Canada Games
Biennial Canadian sporting event, alternating between winter and summer sports
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The Canada Games (French: Jeux du Canada) is a multi-sport event held every two years, alternating between the Canada Winter Games and the Canada Summer Games. They represent the highest level of national competition for Canadian athletes. Two separate programs are organized in order to cover the seasons of summer and winter: the Canada Summer Games (CSG) and the Canada Winter Games (CWG). Athlete age eligibility rules vary.
| Canada Games Jeux du Canada | |
|---|---|
| |
.jpg) Opening ceremonies 2017 Canada Summer Games | |
| Status | Active |
| Genre | Multi-sport event |
| Frequency | Biannual |
| Location | Various |
| Country | Canada |
| Inaugurated | Winter Games 1967 Summer Games 1969 |
| Organised by | Canada Games Council |
| Website | canadagames |
The first Canada Winter Games was the 1967 Canada Winter Games, marking the beginning of this important sporting event for Canadians. It has since become integral to celebrating Canadian talent for young amateur Canadian athletes focused on winter sports. The most recent Canada Winter Games was the 2023 Canada Winter Games which ran from February 18 – March 5, 2023 in the province of Prince Edward Island.[1][2] The next Canada Winter Games, the 2027 Canada Winter Games, will be hosted in Quebec City, Quebec. The dates are yet to be announced.
The first Canada Summer Games were the 1969 Canada Summer Games. The most recent Canada Summer Games was the 2025 Canada Summer Games which took place August 9–24, 2025 in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador.[3] The next Canada Summer Games, the 2029 Canada Summer Games, will be hosted in Moncton and Saint John, New Brunswick.
History
The Games were first held in 1967 in Quebec City as part of Canada's Centennial celebrations. For the first time in Canada's history, 1,800 athletes from 10 provinces and two territories gathered to compete in 15 sports. Since 1967, over 75,000 athletes have participated in the Games. The Games have been hosted in every province at least once since their inception in Quebec City during Canada’s Centennial in 1967. Journalist Eddie MacCabe wrote a history book for the 25th anniversary of the Canada Games in 1992.[4][5]
Facility development
| Facilities built for the Canada Games | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Facility | Games | City and Province | ||
| Canada Games Pool | 1973 | New Westminster, British Columbia | ||
| Aquarena | 1977 | St. John's, Newfoundland | ||
| Canada Games Aquatic Centre | 1985 | Saint John, New Brunswick | ||
| Hillside Stadium and Aquatic Centre | 1993 | Kamloops, British Columbia | ||
| Corner Brook Canada Games Centre and Annex | 1999 | Corner Brook, Newfoundland | ||
| TD Waterhouse Stadium | 2001 | London, Ontario | ||
| Yukon University athlete's village (student residences) | 2007 | Whitehorse, Yukon | ||
| Canada Games Centre | 2011 | Clayton Park, Halifax, Nova Scotia | ||
| Fortis Canada Games Complex | 2025 | St John's, Newfoundland and Labrador | ||
Sports
Over the course of the history of the Canada Games, a variety of sports have been added and dropped at various points within the Summer Games and Winter Games programs. The winter games include some sports not associated with winter.
Former sports
Fencing was previously a Winter Games sport before it was moved to Summer program for the Sherbrooke 2013 games and then removed altogether following those games. BMX, field hockey, and water polo were formerly in the Summer program as well. Racquetball was in the 1979, 1983, and 1991 Canada Winter Games, but hasn't been included since.
Returning sports
Fencing made its return to the Games during the 2023 Canada Winter Games in Prince Edward Island. Its last appearance had been during the 2013 Canada Summer Games.
Box lacrosse made its return to the Summer Games during the 2022 Canada Summer Games. It was the first time box lacrosse had been featured since the 1985 Canada Games.[6]
Organization
The games are governed by the Canada Games Council, a private, non-profit organization. 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. In addition, the Canada Games Council ensures effective long-term partnerships with national sport organizations, governments and the corporate sector. The Canada Games Council is a well-established, national organization that fosters on-going partnerships with organizations at the municipal, provincial and national levels.
Host Society
The individual games are run by the local Host Society, a non-profit private organization that is established 2–4 years prior to the event. The Host Society functions in accordance with an agreement between the Canada Games Council, the government of Canada, the government of the province or territory and the government of the municipality. The Canada Games Council maintains and secures long-term partnership agreements with governments, corporations and national sport organizations.
