Our Mascot
Introducing Shelly
Shelly is the Official Mascot of the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games. A friendly and energetic turtle, Shelly proudly represents our region and is happy to welcome all Canadian athletes and visitors to Niagara.
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Why the turtle?
There are many wonderful coincidences that explain why the turtle is the perfect fit for the 2022 Canada Games in Niagara. Consider the following connections:
Turtle Island
Many Indigenous nations, and especially here in Niagara, have passed down their Creation Story, all of which talk about a turtle giving its back to carry all life forms, making the Niagara Escarpment the backbone of “Turtle Island”.The Case for Number 13
The symmetry between the turtle’s 13 large sections on its shell, Niagara’s 13 municipalities (12 municipalities plus 1 region), and Canada’s 13 provinces and territories.
28 for 28
The alignment between the turtle’s 28 small sections on its shell and the fact that 2022 Niagara will be the 28th Canada Games.Athlete Development
The Canada Games are an important part of the development of Canada’s young athletes. Achieving one’s potential in any sport requires persistence and diligence. As our friend the turtle has taught us, slow and steady wins the race!Winners of the Mascot Challenge
As part of the Catch the Spirit Education program, students between the ages of 10 and 15 were invited to name and design the Niagara 2022 Canada Games mascot - a turtle! Local students Juan Josè Arbelaez, the design winner, and Naturelle Gerrard, the name winner, were recognized for their contributions towards Shelly’s creation on stage by Cari and Ron MacLean during the Mascot Reveal at Rogers Hometown Hockey, Sunday, November 10, 2019. Chromebook laptop for each winner courtesy of Spark Niagara.
