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Brantford, County of Brant to co-host Ontario 55+ Summer Games

Burgundy running track being pictured with the 3 and 4 lanes running out toward the horizon. Fog is pictured throughout the distance.
Doris Henhawk of Six Nations will officially kick off the Ontario 55+ Summer games as the events torchbearer on Aug. 9. Photo courtesy of Remaztered Studio from Pixabay.
Andrew Dow - CJKS - Ohsweken • ON | 23-02-2023
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Brantford and The County of Brant are getting ready to co-host the Ontario 55+ Summer Games this August. 

The games will be hosted throughout 17 venues across the two locations, with the games taking place over a three day period from Aug. 9-11. The games will feature over 1,400 participants in 19 sports, including swimming, walking, pickleball, golf and euchre and many more.

The games are put on through the Ontario Senior Games Association (OSGA); Games Coordinator Matt Cuthbert spoke on the inclusiveness the games hope to continue to uphold during his presentation to the Grand River Council on Aging Feb. 22.

"The Ontario Senior Games Association is welcoming and inclusive to all Ontarians 55+, looking to join in friendly local competition with the opportunity to progress to the provincial and national level of competition," he said.

"The mission is to provide a network to build, support, and collaborate for social and active opportunities for Ontarians 55+," he added.

The games will have a 99 Days Out Event on May 3 at the Beckett Adult Leisure Centre in Brantford. The event will launch the games with the OSGA unveiling the awards that will be handed out at the games and some of the events taking place in August, as well as having the mayors of Brantford and The County of Brant facing off in a surprise event to see which location will host that particular event.

At the opening ceremony Aug. 9, the games cauldron will be lit and the message of peace and friendship will be promoted and officially kick off the Ontario 55+ Summer Games. Cuthbert said the biggest event the games will feature will be pickleball.

"It is the fastest growing sport in Ontario and North America," he said.

The games will require help from over 300 volunteers: Cuthbert said they are hoping to garner interest from local residents.

"To become a volunteer, and again we need 300 of them, we want to make sure we fulfill this by getting our volunteers from our local community. Those who really wish to support, those who wish to maybe observe to compete later on in the future, or just those who want to watch the action."

Interested individuals who are looking to volunteer can complete the registration form at brantfordbrantgames.ca.

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