Funding
Funding for the games comes from the several levels of government together with donations and corporate sponsorships. A considerable portion of the work during the games is performed by local volunteers.[7]
Hosts
The host cities have not been chosen for the games after 2029, but the provinces through 2037 have.[8]
Summer
| Edition | Year | Host city | Host Province/Territory | Start Date | End Date | Competitors | Sports | Canada Games flag |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1969 | Halifax |  Nova Scotia |
August 16 | August 24 | 715 | 15 |  Ontario |
| 2 | 1973 | New Westminster – Burnaby |  British Columbia |
August 3 | August 12 | 1,676 | 16 | British Columbia |
| 3 | 1977 | St. John's |  Newfoundland and Labrador |
August 7 | August 19 | 1,709 | 18 | Ontario |
| 4 | 1981 | Thunder Bay | Ontario |
August 9 | August 22 | 1,813 | 18 | Ontario |
| 5 | 1985 | Saint John |  New Brunswick |
August 11 | August 24 | 2,465 | 18 | Ontario |
| 6 | 1989 | Saskatoon |  Saskatchewan |
August 8 | August 21 | 2,465 | 18 | Ontario |
| 7 | 1993 | Kamloops | British Columbia |
August 6 | August 22 | 3,253 | 17 | Ontario |
| 8 | 1997 | Brandon |  Manitoba |
August 9 | August 23 | 3,364 | 19 | Ontario |
| 9 | 2001 | London | Ontario |
August 10 | August 25 | 3,487 | 18 | Ontario |
| 10 | 2005 | Regina | Saskatchewan |
August 6 | August 20 | 3,511 | 16 | Ontario |
| 11 | 2009 | Charlottetown-Summerside |  Prince Edward Island |
August 15 | August 29 | 3,432 | 18 | Ontario |
| 12 | 2013 | Sherbrooke |  Quebec |
August 2 | August 17 | 3,361 | 19 | Ontario |
| 13 | 2017 | Winnipeg | Manitoba |
July 28 | August 13 | 3,382 | 18 | Ontario |
| 14 | 2022* | Niagara Region | Ontario |
August 6 | August 21 | 5,000+ | 18 | Ontario |
| 15 | 2025 | St. John's | Newfoundland and Labrador |
August 8 | August 24 | 4,000+ | 19 | Quebec |
| 16 | 2029 | Moncton-Saint John | New Brunswick |
TBD | TBD | |||
| 17 | 2033 | TBD | Saskatchewan |
TBD | TBD | |||
| 18 | 2037 | TBD | Nova Scotia |
TBD | TBD |
- The 2022 Canada Games were scheduled to be held in 2021, but were rescheduled to 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[9]
Winter
| Edition | Year | Host city | Host Province/Territory | Start Date | End Date | Competitors | Sports | Canada Games flag |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1967 | Quebec City | Quebec |
February 11 | February 19 | 557 | 15 | Ontario |
| 2 | 1971 | Saskatoon | Saskatchewan |
February 11 | February 22 | 687 | 17 | Ontario |
| 3 | 1975 | Lethbridge |  Alberta |
February 11 | February 23 | 664 | 17 | Quebec |
| 4 | 1979 | Brandon | Manitoba |
February 12 | February 24 | 1,962 | 17 | Quebec |
| 5 | 1983 | Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean | Quebec |
February 17 | March 2 | 1,900 | 19 | Ontario |
| 6 | 1987 | Cape Breton | Nova Scotia |
February 14 | February 28 | 1,995 | 17 | Ontario |
| 7 | 1991 | Charlottetown | Prince Edward Island |
February 17 | March 2 | 2,304 | 19 | Ontario |
| 8 | 1995 | Grande Prairie | Alberta |
February 19 | March 4 | 2,284 | 21 | Ontario |
| 9 | 1999 | Corner Brook | Newfoundland and Labrador |
February 20 | March 6 | 2,808 | 21 | Ontario |
| 10 | 2003 | Bathurst-Campbellton | New Brunswick |
February 22 | March 8 | 2,606 | 21 | Quebec |
| 11 | 2007 | Whitehorse |  Yukon |
February 23 | March 10 | 2,678 | 22 | Ontario |
| 12 | 2011 | Halifax | Nova Scotia |
February 11 | February 27 | 2,238 | 20 | Ontario |
| 13 | 2015 | Prince George | British Columbia |
February 13 | March 1 | 2,345 | 20 | Ontario |
| 14 | 2019 | Red Deer | Alberta |
February 17 | March 3 | 2,377 | 20 | Quebec |
