RED DEER – The Games have begun.
Competition in four sports that are part of the 2019 Canada Winter Games got underway Saturday, Feb. 16, including hockey, table tennis, speed skating and ringette.
An opening ceremony was held Friday, Feb. 15 in Red Deer and kicked off an evening filled with music, dance, anticipation and plenty of excitement.
Athletes from across Canada, performers, special guests, dignitaries and spectators gathered at the ENMAX Centrium for the historical event.
Local participants included several dancers from Joy’s School of Dance in Innisfail.
Each segment of the opening ceremony for the 2019 Canada Winter Games was designed to capture a moment that celebrates the values of the Games.
“There’s tons of excitement,” said Madisyn Matheson. “We’re all anxious and nervous but we’re really excited. We’ve been working really hard for the opening ceremonies.
Matheson and other dancers were thrilled to be part of such an event.
“It’s fantastic that we’re able to hold (the Canada Winter Games) in Red Deer,” she added. “What an awesome opportunity to be able to be a part of this.”
Since the first Canada Games held in February 1967 in Quebec City, the event has grown and today is Canada’s largest multi-sport competition for young athletes. Competitors include the next generation of national, international and Olympic champions.
The Canada Games are held every two years, alternating between summer and winter, with different host provinces.
The last time the Canada Games were held in Alberta was the Canada Winter Games in Grande Prairie in 1995.
During the opening ceremony, special guests and dignitaries, including the Governor General of Canada Julie Payette, Premier Rachel Notley and Red Deer Mayor Tara Veer, addressed the crowd and national television audience, and welcomed athletes to Alberta.
A total of 500 participants and performers from eight to 78 years of age took to the stage and the floor for a variety of production numbers. More than 20 community groups, including cultural groups, choirs, Scouts, seniors centres, elementary schools and cadets, took part in the opening ceremonies.
The Canada flag is held up by Games opening ceremony participants.
Canada Games alumni and Hall of Honour inductees Bruny Surin and Cindy Klassen carried the Canada Games flag in. It was brought past athletes in a horse-drawn wagon operated by Innisfail's Keven Graham of Double T Percherons.
Flight Sgt. Paul Murray of 7 Penhold Royal Canadian Air Cadets was also participating in the opening ceremonies.
“This is the first major sport event I’ve ever been to in my entire life so coming here as a cadet in a big ceremony is a huge thing for me,” said Murray. “It’s incredibly exciting and also I’m a little nervous as well.”
Artistic gymnasts performed during the 2019 Canada Games opening ceremony.
Murray joined other air and sea cadets from Red Deer and Ponoka as part of the honour guard during the event.
“There’s going to be a lot of people watching me tonight,” he said, noting the pride he felt in representing 7 Penhold Royal Canadian Air Cadets.
“It’s a huge event. This is a major event in my life and it’s also an historical event as well,” said Murray. “It means a great deal to me.”
One local couple taking in the opening ceremonies was Ed and Marilee MacPherson from Penhold who were there to support Team Alberta.
“I had to come and see our team. Go Alberta,” said Ed MacPherson.
Team BC makes an entrance during the opening ceremony.
