Honour.
A Canada Games alum in both speed skating and athletics for Team Saskatchewan, Le May Doan is currently the President and CEO of Sport Calgary. She recently served as Team Canada’s Chef de Mission at the Olympic Winter Games in 2022.
A longtime CGC board member, Le May Doan takes over the reins from outgoing Chair Evan Johnston, who is stepping down after 10 years on the board as he takes on the new role as President and CEO of The Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company in January.
“On behalf of the entire Canada Games family, I’d like to thank Evan for his decade of volunteer service to the Canada Games Movement and his invaluable guidance and mentorship to our CGC Board and staff as Chair of the Canada Games Council,” said Kelly-Ann Paul, CGC President and CEO. “We are thrilled to welcome Catriona at the helm and know her strategic leadership will continue to solidify the foundation of our organization so that the Canada Games strengthen the fabric of our nation from coast to coast to coast.”
“I hope to continue the great work that Evan has done and I thank him for his leadership,” said Le May Doan. “I am looking forward to working with the incredible CGC team and our network of partners for the upcoming Games in St. John’s next summer, and then in Quebec City in 2027, where we will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Games. Together, we will continue to spark greatness in Canadians through the Canada Games.”
Those filling the remaining officer positions have all been on the CGC Board since 2022.
O’Donnell brings extensive executive experience in the federal public service and the Canadian sport system to the Vice-Chair role. Somerville is a business executive, entrepreneur, and award-winning PR consultant, all of which will serve her well as Treasurer. Radford brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in revenue generation for non-profit and sport organizations, as well as a Host Society leadership lens, to the role of Secretary.
The next Canada Summer Games take place from August 8-25, 2025 in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, while the next Canada Winter Games will unfold in Quebec City from February 27 to March 14, 2027.
About the Canada Games Council
The Canada Games Council, a private, non-profit organization, is the governing body for the Canada Games. Held once every two years, alternating between winter and summer, the Canada Games represent the highest level of national competition for up and coming Canadian athletes. The Games have been hosted in every province at least twice since their inception in Quebec City during Canada’s Centennial in 1967. The Games are proud of their contribution to Canada’s sport development system, in addition to their lasting legacy of sport facilities, community pride and national unity. The organization of the Canada Games is made possible through the tireless dedication of local Host Societies and the contribution and support of the federal, provincial/territorial and host municipal governments.
2019 Canada Winter Games
Gift that keeps giving: 35 Alberta non-profits funded through the 2019 Canada Winter Games Legacy Fund
From the Canada Games Council
LEGACIES OF THE 2019 CANADA WINTER GAMES CONTINUE TO GROW
Legacy Fund Society awards legacy funds to not-for-profits across Alberta
The 2019 Canada Winter Games Legacy Fund Society has awarded the financial legacy from the 2019 Games to not-for-profit sport and community organizations across Alberta.
“The Legacy Fund Society is pleased to announce that we have awarded $655,000 in grants to 35 not-for-profit sport and community organizations across Alberta,” said Guy Pelletier, Legacy Fund Society Chair. “The grants support a wide variety of projects across the province. These organizations and their respective projects build on the numerous legacies of the 2019 Games.”
Through a grant application process in early 2021, the Legacy Fund Society received and reviewed funding requests for 200 projects from nearly 150 organizations at a value of over $7.1 million.
“The response to our call for applications was phenomenal. There was no shortage of meaningful and innovative projects,” said Pelletier.
“The 2019 Canada Games in Red Deer were truly transformative and continue to foster meaningful legacies across Alberta,” said Kelly-Ann Paul, Senior Vice-President of Host Relations at the Canada Games Council. “These legacy grants will enrich and uplift organizations and communities as we strive to strengthen the fabric of Canada through the power of sport.”
Requests for funding were reviewed and evaluated based on their alignment with the values of the 2019 Games and distributed in four categories: athlete and coach or official development; infrastructure or equipment development or acquisition; sport development capacity building; and non-sport or discretionary projects.
The following is a listing of the organizations who were awarded funding:
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