8/23/22
by: Niagara Host Society
After 16 incredible days, the 2022 Canada Summer Games prepare for Closing Ceremony at Queen Victoria Park
August 21, 2022 (Niagara, Ont.) — After two incredible weeks of celebrating excellence in sport and culture in Canada, the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games are set to conclude tonight with the event’s Closing Ceremony at Queen Victoria Park in Niagara Falls. Since August 6, over 5,000 participants, 4,000 volunteers and countless visitors have enjoyed 18 sports and over 250 events, including a pair of festivals in Niagara Place and the 13 For 13 Cultural Festival, as part of Canada’s largest multi-sport and cultural event. The Games marked just the third occasion in the event’s 55-year history that they were held in the province of Ontario and the first time in 21 years.
The 28th edition of the Canada Games was highlighted by many incredible stories that will undoubtedly be remembered for years to come. They included 16-year-old pitcher Jaida Lee from Newfoundland and Labrador breaking barriers by becoming the first female to play in the male baseball competition at a Canada Games, Eekeeluak Avalak earning the first-ever gold medal in Canada Games history for Nunavut, and Ottawa swimmer Julie Brousseau matching a record by winning 11 medals in a single Canada Games.
Tonight, their accomplishments along with that of all the athletes will be celebrated at 7:50 p.m. at Queen Victoria Park in Niagara Falls (available to watch live on the Niagara 2022 website, CBC Gem, CBCSports.ca and Radio-Canada.ca/Sports), where the Closing Ceremony will officially mark the conclusion of these highly-anticipated 2022 Canada Games.
The Closing Ceremony will feature musical performances from Paul Langlois and Toronto singer-songwriter POESY, who wrote, produced and recorded the anthem of the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games titled ‘Steel Heart’. Along with another “Parade of Teams” and a set of speakers, representatives of the PEI 2023 Canada Winter Games will be on hand to accept the traditional handover of the Official Canada Games Flag, paying tribute to the next Canada Games that will be taking place in just six months.
Ahead of tonight’s festivities, at Sunday’s Closing Press Conference, the Centennial Cup was awarded to Alberta. The Centennial Cup is presented to the provincial or territorial team that shows the greatest improvement from one Summer Games to the next, or from one Winter Games to the next, and it exemplifies the pan-Canadian sport development objective of the Canada Games. The final medal standings of the 2022 Canada Games can be found here.
“For the past 16 days, Niagara has celebrated the wonderful achievements of Canada’s best young athletes,” stated Doug Hamilton, Board Chair of the Niagara 2022 Host Society. "Our vision for these Canada Games has been to host an event that will inspire, transform and unify Niagara, and that will also leave a lasting legacy for our community. As these Games come to a close, I am very proud to say that, despite facing challenges such as the COVID pandemic, we delivered on our vision. We were able to achieve this success thanks to the generous support from our partners and sponsors, and the phenomenal contributions by our tremendous team of volunteers and staff.”
“History has been made here in Niagara and Canada’s next generation of athletes and leaders have sparked greatness in all of us from coast to coast to coast through their incredible performances and remarkable spirit,” said Evan Johnston, Chair of the Canada Games Council. “Congratulations to all of the athletes and teams, and our heartfelt thanks to the 2022 Host Society, Games partners and volunteers for bringing this transformative experience to life.”
“The Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games were spectacular! For the past two weeks, incredible athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers and spectators have proven that sport can bring us all together,” said the Honourable Pascale St-Onge, Minister of Sport and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec. “We have witnessed true sportsmanship, amazing moments and many memorable firsts that will inspire generations of young Canadians. These Games are leaving lasting legacies for the Niagara region. I congratulate the athletes for their efforts and achievements, and all the organizers, sponsors, partners and volunteers for delivering a remarkable event. Our government is proud to have been a part of it.”
“Congratulations to all the athletes who provided us with so many thrilling moments at these Games, and a special shout out to Team Ontario for a spectacular performance – you have made your province very proud,” said Neil Lumsden, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport. “My sincere thanks to the 2022 Niagara Host Society for their hard work and dedication to making these Games a success, and to all the coaches and managers, families, volunteers and spectators who travelled to Ontario from across Canada for their support and enthusiasm.”
“On behalf of the people of Niagara, I want to express what an honour it has been hosting the thousands of athletes and coaches, along with their friends and family, in the region over the last two weeks,” said Jim Bradley, Chair of the Niagara Region. “The success of these Games reflects the hard work of hundreds of talented staff and thousands of dedicated volunteers - we owe each of you an immense thanks for all you have done for our community and for sport in Canada. As the final events wind down, it is my sincere hope that those who competed enjoyed their time in Niagara, and are traveling home having made new friends from across the country.”
In an effort to support the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund (DWF), the Games’ athletes have written their reconciliACTION pledge on a giant banner over the course of the 2022 Canada Games. The banner will lead the Parade of Athletes to the Closing Ceremony. Inspired by Chanie’s story and Gord’s call to build a better Canada, the DWF aims to build cultural understanding and create a path toward reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples, and encourages reconciliation through programs, campaigns, partnerships, and events, including ‘reconciliACTIONs’.
Taking place at 19 different venues across Niagara, the 2022 Canada Games saw approximately 5,000 athletes, representing Canada’s future generation of Olympians and Paralympians, compete in the Niagara Region for the right to be a national champion. Niagara 2022 featured an inaugural women’s rugby sevens competition, the return of men’s lacrosse after a 37-year absence from the Games, and the first-ever women's lacrosse competition in the history of the Canada Games.
For the first time in the Canada Games’ history, which dates back to 1967, 13 municipalities (the Regional Municipality of Niagara and its 12 local area municipalities) collectively hosted this competition. This uniquely Canadian event, which counts Andre De Grasse, Sidney Crosby, Steve Nash, Katarina Roxon and Hayley Wickenheiser as alumni, is also one of the only multi-sport competitions in the world that features events for able-bodied athletes, as well as athletes with physical and intellectual disabilities.
About the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games
At the peak of Niagara’s boldest summer yet, more than 5,000 up-and-coming athletes, their coaches and support staff gathered to compete in the Niagara Region for the podium in Canada’s largest multi-sport event. From August 6 to 21, 2022, Niagara surged stronger than ever on the national stage. The 2022 Canada Games, made possible thanks to funding and support from the Government of Canada, the Government of Ontario, the Niagara Region, and the Canada Games Council, gave rise to new legacies of ambition, confidence, and compassion that will inspire generations to come.
For further information, visit us at niagara2022games.ca or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram (@2022canadagames).
Media Contact
Christopher Séguin, Manager, Media & Communications
289.880.4005
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 once 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.
The office is located in Ottawa, Ontario, on the traditional territory of the Algonquin Anishinabek People. For further information, visit us at canadagames.ca.
Media Contact
Courtney Pollock, Senior Advisor, Communications & Digital Media
613.291.6721
