Ottawa, Ont. - The Canada Games Council (CGC) is thrilled to unveil the newly redesigned Canada Games awards, and announce the addition of two new awards in commemoration of two titans within the Canada Games Movement.

The Canada Games strengthen the fabric of Canada, through the power of sport. We promise to celebrate and inspire the best of the next generation. The awards program recognizes and celebrates the achievements of Canada Games participants at each edition of the Games, from athletes and teams to mission staff and volunteers.

The Centennial Cup, Claude Hardy, Jack Pelech and Roland Michener awards are all back, alongside the new Pat Lechelt True Sport award and the Paul Flaherty Volunteer award. Lechelt was a mainstay with Alberta’s mission team at every Canada Games from 1989 to 2019. A tireless volunteer, Flaherty was a board member at the 2007 Canada Games in Whitehorse and served on the CGC board from 2009 to 2018.

Designed and crafted by the creative artists at Protocole in Saint-Lambert, Quebec, the awards feature a fresh, new look, inspired by our rebrand and our spirit of sparking greatness – uniting, inspiring and transforming the next generation of Canadian champions and leaders.

“We are so proud to share these stunning, new awards with the Canada Games family and commemorate the late Pat Lechelt and Paul Flaherty, who both made immeasurable contributions to the Canada Games,” said Kelly-Ann Paul, CGC President and CEO. “We look forward to presenting all of these awards at the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games and recognizing the outstanding achievements of participants, mission teams and volunteers on and off the field of play.”

The New Look

The Spark

In everything we do, we spark greatness. Our awards are inspired by the spark element embedded in our logo and throughout our visual identity. All of the awards feature elements of the spark logo in aluminum, and each award also features a unique spark shape.

The Materials

Like the original Centennial Cup, the redesigned Centennial Cup predominantly features wood. The use of reclaimed maple wood in the new design symbolizes our commitment to sustainability and our origins as a Centennial Unity Project, as maple trees are found all across Canada. Maple wood is also a symbol of strength and endurance, the perfect material for the largest amateur multi-sport event in the country.

Each award uses 100 per cent Canadian aluminum and the majority of the awards are crafted from red acrylic with white text, creating a simple, bold, vibrant, and iconically Canadian look.

The Details

Each award is bilingual, representing Canada’s official languages, and features the Canada Games sport pictograms, showcasing the dynamic nature of the Games sport program.

The Awards

Centennial Cup

The Centennial Cup exemplifies the pan-Canadian sport development objective of the Canada Games. It is presented to the provincial or territorial team that shows the greatest improvement from one Summer Games to the next or from one Winter Games to the next.

Claude Hardy Award

Claude Hardy was a pioneer of the Canada Games from their very beginning. He competed as an athlete at the inaugural Games in 1967, and was Team Quebec’s Chef de Mission at all but two Canada Games from 1971 to 1999. The award recognizes the talents and dedication of a provincial or territorial mission team.

Jack Pelech Award

This award goes to the provincial or territorial team whose athletes, coaches, managers, and mission staff best combine competitive performance, good sportsmanship and a spirit of fair play, cooperation, and friendship. Jack Pelech was CGC’s board chair from 1971 to 2001.

Pat Lechelt True Sport Award

Pat Lechelt was part of Team Alberta’s mission for every Canada Games between 1989 and 2019. She served primarily as Chef de Mission or Assistant Chef de Mission.

The Pat Lechelt True Sport Award will be handed out for the first time at the 2022 Canada Games. The award is given to an athlete in each week of the Games who exemplifies the True Sport principles on and off the field of play.

Contributions made on behalf of the 2019 Canada Games Host Society were instrumental in bringing this award to fruition.

Paul Flaherty Volunteer Award

A tireless volunteer, Paul Flaherty was a board member for the 2007 Canada Winter Games and with the CGC board from 2009 to 2018. The Paul Flaherty Award will be handed out for the first time at the 2022 Canada Games in recognition of the volunteers who are at the very heart of the Canada Games. The award is given to an outstanding Host Society volunteer at the end of each week of the Games.

Roland Michener Award

This award was established in recognition of Roland Michener’s contribution to Canada, for his passion for physical fitness and his belief in the power of sport in building unity and mutual trust. One of Canada’s Governor Generals, he attended three Canada Games. The Roland Michener Canada Games Award is presented post-Games to a male and a female Canada Games athlete who exemplify leadership, cooperation and excellence.

For more information about the Canada Games award program, including the nomination and selection process, please see our 2022 awards overview.

About the Canada Games Council

The Canada Games Council, a private, non-profit organization, is the governing body for the Canada Games. 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 system, in addition to their lasting legacy of sport facilities, community pride and national unity. The organization of the Canada Games is made possible through the tireless dedication of local Host Societies and the contribution and support of the federal, provincial/territorial and host municipal governments.

The office is located in Ottawa, Ontario, on the traditional territory of the Algonquin Anishinabek People.

‍

‍