Muskoka – Home of the 2010 Ontario Winter Games

The Ontario Winter Games took place on March 4th to 7th in Muskoka and Sudbury. Amanda Street-Bishop from SIRC’s Toronto Regional office was lucky enough to be a part of the event. The Ontario Winter Games is a unique multi-sport event that provides young athletes with development and competitive opportunities that prepare them for national and international competitions. Approximately 3,300 athletes, coaches, officials and volunteers converged on the region during the games. The Ontario Games are a program of the Ministry of Health Promotion and delivered by the Sport Alliance of Ontario.

Because the games were scattered throughout five different communities it wasn’t possible to connect with every sport, but we were able to set up at the Registration area at the beautiful Muskoka Woods facility on March 4th, where Gymnastics, Synchro Swim, Tae Kwon Do, Field Hockey and Badminton were registering their athletes. The energy level was high and the young athletes and their coaches were excited about the coming events.

On Friday March 5th, the SIRC booth was set up at Gravenhurst Centennial Arena where Hockey and Curling events were taking place. SIRC had a great spot next to the snack bar where we were able to meet with lots of coaches, volunteers and parents. Many were interested in SIRC services and took away brochures and pens so as to connect with us on their return home. Congratulations to the Toronto Marlboros for winning gold in the men’s hockey and to St Thomas for winning the gold in the men’s curling. Click here for all the results from the Ontario Winter Games.

A New Name for Senior Games

The Ontario Senior Games Program has a new name effective immediately. Going forward, they will be referred to as the Ontario 55+ Summer Games and the Ontario 55+ Winter Games, keeping it consistent with the Canada 55+ Games (national Senior Games) and six other provinces and territories. The Ontario 55+ Games and other provincial events, are the qualifiers for the Canada 55+ Games held every two years in cities across the country. With the provincial programs staged annually in different provinces and territories, the Canada 55+ Games is a nation-wide program which serves to promote wellbeing – physical, mental and spiritual -- among Canadians age 55 and older.

In Ontario, these organized celebrations of active living, began in 1986. So far, the Ontario 55+ Games Program has been hosted by 14+ communities throughout the province. The summer edition, held in August of even-numbered years, hosts over 1,200 participants in approximately 18 events, while the Ontario 55+Winter Games held in February of odd-numbered years, has close to 900 entrants.

The Ontario 55+ Games is a program of the Ministry of Health Promotion and Sport and is delivered by the Sport Alliance of Ontario in cooperation with the Ontario Senior Games Association. Brampton, Ontario will host the 2012 Ontario 55+ Summer Games, while the town of Huntsville has been chosen to organize the 2013 Ontario 55+ Winter Games.

For more information on Senior Games, please visit SIRC.