The Minister responsible for Sport, Recreation and the Outdoors, Isabelle Charest, grants this financial assistance to the Canada Games, for a return after 60 years to the city where they were born.
The government of Quebec announced the granting of this maximum envelope of 11.12 million to the 2027 Canada Games Host Society, in a decree published in the Official Gazette of QuebecThursday morning.
An amount of half a million dollars should be paid during the 2024-2025 fiscal year, $6,120,000 in the 2025-2026 fiscal year and $4,500,000 in the 2026-2027 fiscal year.
Of the $11.12 million, more than half, or eight million, will go into the operating budget. The remaining approximately three million will be paid for fixed assets related to the equipment.
Scheduled from February 27 to March 14, 2027, the 2027 Canada Games will welcome nearly 50,000 visitors, more than 3,000 high-caliber athletes and coaches, in 22 disciplines in the heart of the National Capital.
11 million in goods and services
Announced in April, Quebec City’s contribution will represent the majority of the operating budget for the 2027 Games.
Of the $20 million that the City is committed to providing, more than half, or $11 million, will be spent on goods and services. Particularly for the operation of the opening and closing ceremonies, security, site layout and food.
This amount is added to the sum of 1.14 million which had already been announced last fall to pay the application fees and reception fees from Quebec, as well as the start-up of the responsible organization, the host company.
Sherbrooke is the last Quebec city to have organized the Canada Games, in 2013. (Canada Games)
Private financing
Last April, the chairman of the board of directors of the Host Society, Denis Servais, planned to raise nearly ten million in private financing.
Nearly a year later, Mr. Servais set up his campaign cabinet. The first contacts would also have been made with various private companies.
The fundraising campaign should be announced in the coming months, he confided in an interview with the Soleil.
39.5 million for curling
In September 2023, the City of Quebec announced the construction of a brand new infrastructure, at the corner of rue des Rocailles and boulevard Pierre-Bertrand, in the Neufchâtel Est–Lebourgneuf district.
As promised during his election, the mayor, Bruno Marchand, will offer a brand new curling center to the citizens of Quebec.
A year after the announcement, preparatory work had already begun on the ground. The official start of construction is planned for spring 2025, with a view to opening in time for the Canada Games in February 2027.
Despite the hope of a boost, Quebec City will have to build its new curling center on its own, since the Quebec government refused its request for financial assistance.
The estimated sum of 39.5 million for the construction of the multifunctional curling center is added to the funding of 20 million from the City of Quebec for the 2027 Canada Winter Games.
New face at the Canada Games Council
Three-time Olympic medalist, speed skating athlete and member of Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame and the Canada Games Hall of Honour, Catriona Le May Doan became Chair of the Board of Directors of the Canada Games Council (CGC) on 5 last December.
Honored to take on this role, she plans to continue to inspire Canadians and is eager to work towards the 2025 Summer Games in St John’s, then the Winter Games in Quebec.
“I have been part of the Canada Games movement for almost 42 years. I experienced my first multisport games there, and this experience was decisive for my career. Even today, I see how much the Canada Games have the power to strengthen sport and the communities of our country,” underlines the Olympic athlete in a press release published on the Canada Games website.
A long-time CJC board member, Le May Doan succeeds Evan Johnston, who is stepping down after 10 years on the board.