| 15 | 2023 | Prince Edward Island | Prince Edward Island |
February 18 | March 5 | 3,600 | 21 | Quebec |
| 16 | 2027 | Quebec City | Quebec |
TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | |
| 17 | 2031 | TBD | Quebec |
TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | |
| 18 | 2035 | TBD |  Northwest Territories |
TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
Host provinces/territories
| Rank | Province/Territory | Summer | Winter | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Quebec |
1 (2013) | 3 (1967, 1983, 2027, 2031) | 5 |
| 2 | Nova Scotia |
2 (1969, 2037) | 2 (1987, 2011) | 4 |
| Saskatchewan |
3 (1989, 2005, 2033) | 1 (1971) | 4 | |
| 4 | Alberta |
0 | 3 (1975, 1995, 2019) | 3 |
| British Columbia |
2 (1973, 1993) | 1 (2015) | 3 | |
| Manitoba |
2 (1997, 2017) | 1 (1979) | 3 | |
| New Brunswick |
2 (1985, 2029) | 1 (2003) | 3 | |
| Newfoundland and Labrador |
2 (1977, 2025) | 1 (1999) | 3 | |
| Prince Edward Island |
1 (2009) | 2 (1991, 2023) | 3 | |
| Ontario |
3 (1981, 2001, 2022) | 0 | 3 | |
| 11 | Northwest Territories |
0 | 1 (2035) | 1 |
| Yukon |
0 | 1 (2007) | 1 | |
| 13 |  Nunavut |
0 | 0 | 0 |
Map of host cities
All-time medal tables
For Games medal standings see List of Canada Games.
| Rank | Province/Territory | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ontario |
1297 | 1092 | 1013 | 3402 |
| 2 | Quebec |
1117 | 975 | 932 | 3024 |
| 3 | British Columbia |
730 | 809 | 773 | 2312 |
| 4 | Alberta |
505 | 569 | 668 | 1742 |
| 5 | Saskatchewan |
196 | 269 | 348 | 813 |
| 6 | Manitoba |
172 | 224 | 308 | 704 |
| 7 | Nova Scotia |
209 | 211 | 232 | 652 |
| 8 | New Brunswick |
72 | 92 | 165 | 329 |
| 9 | Newfoundland and Labrador |
20 | 48 | 71 | 139 |
| 10 | Prince Edward Island |
12 | 21 | 26 | 59 |
| 11 | Yukon |
15 | 23 | 19 | 57 |
| 12 | Northwest Territories |
7 | 6 | 9 | 22 |
| 13 | Nunavut |
1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Rank | Province/territory | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ontario |
763 | 576 | 547 | 1886 |
| 2 | Quebec |
436 | 483 | 468 | 1387 |
| 3 | British Columbia |
474 | 465 | 394 | 1333 |
| 4 | Alberta |
232 | 274 | 310 | 816 |
| 5 | Nova Scotia |
153 | 145 | 135 | 433 |
| 6 | Saskatchewan |
100 | 147 | 181 | 428 |
| 7 | Manitoba |
60 | 103 | 139 | 302 |
| 8 | New Brunswick |
33 | 45 | 59 | 137 |
| 9 | Newfoundland and Labrador |
4 | 19 | 26 | 49 |
| 10 | Prince Edward Island |
5 | 5 | 2 | 12 |
| 11 | Yukon |
2 | 1 | 3 | 6 |
| 12 | Northwest Territories |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | Nunavut |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Rank | Province/territory | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Quebec |
634 | 456 | 431 | 1521 |
| 2 | Ontario |
464 | 457 | 425 | 1346 |
| 3 | British Columbia |
238 | 300 | 349 | 887 |
| 4 | Alberta |
238 | 265 | 323 | 826 |
| 5 | Manitoba |
103 | 112 | 155 | 370 |
| 6 | Saskatchewan |
95 | 108 | 154 | 357 |
| 7 | New Brunswick |
36 | 42 | 98 | 176 |
| 8 | Nova Scotia |
34 | 54 | 81 | 169 |
| 9 | Newfoundland and Labrador |
15 | 23 | 45 | 83 |
| 10 | Prince Edward Island |
6 | 16 | 24 | 46 |
| 11 | Yukon |
13 | 20 | 16 | 49 |
| 12 | Northwest Territories |
7 | 6 | 9 | 22 |
| 13 | Nunavut |
0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Medal leaders by year
Canada Summer Games medal table leaders by year:
Canada Winter Games medal table leaders by year:
Number of occurrences:
Ontario – 16 times (13 Summer; 3 Winter)
Quebec – 12 times (12 Winter)
British Columbia – 1 time (1 Summer)
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