A message from Michele O’Keefe, associate director, Athletics and Recreation. Canada Summer Games Board of Directors. Chair of the Niagara 2021 CSG’s Legacy Committee:
Since our last update in May, the Canada Summer Games organizers announced the theme of the 2021 games: “Once, and for all.” The province of Ontario is only eligible to host the CSG’s every 25 years, so the theme symbolizes Niagara’s one chance to come together on the national stage. The notion of inclusivity – a Canada Summer Games for all – is certainly something we at Niagara College can rally around.
Organizers confirmed that over 5,000 athletes will participate in 18 sports over two weeks – August 6 to 21, 2021 – including two parasports and two special Olympic sports. The torch relay will run from Ottawa to Niagara, with the opening ceremonies taking place at the Meridian Centre and closing ceremonies at Victoria Park. There will be demand for 4,000 volunteers to make the games a success, of which Niagara College students will have plenty of opportunities to be a part of the action.
CSG 2021 CEO, Barry Wright, and HR manager Kelly Vlaar spoke to NC’s CSG Committee this June about recent developments, the theme, and the commitment to accessibility at the games. Wright outlined the four pillars of the games: participant experience, sport development, community development, and the Canada Games brand.
This June, school children in the Niagara Region aged 10 to 15 are taking part in the Mascot Challenge to design and name the official ‘Guardian of the Games,’ a term which recognizes and honours Niagara’s Indigenous roots. The mascot will be a turtle, an Indigenous icon of Turtle Island (North America) with ties to both the games and the region. For one, the alignment between the 28 small sections on the turtle’s shell relate to the 2021 Canada Games being the 28th event. The 13 large sections on the turtle’s shell represent Niagara’s 13 municipalities (12 municipalities plus one region). Each municipality is set to play host to athletes and coaches from one assigned province or territory. Notably, all species of turtles in the region are endangered. Learn more in this video.
There has also been developments on the infrastructure legacy front, with fundraising well underway for a new stadium and games park. The events will take place at a total of 18 venues across the region.
You can expect several milestone community events – 32 in total – over the next two years, each building excitement and advancing the Games forward.
A fun NC connection worth noting – the Canada Games basketball coach from Newfoundland is none other than Angela Torraville, sister of CFWI’s Gary Torraville.
