Next weekend, more than 20,000 Canadians are expected to converge at the centre of Canada as Winnipeg hosts the Games. The prime minister is planning to make an appearance along with many national politicians and provincial premiers.
By SHEILA COPPS
First published on Monday, July 17, 2017 in The Hill Times.
OTTAWA—Birthdays have a way of spawning new ideas. Whether it is a resolution to lose weight, a decision to do more good, or a plan to simply stop sweating the small stuff, milestone moments can be catalysts.
That holds true for a country as well as a person.
So many good ideas have been generated during Canada’s 150th that it is hard to know where to start. Whether it is a street party, a community festival or a cross-country relay, people reach out during our celebration in a way that makes all of us reconnect with community.
Some of the events will be ephemeral, fleeting opportunities to meet. Others will stand the test of time.
The Canada Games event is one of those birthday presents that has stood the test of time. The largest, multiple sporting event in the country, it was launched 50 years ago on Canada’s 100th birthday.
Next weekend, more than 20,000 Canadians are expected to converge at the centre of Canada as Winnipeg hosts the Games. The prime minister is planning to make an appearance along with many national politicians and provincial premiers.
The Canada Games are a must-attend event on the summer political barbecue circuit.
The organization is even stronger today than when it started as a centennial project.
Held in a different Canadian community every two years, with alternating winter and summer versions, the sporting theme replicates the Olympic Games model. It even features a Canada Games torch relay, named after an iconic supporter, New Brunswicker Roly McLenahan.
This year’s torch was lit from the Parliament Hill eternal flame on June 6 and has been wending its way through Manitoba for the past several weeks in preparation for the July 28 opening ceremony.
The Winnipeg gathering marks only the second time in history that two First Nations will co-host the event.
Featuring 16 sports, more than 250 events, and a major cultural festival, the 2017 Canada Games will welcome more than 4,000 athletes and coaches.
The Canada Games have also become a major cultural draw, offering the host city a chance to showcase musical talent, while welcoming artists from across Canada. This year’s opening ceremonies include Serena Ryder from Ontario, Quebec’s Coeur de Pirate and Winnipeg’s own Juno award-winning Brothers’ Landreth.
No cultural event would be complete without participation from the Royal Winnipeg Ballet.
The closing ceremony includes indigenous star Métis fiddler Sierra Dawn Sky Noble, and children’s favourite, Winnipegger Fred Penner. They share the stage with Brett Kissel, an Albertan county music sensation.
Every games site also involves a permanent legacy for athletic facilities to encourage the next generation of sporting excellence.
The opportunity can be a launchpad for athletes who go on to professional or Olympic greatness. A sprinkling of alumnae names include hockey great Sidney Crosby, basketball Hall of Famer Steve Nash, tennis pro Eugenie Bouchard, two-time Olympic gold speed-skater Catriona Le May Doan and Junior World Super Heavyweight boxing champion Lennox Lewis.
The combination of sport and culture is a powerful nation-builder. The original motto of the event, back in 1967, was ‘Unity through Sport’.
Today’s Canada Games’ website reinforces that claim with the bold statement that “The Canada Games are not only a unifying force in sport; they also promote diversity, multiculturalism, health and wellness, the use of both official languages, and community spirit.”
It is hard to believe that the event was almost killed by government budget cuts back in the last century.
In 1996, the Liberal government cost-cutting initiative involved reducing most departmental budgets by 25 per cent.
Canadian Heritage planned to eliminate all non-core expenditures to meet targets. Canada Games was considered just such an expenditure and a decision to eliminate their funding had been approved by my predecessor when I inherited the job.
Hamiltonian Jack Pelech, a Canada Games Council stalwart, was not about to give up on his dream so easily.
One of my first ministerial meetings was with Pelech and Canada Games Council president Lane MacAdam.
They pleaded for a reversal of the decision, arguing that the biannual event is an important avenue to link Canadians when so many things were splitting the country apart. In the aftermath of our cliff-hanger referendum, their vision was compelling and I agreed.
We were able to save the games, and preserve the energy that is created when young athletes and artists are linked in the most important ongoing multi-sporting event in our history.
Not only does the event shape athletes. It builds the country.
Happy 50th birthday to the Canada Games.
Sheila Copps is a former Jean Chrétien-era cabinet minister and a former deputy prime minister. Follow her on Twitter at @Sheila_Copps.
