Barriers were broken and milestones achieved during the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games, which took place in Ontario’s Niagara Region this past August. The Games featured 5,000+ participants, 4,000 volunteers, 18 sports, 19 venues and 250+ events.
Among the milestones:
- For the very first time, 13 municipalities collectively hosted the Games.
- Jaida Lee, a 16-year-old pitcher from Newfoundland and Labrador, made history when she became the first female to play in the men’s baseball competition at a Canada Games. Her ball has pride of place at the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.
- Women’s box lacrosse and women’s rugby sevens were introduced to the Games and men’s lacrosse returned after a 37-year absence.
- 18-year-old Eekeeluak Avalak, who competed in the wrestling 52-kg weight class, earned Nunavut its first-ever gold medal at a Canada Games.
- Ottawa swimmer Julie Brousseau won 11 medals, matching a record set by Ontario swimmer Hanna Henderson in 2017 for the most medals in a single Canada Games.
- Alberta was awarded the Centennial Cup for showing the greatest improvement from one Summer Games to the next.
