June 8th, 2023 (Niagara, Ont.) — The Niagara 2022 Canada Games continues on its legacy journey by winning the Canadian Sport Event of the Year Award and the Sport Event Legacy of the Year Award presented by Sport Tourism Canada (STC).

The recognition, presented at the 15th Annual PRESTIGE Awards Gala held in Richmond, BC, honoured the best in Canada’s sport tourism industry.  

The Niagara 2022 Canada Games won in the category of events with a budget of greater than $1 million which recognizes the overall success of an outstanding single-sport, multi-sport or collegiate event held in Canada between 2020-2022. The STC Sport Event Legacy of the Year Award recognizes the outstanding achievements or contributions by individuals, companies or organizations that have helped advance sustainable and environmental stewardship within a Canadian Sport Event held between 2020-2022 and have left a demonstrable legacy to the community.

Other finalists in the event of the year category were the 2022 Grey Cup Festival & 109th Grey Cup Game, and the 2020 Tim Hortons Brier. The other finalist for the legacy award was The Style Experience FIS Snowboard Big Air World Cup.  

The awards gala is held in conjunction with STC’s annual Sport Event Congress, which is Canada’s largest annual gathering of sport and tourism professionals, event managers and industry suppliers that attracts approximately 400 delegates each year.

"For 16 days, Niagara celebrated the wonderful achievements of Canada’s best young athletes,” stated Doug Hamilton, Board Chair of the Niagara 2022 Host Society. "Our vision for these Canada Games was to host an event that would inspire, transform and unify Niagara, and that would also leave a lasting legacy for our community.  As described in the Niagara 2022 Canada Games Final Report, despite facing challenges such as the COVID pandemic, Niagara delivered on our vision. We were able to achieve this success thanks to the generous support from our partners and sponsors, and the phenomenal contributions by our tremendous team of volunteers and staff."

"On behalf of the Niagara region, I want to express how honoured we are to receive these prestigious awards in recognition of our community’s efforts on the 2022 Canada Summer Games," said Regional Chair Jim Bradley. "For over two weeks last August, Niagara played host to the nation as we celebrated sport, culture and the unity that can only be brought about through competition. These awards are a further acknowledgment of the Games’ transformational legacy across Niagara, and the outstanding job done by the organizing committee and volunteers."

"Niagara 2022 hosted a phenomenal edition of the Canada Games and we are thrilled to congratulate the 2022 Host Society for this amazing recognition!" said Canada Games Council President and CEO Kelly-Ann Paul. "We salute the entire team including the board, staff, volunteers and partners who made the 2022 Canada Summer Games such a tremendous event for the region and the nation while sparking greatness in Canada’s next generation of athletes and leaders."

Taking place at venues across Niagara, the 2022 Canada Games saw approximately 5,000 athletes, representing Canada’s future generation of Olympians, Paralympians and Special Olympics athletes, compete for the right to be a national champion. The Niagara 2022 Canada Games featured an inaugural women’s rugby sevens competition, the return of men’s lacrosse after a 37-year absence from the Games, and the first-ever women's lacrosse competition in the history of the Canada Games.

For the first time in the Canada Games’ history, which dates back to 1967, 13 municipalities (the Regional Municipality of Niagara and its 12 local area municipalities) collectively hosted this competition. This uniquely Canadian event, which counts Andre De Grasse, Sidney Crosby, Steve Nash, Katarina Roxon and Hayley Wickenheiser as alumni, is also one of the only multi-sport competitions in the world that features events for able-bodied athletes, as well as athletes with physical and intellectual disabilities.

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About Sport Tourism Canada
‍Sport Tourism Canada is an organization founded in the year 2000 through a partnership with the Canadian Tourism Commission with the mission to increase Canada’s capacity to attract and host sport tourism events, and grow the sector. STC has over 500 members, which include 200+ municipalities, 250+ national and provincial sporting organizations, and 20+ educational institutions that support the industry.  

About the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games
‍At the peak of Niagara’s boldest summer yet, more than 5,000 up-and-coming athletes, their coaches and support staff gathered to compete in the Niagara Region for the podium in Canada’s largest multi-sport event. From August 6 to 21, 2022, Niagara surged stronger than ever on the national stage. The 2022 Canada Games, made possible thanks to funding and support from the Government of Canada, the Government of Ontario, the Niagara Region, and the Canada Games Council, gave rise to new legacies of ambition, confidence, and compassion that will inspire generations to come.

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. For further information, visit us at canadagames.ca.

Media Contacts
‍Vittoria Wikston, Director Marketing & Community Development
Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games
vwikston@sportniagara.ca
905.321.5979

Courtney Pollock, Senior Advisor, Communications & Digital Media
Canada Games Council
cpollock@canadagames.ca
613.291.6721