Waterloo Region loses 2021 Canada Summer Games bid to Niagara
Posted Mar 30, 2017 12:46:39 PM.
Last Updated Mar 30, 2017 03:44:12 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Waterloo Region pulled out all the stops, but did not win the hosting rights for the 2021 Canada Games.
Instead, the Niagara Region will host the Games — held every two years.
Boxer Mandy Bujold, one of the leading faces behind Waterloo Region’s #WeRally2021 bid, says despite the news, it’s a win in her books.
“We put a lot into this. I think we put our best foot forward, and we came together, and it was really just amazing to see the community come together,” says Bujold.
“We have everything it takes to be able to host an amazing games, so I really do hope — I mean, I don’t know when the next ones are coming, could be another 20 years — but when they do, I hope that this community will come together and put another bid in.”
“I’m quite amazed at how many different organizations [came out]. It was really cool to see everyone rallying together for something,” says Alec Elliot, a paralympic swimmer and Laurier Golden Hawk.
“There’s a lot of fans in the region, a lot of people I know, and I’ll just have to find something else to get involved with and put my support towards.”
The Ontario Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport made the announcement on Thursday afternoon at the University of Toronto.
The other cities in the running were Ottawa and Sudbury.
Members of the local #WeRally2021 campaign were watching a simulcast at Moose Winooski’s in Kitchener.
#WeRally2021 Organizer Teddy Katz says despite the disappointment, the cooperation they saw in putting their bid together will help win other major events for Waterloo Region down the road.
In a release, Tom Quinn with the Canada Games Council says the evaluation process was extremely competitive.
“Everyone involved in the bids should be very proud of what they accomplished. It was rewarding for our entire committee to see such passion for the Canada Games in each community.”
