Hundreds gather to support the region’s shot at hosting the 2021 Canada Games
Posted Feb 28, 2017 03:45:32 PM.
Last Updated Feb 28, 2017 03:49:23 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Today is the day, the Canada Games Evaluation Committee is in our region to see if we would be fit to host the 2021 games.
Events and tours were scheduled throughout the day, from showing off University athletic spaces and Chicopee Ski Club, to a public rally at The Museum in downtown Kitchener.
The rally was hosted by Mike Farwell and local boxing champion Mandy Bujold and saw hundreds of spectators, athletes, volunteers and city officials in attendance who tweeted the hashtag #WeRally2021.
“I think the games should be here because of the people,” says Bujold. “I wouldn’t be where I am in my career today if it weren’t for this community and I know how much we like to get behind our athletes and I just think we’d be able to do that the best.”
There were speeches from officials and a committee member and a parade of athletes carrying provincial flags.
The concluded with elementary school children singing ‘O Canada’ followed by the massive unveiling of a massive Canadian flag down the wall of The Museum.
“I can’t think of a better way to celebrate Canada’s 150th than having the largest flag in Waterloo Region right outside our museum,” says Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic. “And I’m very pleased to see this kind of community turnout for the WeRally this afternoon…one of the things the bid committee asked us about was our sense of volunteers and community and I think this was the most visible indication we could give them.”
Kitchener-Waterloo is still competing against Sudbury, Ottawa and Niagara for the honour of hosting the games, with a decision being made by the committee at the end of March.
