New 2022 dates announced for Canada Summer Games in Niagara

Photo: Canada Games Council

Official Canada Games Council Press Release

October 26, 2020

The 28th edition of the Canada Games will take place in the Niagara Region from Saturday, August 6th to Sunday, August 21st, 2022.

(Niagara, ON) – The Canada Games Council (CGC) and Niagara Host Society are pleased to announce that the Canada Summer Games in Niagara have been officially rescheduled for August 6-21, 2022. These new dates were identified after consultation with each provincial/territorial team, National Sport Organizations (NSOs), sport/non-sport venues and all levels of government.

Originally, the Games were scheduled to take place on the same dates in 2021 before they were recently postponed to the summer of 2022 due to continued public health concerns relating to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The new dates mean Niagara 2022’s Opening Ceremony will now take place on Saturday, August 6th, 2022 at Meridian Centre in St. Catharines, while the Games’ Closing Ceremony will fall on Sunday, August 21st, 2022 at Queen Victoria Park in Niagara Falls.

“Following our decision to postpone the Games, we are excited to share our new dates and redirect our planning efforts towards August 2022,” said Doug Hamilton, Chair of the Niagara Host Society. “We would like to thank all of our funding partners, including the Niagara Region, Province of Ontario and Federal Government, for their continued support. We look forward to celebrating Canada’s largest multi-sport event in Niagara in August of 2022.”

The CGC continues to work with sport partners to determine athlete eligibility rules for the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games. A resolution for each sport is expected to be announced by early 2021.

“As we now look forward to Niagara 2022, we remain fully committed to supporting Canadian athletes and our amateur sport community,” said Evan Johnston, Chair of the Canada Games Council Board. “Providing some clarity on athlete eligibility rules for these 2022 Games remains a top priority for us. We expect to have clear answers for all athletes and their families early in the New Year.”

“We know this is an especially tough time for athletes, for coaches and for all sports organizations,” added the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Heritage. “That is why the Government of Canada is proud to support organizations like the Canada Games Council and the Niagara Host Society, who are working hard to adapt to these circumstances. Canadians stand with the sports community. We will be there to celebrate your accomplishments again because you will be a vital part of what brings us all back together.”

“With the announcement of these new dates, I am more confident than ever that Niagara will be able to host the Games the way we envisioned by providing a world-class experience for the athletes, coaches and the thousands of spectators who will visit our beautiful region,” said Jim Bradley, Niagara’s Regional Chair. “The new August 6-21, 2022 schedule will allow Niagara to reap the maximum economic benefits out of this important event, while keeping everyone safe and healthy. I want to thank the federal and provincial government for their unwavering support for the 2022 Canada Summer Games in Niagara.”

Considered a key step in the development of Canada’s next generation of national, international and Olympic champions, the Canada Games are widely recognized as the highest level of national competition for thousands of up-and-coming Canadian athletes. More than 5,000 participants and 4,000 volunteers are expected to participate in the 28th edition of the Canada Games that will be held in the Niagara Region.

About the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games

At the peak of Niagara’s boldest summer yet, more than 5,000 young athletes and their coaches will gather to compete for the podium in Canada’s largest multi-sport event. On its road to glory, this shining generation of hopefuls will leave its mark on our community and on the country – transforming, inspiring, and unifying us all through the power of sport.

As ambassadors of Niagara’s unrivaled warmth and compassion, thousands of volunteers will play host to the nation. The Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games will celebrate the wonder of sport alongside arts and culture. The Games will honour our Indigenous communities, and showcase a remarkable heritage of hard work and innovation in one of the world’s most awe-inspiring destinations.

With world-renowned hospitality, the people of Niagara will welcome visitors from across the country. Spirited events, spectacular entertainment, and the theatre of elite competition will spark new energy in the region as our streets, skies, and waterways shimmer with ceremony and celebration that is befitting of Canada’s best young athletes.

From August 6th to 21st, 2022, Niagara will surge stronger than ever on the national stage. The Games will give rise to a new legacy of ambition, confidence, and compassion that will inspire generations to come.

About the Canada Games Council

The Canada Games Council, as 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.