Province commits nearly $12M for Moncton and Saint John Canada Summer Games

Province commits nearly $12M for Moncton and Saint John Canada Summer Games

Event in 2029 is expected to bring in $200M for province

The province announced Thursday how much funding it will provide to the 2029 Canada Summer Games, which are being hosted by Moncton and Saint John.

A total of $11.85 million includes $8.85 million in operational funding and $3 million in capital funding for the Summer Games, which start in 1,000 days, games officials said.

Tourism Minister Isabelle Thériault said she attended the recent Newfoundland and Labrador Canada Summer Games.

“It was a really impactful experience to see the pride of each province of the athletes," she said. "It was such a wonderful experience and I can't wait to have the games in New Brunswick."

“The Canada Games bring together some of the country's top young athletes and provides them with the opportunity to compete, develop and pursue excellence.”

N.B. putting nearly $12 million into 2029 Canada Summer Games

Thériault said the government estimates the games, which happen over two weeks, will bring a total economic boost of $200 million for the province.

“It will foster community pride and engagement across New Brunswick by bringing together communities, volunteers and residents around a major national event while creating lasting connections and memories,” she said.

There are expected to be about 4,600 athletes, coaches and managers at the 2029 games, the third to be hosted in New Brunswick. Saint John had the Summer Games in 1985, and Bathurst and Campbellton were hosts in 2003.

“We're talking about, you know, roughly about 20,000 people that will come from all parts of Canada to visit us for 14 days,” Louis Leger, a co-chair of the board of the host society for the games, said at the news conference. "So it's a big deal."

His fellow co-chair, Bill MacMackin, said many people who have worked on other Canada Games “recognize the power it has across our country, and to bring youth together, to bring families together and to recognize the strength of this great country.”

He said there are “outstanding facilities” in both host communities.

“And that's what really brought us together, the opportunity to host the games in a small province in a way that can be effective, that can make good use of existing assets, that can leverage existing investments,” MacMackin said.

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“It'll be a chance for New Brunswick, young New Brunswickers to stand on the stage at home in front of a bigger audience and in front of a hometown crowd. And that makes a huge impact on both their performance, but also just the pride of it.”

A news release described how the funding will be allocated over the years between now and the games.

The release said $2.97 million in operation funding is being given in the current fiscal year, and additional $1.47 million will be given each year for the next four budget years after that.

Games organizers will see $1.5 million this year and next year for capital funding “to support upgrades to facilities and infrastructure,” the release said.

Sam Farley is a Fredericton-based reporter at CBC New Brunswick. Originally from Boston, he is a journalism graduate of the University of King's College in Halifax. He can be reached at sam.farley@cbc.ca