SENATORS’ STATEMENTS — Arctic Winter Games

Honourable senators, in March, I went to Yukon to watch the 2026 Arctic Winter Games. It was the twenty-eighth time they’d been held. Congratulations to all the people of Whitehorse, the Host Society, the International Committee and all the amazing volunteers for hosting such an incredible event.

Eight contingents make up the games: Team Alberta North, Team Kalaallit Nunaat — also known as Greenland — Team Nunavik-Quebec, Team Nunavut, Team Northwest Territories, Team Alaska, Team Sapmi and Team Yukon. Athletes compete in a wide variety of sporting events to demonstrate the strength of relationships within the circumpolar community.

When you look at the map from a true northern perspective and not with our flattened-out southern bias, you see how close these nations are to each other. These Arctic Winter Games are clearly a special opportunity for competitors, coaches and their supporters.

Here’s a fun fact: Over the week, 2,000 athletes competed in 20 sports, and the city of Whitehorse served over 42,000 meals.

I was able to see hockey, badminton, futsal, the Arctic sports of Alaskan high kick and one-foot high kick, as well as the Dene sport of pole push. The quality of competition was fantastic, and the community was clearly abuzz as they cheered in the northern way — for everyone — with an emphasis on their home region, of course. The athletes were focused on winning but were also quick to help out and would even give tips for success to their peers.

Beyond the competition, the people of the North stood out, and our colleagues were part of it all. Senator Duncan greeted guests at the airport and hosted ambassadors in her home. Senator Karetak-Lindell, grandmother to three bronze-medal-winning hockey players, became a grandma to all of Team Nunavut. I saw Senator Anderson following athletes from the Northwest Territories. Senator Duncan closely followed badminton, of course, and met with defence officials from across the circumpolar nations.

To close the games, each contingent contributed to a cultural gala. Each unique performance, in varying dialects of Inuktitut, told a story through costume, music and dance that connected genuinely with the audience in a way that I hadn’t experienced at sporting events in Canada before. It was truly special.

In the spirit that Canada and the Nordic countries had recently agreed, to defend Arctic sovereignty and deepen our economic ties, the Arctic Winter Games — and sport itself — were a perfect example of how cohesive the circumpolar nations can be.

Thank you, and congratulations to the Arctic Winter Games.