This year marks the 50th year of the Canada Games, and a special anniversary flag is being taken around the country to past hosts. Grande Prairie put on the 1995 Canada Games, and the flag was hoisted at city hall Friday morning. The Canada Sports Hall of Fame Travelling Museum has also been set up at the Eastlink Centre, and will be there for residents to check out through Sunday.
Back in ’95, the Swan City was the smallest to ever host the event, and it brought in more than 10,000 athletes and volunteers. Alberta also won the Centennial Cup for the biggest improvement from previous Games, and the province’s Karolina Wisniewska swept the Disabled Alpine Skiing events with three gold medals.
Mayor Bill Given argues the 95 games left a legacy on our city, including the Canada Games Area, now know as Revolution Place. It also gave us the Wapiti Nordic Ski Centre and the Pursuit of Excellence Athlete development fund, which helps pay for training and development of local athletes.
“For 50 years, the Canada Games have connected us all, from coast to coast to coast. “The opportunity to once again raise the Games’ flag in our community highlights our connection to the rich history and spirit of this movement which has touched the lives of so many Canadians.
The 2017 Canada Summer Games will be held in Winnipeg from July 28th to August 13th. The flag relay started on February 11th in Quebec City, which was the host of the first ever Canada Games in 1967.