Members from the Canadian Antarctic in Alberta and other territories, Greenland, Finland, Sweden and Norway compete in the Arctic Winter Games.
Ministers Pascale St-Onge and Dan Vandal welcome athletes competing in the 2023 Arctic Winter Games
Today marks the official opening of the 2023 Arctic Winter Games. This year, the Games will be hosted in Wood Buffalo, Alberta, in Treaty Territory 8, the ancestral and traditional land of the Cree, Dene and Métis peoples.
An international contingent of 2,100 athletes, coaches, missionary staff, officials and artists from five Canadian jurisdictions (Yukon, Northwest Territories, Northern Alberta, Nunavut and Nunavik), Alaska (United States), Greenland and the Sami region (Finland, Sweden, and Norway) will participate in the games.
The Arctic Winter Games, held in a circumpolar location every two years, are a multi-sport competition for northern circumpolar athletes and a cultural celebration. The Games remain an essential showcase for unity and teamwork among First Nations, Inuit, Métis and non-Indigenous communities.
The mission of the Arctic Winter Games is to promote athletic competition, culture and reconciliation. One of the highlights of the Games will be the Cultural Gala with young northern performers specializing in music, theater and dance. Organizers have also created a Truth and Reconciliation pin, which combines symbols of the Seven Sacred Teachings and moccasins representing walking the path to reconciliation.
The Government of Canada, through Sport Canada, is proud to invest $2.5 million in the Arctic Winter Games, one of the largest and most important sporting and cultural events in the circumpolar north. A total of 20 sports will be held in 13 venues throughout the regional municipality. The Games will leave a lasting legacy on the region and the participating communities.
Let’s celebrate all the athletes, artists and performers from across the circumpolar north who are sources of inspiration. Good luck to all participants!
