Canada Winter Games legacy fund will channel $5.5M to amateur sport across P.E.I.

CBC
·2 min read
The 2023 Canada Winter Games in P.E.I. left the host society with a $5.5-million surplus, which it's now using to contribute to amateur sport across the province. (Matthew Murnaghan/2023 PEI Canada Games - image credit)
The 2023 Canada Winter Games in P.E.I. left the host society with a $5.5-million surplus, which it's now using to contribute to amateur sport across the province. (Matthew Murnaghan/2023 PEI Canada Games - image credit)

The 2023 Canada Winter Games held across Prince Edward Island have left yet another legacy, in the form of a $5.5-million fund that's open to applications from amateur sport groups and communities in the province.

The money will go toward making sure Island athletes, coaches and officials have what they need to be successful, which could include better equipment and facilities.

The chair of the event's host society said the surplus is the largest legacy fund in the history of the Canada Games.

Wayne Carew calls the fund "what I hope is a lasting legacy for future Island athletes who are coming up, that'll give them a bit of a leg up, an opportunity they might not ordinarily have ... so that they can compete at a national level.

"It's a transformative change to amateur sport. We don't get that kind of money to inject into Island sport."

Wayne Carew, chair of the 2023 Canada Winter Games host society.
Wayne Carew, chair of the 2023 Canada Winter Games host society.

Wayne Carew, chair of the 2023 Canada Winter Games host society, says the legacy fund is the largest in the history of the games. (Steve Bruce/CBC)

P.E.I. welcomed more than 3,600 Canada Games athletes, coaches and managers from across the country over the course of two weeks in February 2023.

Around 5,000 volunteers were ready to greet them and smooth the way for every element of their experience.

Infrastructure legacies include a $63-million residence in UPEI, a $10-million Olympic-size skating rink in North Rustico, and a $5-million multi-purpose dome.

Carew said the host society raised $9.3 million through sponsorships, ticket sales and the sale of branded clothing and other gear.

The Community Foundation of P.E.I. will oversee the surplus fund and review applications.

Applicants can be municipalities or not-for-profit local, regional or provincial sports organizations based in P.E.I.

Funding categories include capacity building, equipment, introduction to sport, and facility development.

Executive director Rhonda Pauls says Baseball P.E.I. already puts on summer camps with both Lennox and Abegweit First Nations, but she looks forward to building more participation from Indigenous youth.
Executive director Rhonda Pauls says Baseball P.E.I. already puts on summer camps with both Lennox and Abegweit First Nations, but she looks forward to building more participation from Indigenous youth.

Rhonda Pauls, executive director of Baseball P.E.I., says the organization will definitely apply for funding to improve existing venues and build new ones. (Shane Hennessey/CBC)

Rhonda Pauls, executive director of Baseball P.E.I., plans to apply for legacy funding to help the organization build and improve venues for Island ball players.

"This is real money. Real money can make a big dent in one of the biggest challenges that we have here [which] is venues," she said.

"We have lots of kids playing baseball, we have lots of young adults playing baseball, we're trying to expand our leagues."

Communities or organizations interested in applying for the Canada Games legacy fund can do so through the Community Foundation of P.E.I.'s website.