It’s a day of celebration in Niagara Region.
The region has won the right to host the Canada Summer Games in 2021, defeating bids from Kitchener-Waterloo, Ottawa and Sudbury.
St. Catharines Mayor Walter Sendzik notes that Niagara’s municipalities were “all in from the very start” and pulled together as a team.
Sendzik adds that his city looks forward to welcoming “athletes, families and spectators” for a world class event in four years’ time.
The games will bring thousands of young athletes to Niagara to compete in 17 events over 18 days in July and August.
It’s estimated that the games will generate over $200 million in economic activity.
It is only the third time they’ve been awarded to Ontario. Thunder Bay hosted in 1981 and London held the games in 2001. The 2017 Canada Summer Games will be held in Winnipeg.