2011 Canada Winter Games

The 2011 Canada Winter Games will take place in Halifax, N.S., from February 11 to 27. Get ready for the Games with Global Maritimes.

Flag Raising Ceremony

Halifax gears up for the Friday night opening of the 2011 Canada Winter Games with a flag raising ceremony in Celebration Square (a.k.a. Grand Parade). Former host Communities across the country raised the official banner outside of city halls, as part of a lead up to this year’s event.

The flag leaves Cape Breton tonight, Monday, and journeys to Prince Edward Island on its way to Halifax. Jean-Paul Deveau, Chair of the Halifax 2011 Canada Games, will join Mayor Peter Kelly and members of council to raise the flag at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 9.

Opening Ceremony

Friday night, Feb. 11, will be your first chance to catch a glimpse of the thousands of competitors participating in this year’s games. From alpine skiers to biathletes to synchronized swimmers, Halifax anticipates 3,500 athletes will visit the city, along with an additional 10,000 spectators.

The Games committee will mark the beginning to the two-week long celebration with a showcase of Canadian and East Coast talent. Chantal Kreviazuk, The Trews, Jimmy Rankin and Rich Aucoin are just some of the performers that will entertain the crowd at the Halifax Metro Centre, beginning at 7 p.m., along with an exhibition of dance and culture.

Tickets for the opening ceremony are still available on ticketatlantic.com

Getting There

More people in the city means less parking, but Metro Transit has adjusted its schedules and offers commuters route information to all event venues. Athletes, volunteers and full “Games Pass” holders ride for free for the duration of the games.

More information is available on Metro Transit’s special events page.