The excitement continues to grow in Red Deer and across the country as we draw closer to the 2019 Canada Winter Games. February 15 marks the start of the largest event ever hosted in central Alberta. That means we are just over a month away from kicking off the nation’s largest multi-sport and cultural event for youth. Featuring 19 sports and a major arts and cultural festival, the 2019 Canada Winter Games welcomes as many as 3,600 athletes, managers and coaches and more than 20,000 visitors to Red Deer and central Alberta next month.
Before the first athlete steps out on the field of play and before the first artist makes an appearance on the stage at the 52° North Music + Cultural Festival, there many activities underway, torch relay events to attend and opportunities for you to share your Games spirit. Read on for opportunities for you to engage with the 2019 Games from now until February 15.
Every Friday until February 15, central Albertans have a chance to show their Canada Games pride and have a chance to win great prizes with Games Gear Friday. Each Friday, the 2019 Canada Games awards a prize pack to a Games Gear Friday participant. How to participate? Take a picture of yourself or your coworkers wearing 2019 Canada Winter Games official merchandise and share your photos on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram using the handle @2019CanadaGames and the hashtag #2019GamesGear.
For businesses looking to dress up their storefronts in celebration of the 2019 Games, two Community Spirit packages are available for purchase at canadagamesgear.ca. The second phase of pre-orders for spirit packages are accepted until Tuesday, January 15, 2019, with delivery occurring in mid-February 2019. For more details on the packages, please visit canadagamesgear.ca.
Homeowners looking to help welcome the nation are encouraged to leave their Christmas lights up and to watch for additional window decals and car flags to be offered through canadagamesgear.ca in early February.
In schools across central Alberta, the 2019 Games are delivering assemblies as part of the Catch the Spirit program. The assembly program features the 2019 Games mascot, Waskasoo, visiting schools with a mini torch relay and a dynamic presentation about the 2019 Canada Games. To book a Canada Games Day at your school, contact Lisa Mackey at lmackey@2019canadagames.ca.
The MNP Canada Games Torch Relay continues through the final stops of the Alberta leg. The torch relay has brought the Canada Games Roly McLenahan torch from coast to coast. Travelling as far east as Cape Spear, Newfoundland, as far west as Victoria, British Columbia and north to Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, this is the first ever national Canada Games torch relay. There are 16 torch relay events left across Alberta before the torch arrives in Red Deer. Some of these stops include Lethbridge, Calgary, Blackfalds and Ponoka. Visit www.canadagames.ca/2019/mnptorchrelay for complete details on the events throughout Alberta and join us in celebration.
The torch completes its journey when it comes through Red Deer on February 15 to light the cauldron at the Opening Ceremony. To mark the last stop on the MNP Canada Games Torch Relay, the 2019 Canada Games and MNP are planning memorable celebration. Stay tuned for details in the near future.
Before you know it, February 15 will be here and the eyes of the nation will be on Red Deer and central Alberta. We look forward to sharing our moment with you.
Kaitlynn Rice
2019 Canada Winter Games