One of the things we love about Canada is the 55+ Games. They give seniors a chance to show off their skills, compete with other seniors from across Canada, and develop lasting friendships. This year, the games were held from August 23-26 in Kamloops, British Columbia, and as always, it was a wonderful event! 

If you’ve never heard of the Canada 55+ Games, now is a great time to learn and maybe even prepare to participate next time! Here’s what you should know.

What Does the Event Entail?

The Canada 55+ Games was held this year for the first time since 2018. Although the event is typically scheduled once every two years, it was unable to go forward in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, over 2,500 seniors were able to come together to compete in 26 recognized games. 

Along with the games, participants enjoyed an opening ceremony, closing ceremony, banquet, dance, and lots of other special events. While the Canada 55+ Games is a competition, more emphasis is placed on the social benefits of coming together to play than on winning, making the 55+ Games a friendly event to which participants love to return. 

What Games Are Included?

The Canada 55+ Games strives to include a variety of games. And that means you won’t be held back from participating if you have physical limitations! Whether you want to exercise your body or your brain, there’s a game for you. Games may vary year-to-year, but core mandatory events are always held.

The full list of games held this year includes 5-Pin Bowling, 8-Ball, 5K Run, 10K Run, Dragon Boating, Floor Shuffleboard, Cycling, Badminton, Carpet Bowling, Darts, Golf, Horseshoes, Lawn Bowl, Pickleball, Ice Curling, Mountain Biking & Team Relay, Ice Hockey, Slo-Pitch, Swimming, Track & Field, Soccer, Tennis, Scrabble, Cribbage, Duplicate Bridge, and Contract Bridge.

How Can You Participate?

In order to participate you must be at least 55 years of age as of December 31 in the year the games are held. If your province holds provincial games, you’ll need to qualify at the provincial level before moving on to the national games. Here in the Yukon, the ElderActive Recreation Association is responsible for Team Yukon. They’re also a wonderful organization to get involved with generally to help you stay active.

In addition to competing at the game, the Canada 55+ Games offers volunteer opportunities. So if you’d like to go to the Games but don’t want to compete, why not offer to help out? You’ll play an important role and have loads of fun, too!

How Much Does Participating Cost?

It’s important that anyone who wants to participate in the Canada 55+ Games is able to do so, even if you have limited means. Fortunately, the government is very supportive in helping participants to attend. For example, the Yukon government contributed $50,000 to help Team Yukon participate this year. The registration fee costs $150 plus team fees for participants and $100 for non-participants. You’ll also need to pay for transportation, accommodations, food, uniforms, and incidentals. However, if cost is an issue, you can apply for assistance through ElderActive.

Are you interested in participating in the next Canada 55+ Games? Visit the official site here. And in the meantime, remember that Normandy Living offers an array of social and recreational activities for our residents.