It’s official - the 2023 Canada Winter Games are coming to PEI

The province of Prince Edward Island has been officially named host of the 2023 Canada Winter Games.

“We are thrilled to be welcoming Canadian athletes, their families, coaches and spectators to our Island shores in 2023,” said Health and Wellness Minister and Minister responsible for Sport, Robert Mitchell. “We will showcase our small yet mighty Island with our outstanding hospitality, food, scenery, and sense of adventure.” 

“The Games provide our up-and-coming athletes with a chance to compete at a national level. They also help to strengthening our local economy, increase community spirit and expand volunteerism. I am confident that our Island volunteers, sponsors, supporters, leaders and athletes, will do an outstanding job in staging the 2023 Games and showcasing all our province has to offer,”   Mitchell said. 

At an event on the Island today, the Canada Games Council made the official announcement, presented a Canada Games flag to Minister Mitchell and then spoke of the high hopes for the 2023 Games.

“What an exciting day for the Province of PEI,” said Tom Quinn, Chairman of the Canada Games Council. “We would like to thank the Province of PEI for the time and effort they put forth to produce such an outstanding bid. We very much look forward to working with the 2023 Canada Games Host Society on making this an unforgettable experience for the athletes, coaches and spectators who will come to PEI in a little more than four years."

Prince Edward Island is committed to moving forward with Canada Games Council in a spirit of cooperation and collaboration. 

“The Games are an important part of our Canadian culture, inspiring young amateur athletes while bringing communities together,” said Minister Mitchell. “I want to thank our local bid committee for the tremendous amount of work they did in preparing our bid proposal. I also want to recognize Wayne Carew and Brian McFeely, who have done an outstanding job leading the bid process and will now take on the role of co-chairs of our Host Society.”

The work of planning and preparing for the 2023 Canada Winter Games will now transition from a Bid Committee, to a Host Society.  An immediate focus will be to debrief with the Canada Games Council, begin the incorporation of a Host Society and select all of the key leadership positions.

Wayne Carew and Brian McFeely will be co-chairs of the Host Society for the 2023 Canada Games. They already have a tremendous amount of experience and involvement with the games, and will also be participating in the Transfer of Knowledge program at the 2019 Canada Winter Games in Red Deer Alberta this February.

Media Contact
Autumn Tremere
PEI Department of Health and Wellness
agtremere@gov.pe.ca
902-368-5610

BACKGROUNDER

Having hosted the 1991 Canada Winter Games and the 2009 Canada Summer Games, 2023 will mark the third time the Canada Games are hosted in the province of Prince Edward Island.

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 in addition to their lasting legacy of sport facilities, community pride and national unity.

The Games provide an opportunity for young people to compete in national winter sports competitions. 

Thousands of visitors are expected to attend the 2023 Games, where athletes will participate in a wide variety of sports, including ice hockey, badminton, gymnastics, biathlon, cross-country skiing, alpine skiing, archery, snowboarding, boxing, squash, ringette, freestyle skiing, figure skating, judo, speed skating, squash, curling, wheelchair basketball and synchronized swimming. 

The 2009 Canada Summer Games left Prince Edward Island with a legacy of new and improved facilities, enhanced volunteer resources, financial returns from more than 15,000 visitors, and $81.5 million in economic activity.