When you watch the 2015 Canada Winter Games, pay close attention to the names of the athletes. Odds are, you’ll be hearing from some of them in the future. Since its inception, the games, which kick off in Prince George on Feb. 13, have been a launching pad for some of Canada’s top athletes.
At last year’s Sochi Winter Olympics, 83 Team Canada athletes were Canada Games alumni, including hockey gold medallist Hayley Wickenheiser and B.C.’s Kelsey Serwa, who will be returning to the Canada Winter Games as Team B.C.’s honourary captain. Other Canada Games alumni include Sidney Crosby, Catriona Le May Doan, Bob Gainey and the late Toller Cranston.
The Games feature a unique mix of sports and athletes. Athletes range in age from 13 to 35 and it’s one of the few multi-sport competitions that includes wheelchair athletes and athletes with intellectual disabilities.
Here is a beginner’s guide to the 2015 Canada Winter Games:
When are the Canada Winter Games?
The Games will run from Feb. 13 to March 1, 2015.
Where are the Canada Winter Games?
They will take place in Prince George, B.C., making it the largest multi-sport and cultural event to ever be held in the northern part of the province. According to Global News’ Jay Janower, a native of Prince George, the city is the perfect place to host the Games.
Events will take place at several venues across the city.
How can I watch the 2015 Canada Winter Games?
Select events will be broadcast on TSN and RDS. A TV schedule is available here.
Global News will be covering the games, from the opening to the closing ceremonies, and events in between. Sports anchor and reporter Jay Janower will be in Prince George for the duration of the games and will be bringing us live coverage of the events and the athletes.
Webcasting coverage of the 2015 Games will be featured at www.canadagamestv.ca, where over 900 hours of almost every sport will be included.
You can also follow the games on Facebook and Twitter. They also have a mobile site, located at m.canadagames2015.ca.
What sports are part of the Games?
The Canada Winter Games feature a wide variety of sports, some of which aren’t normally associated with winter events. The following sports will be part of the Games: archery, alpine skiing, badminton, biathlon, curling, cross-country skiing, figure skating, freestyle skiing, gymnastics, hockey, judo, ringette, target shooting, snowboard, speed skating, squash, synchronized swimming, table tennis, and wheelchair basketball.
Five athletes to watch
More than anything, the Games are about the athletes. More than 2,400 young Canadian athletes from all provinces and territories will travel to Prince George from more than 800 communities across the nation. Each one has a unique story to tell. Here are a few of them:
Jordan Bellerive, BC – Hockey
For 15-year-old Jordy Bellerive, hockey has always been a family affair. Bellerive’s brother and sister have both played for Team BC and Jordy is proud to follow in their footsteps.
The Tyndall Brothers, Saskatchewan – Gymnastics
Wyatt Tyndall and his two younger brothers, Jesse and Mitch, will make up half of Team Saskatchewan’s men’s gymnastics team.
Jorden Tyson, Alberta – Figure Skating
Like all of the athletes competing in the Games, Jorden Tyson is training with hopes to reach the podium. The only difference is that Jorden has autism. The Calgary native is competing in figure skating, the only sport at the Games that also includes Special Olympics events.
Christian Higham, Manitoba – Hockey
The Winnipeg native has no shortage of experience playing on a big stage. She was on the Canadian team that recently earned silver at the Under-18 Women’s World Hockey Championship. She’s also competed for prestigious local prep schools and next year she will play for Cornell University.
Aaron Mah, B.C. – Gymnastics
Mah is just 17 years old, but is already making his second Canada Games appearance. He’s a favourite in the floor, high bar, and all-around competitions.
What other events are going on in Prince George?
The Canada Winter Games is about more about sports. Prince George will host the Coldsnap Festival, the largest multi-cultural event ever to be hosted in northern B.C.
The event will feature more than 60 music, theatre and visual artists, including Alan Doyle of Great Big Sea, A Tribe Called Red, Delhi 2 Dublin, Tanya Tagaq, Alex Cuba and Chad Brownlee.
A complete artist line-up with dates, times and locations is available online.
-with files from Amy Judd and Paula Baker
Comments