SENATORS’ STATEMENTS — Canada Games Council

Honourable senators, today, on the heels of learning about the $755-million amount to go to sport, I have the great honour of welcoming the staff of the Canada Games Council. They work diligently to ensure that all aspects of the Canada Games run optimally in every edition of Canada Games, hosted every two years, alternating from winter to summer, and hosted in your communities throughout the country.

Thank you, Jacob, Arun, Amelie, Hannah, Carly, Kali, Aaron, Katie, Peter, Nick, Adam, Grace, Karen, Kelly-Ann and, of course, your chair, Catriona Le May Doan, who is busy out West.

The Canada Games are the ultimate goal for many of our young athletes. To be picked as an athlete or a coach is a big deal. To wear your provincial or territorial uniform, to travel together as a team, to march into the opening or closing ceremony, and, if you find yourself at your best on the right day, to be on the podium as a young athlete, well, that is the ultimate.

Each games brings together nearly 2,000 athletes, including those with a physical or intellectual disability, for the largest amateur multi-sport event in this country. The energy and the support of families and the volunteers are amazing.

My first Canada Games, in P.E.I. in 1991, was a highlight. We took over the University of P.E.I., worked hard as a team and made many friendships that have lasted a lifetime. My team performed hard — always tough competition against Quebec and Alberta especially. Sixty per cent of those athletes were on my first Commonwealth Games and Olympic Games teams. It was an important part of the athlete and coach pathway and remains so today.

There are other senators in this chamber who have supported the Canada Games in their communities in some way. Our recently retired colleague Larry Smith served as the chairman of the Canada Games Council from 2001 to 2009. He was such a strong advocate for the possibility of sport and ensuring young Canadians had great opportunities in sport throughout Canada. I am sure our guests are sad to have missed his departing speech, but only by a day.

Senator Cuzner is a Canada Games honoured alumnus from Nova Scotia. That’s right, the sport of hockey and the years, I will say, 1995 and 1999, in Grande Prairie and in Newfoundland and Labrador.

How about Senator MacAdam, whose granddaughter Addison was the youngest track and field competitor of the games in Newfoundland last summer; or Senator Petten, who supported the games’ organizing committee this past summer; or Senator Ravalia, who has looked after athletes competing, as he is often called upon to look after us from time to time? I am sure there are many other volunteers — I’d love to know who they are — in this room and supporters that I have missed.

A big thank you to the Canada Games Council and to their leader, Kelly-Ann Paul, and for asking to take the time they did to come and learn about what we do. It wasn’t a funding announcement. It was the desire to understand what goes on in this place.

We are very hopeful for the future of our young athletes and ensuring that all Canadians can strive towards this experience.

Thank you.