View From the Legislature

After the incredible opening ceremonies held at Winnipeg’s Bell MTS Place, Manitoba played host to sixteen days of competitive events featuring athletes, coaches, volunteers and spectators from around the country.

The 2017 Canada Summer Games have come to an end and in true Manitoba fashion, our province put on a great show for the closing ceremonies at Investor’s Group Field. Record numbers of attendees filled the stands at each event and brought 4,000 athletes and 20,000 visitors to our province, with over 150,000 people watching from home.

Team Manitoba broke its original record of 35 medals by raking in 42 this year; 10 gold medals, 15 silver medals, and 17 bronze medals. Team Manitoba also received the Centennial Cup, awarded to the team who showed the most improvement at the Games.

The Games went above and beyond to showcase athletes and we saw an incredible demonstration of community support, through the engagement of thousands of volunteers who helped to run the biggest domestic sport event ever held in the province. Without volunteers, events would not and could not have run as well as they did. Volunteer participation in the community reached over 6,000 volunteers helping to staff the Canada Summer Games and 36,000 shifts filled. Manitobans have a long and committed tradition of volunteering and I’m proud of our province’s generosity of spirit. A big thank you to all our local Steinbach and Hanover volunteers, your time and support makes us proud and you show the rest of the country the best of our community.

Thank you to all the organizers, coaches and officials who have worked so hard this summer, without you these Games would not have been successful. Finally I would like to congratulate all of the athletes on your amazing performances. We hope you left Manitoba with a lifetime of wonderful memories.