Gearing up for Canada vs. USA at TD Place!
Pro Rugby lands in the nation's capital as Team Canada takes on Team USA at TD Place this Friday night.
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CBC
23 minutes ago
- CBC
Company's coming: St. John's ready to welcome the 2025 Canada Games
It's been 48 years between visits, but St. John's is once again ready to play host to the Canada Games. Thousands of athletes, their families, and sports fans from across the country will be in the capital of Newfoundland and Labrador for the Games, which run Aug. 8-25. St. John's last played host to the summer event in 1977, 10 years after the Canada Games began in 1967. What is it about St. John's that makes the city an ideal Canada Games host? It turns out that it's both the people and the place. Canada Games host society CEO Karen Sherriffs said there's been a huge buy-in from locals. More than 5,400 people have signed up to volunteer for the Games as they await the arrival and opening of the Games in a tight-knit community. "I have to say the vibe is so positive. I think I just described as 'electric' the other day," Sherriffs said. "I think [the Canada Games] really created an excitement and a vibe in the community. "You're going to really feel the Games when you're here. We have a really small footprint of where our venues are going to be. The impact and legacy that the Games will bring not just for the 18 days, but certainly long after. So, it's pretty exciting that [the Summer Games are] back." It may be the second time around for the Canada Games in St. John's, but a lot of the focus will be on the 2025 version being a Games of firsts. What's new in 2025 These are the first Canada Games with a dedicated app. The St. John's 2025 Canada Games app is available for free in the Apple store and on Google Play, and it has all the information about the Games at your fingertips: schedules, an interactive map, sport and team information, and more. The app will be useful for those trying to keep track of all the action, especially considering that St. John's 2025 is expected to be the largest Games in history in terms of athlete participation. More than 5,000 able-bodied athletes, Para athletes, and athletes with intellectual disabilities, under the banner of their respective province or territory, will compete across 19 different sports and 12 disciplines: Artistic Swimming Athletics Baseball Basketball Box Lacrosse Canoe Kayak Cycling (Mountain Bike & Road) Diving Golf Rugby Sevens Sailing Soccer Softball Swimming Tennis Volleyball (Beach & Indoor) Wrestling Two of those sports mark another pair of firsts: the 2025 Canada Games will be the first to offer Para cycling and hold a female baseball tournament. WATCH | Girls' baseball is making its debut at the Canada Games, and Team N.L. is ready to shine: Girls' baseball is making its debut at the Canada Games, and Team N.L. is ready to shine 14 days ago The 2025 Canada Games will be a history maker in St. John's, marking the first time that girls' baseball will be included in the competition. Athletes and coaches say it's been a long time coming as the female game has exploded across the country. The CBC's Katie Breen and Danny Arsenault met up with the team to see what their preparation looks like. The sports program will feature a gender-equal schedule, with 115 events for both male and females, and seven mixed events. Stream live action from the 2025 Canada Games on CBC Gem, and the CBC Sports YouTube channel. Check the broadcast schedule for full details. The large number of events and St. John's "small footprint" means that when athletes aren't competing, they'll easily be able to cheer on their teammates. "There's seven sports on [Memorial University's] campus. Tennis is about 300 metres away and you've got baseball probably a half a kilometre away," Sherriffs said. "So [athletes] are really going to be able to get out there and cheer on their other teammates, each province and territory, they'll get to see sports outside of [their own]. "I think it's gonna really create a lot of excitement and team spirit." Canada Games Council chair Catriona Le May Doan believes it will also help expose a greater number of potential athletes to a path in sport. "[It's] unique how the footprint is so small, so not just for the athletes and their families, and coaches and officials, but for volunteers, for community members. Kids are going to be inspired to be that next generation of Olympians, Paralympians, Special [Olympians], or try to make a Canada Games themselves and represent their province or territory," she said. "It's also helping the volunteers have more pride in their community and educate people about who the people of Newfoundland and Labrador are and what makes their community special." WATCH | Meet the father-daughter duo who are key volunteers for the Canada Games: Meet the father-daughter duo who are key volunteers in the track and field community for the Canada Games 8 days ago Approximately 5,000 athletes, coaches, and managers will be in St. John's for the Canada Games, but Mayor Danny Breen is expecting his city to welcome anywhere from 10,000 to 15,000 additional visitors because of the event. He echoes the sentiments that the city's advantages lie in its density and its people. "I think people are gonna really be struck by how compact the city is [and] how you can get anywhere very, very easily," Breen said. "I think [visitors are] going to find — and most people do — the hospitality that Newfoundland and Labradorians are famous for, and the people of St. John's love to show. We love to host events, we love to have people visit us. Tourism is a big part of our province and [so is] the friendliness and openness." Many of those flocking to St. John's for the Games will be visiting the city for the first time, and Le May Doan said anticipation is also building for those making the trip. "I've talked to so many people that this is their first time going to St. John's," she said. "I'm excited for the Games to happen, but I'm also excited for people to witness the Games in a place that they haven't been, because that's part of the Canada Games – exploring our country, seeing new things, meeting new people and understanding our various communities." Breen also has a message for all the visitors in the host city – don't hesitate to take advantage of St. John's natural resources: its beautiful setting and renowned hospitality. "They're going to see a city that's the oldest in North America. It has lots of heritage, culture, and we have a very talented art scene here in St. John's. People are also going to have an opportunity to really take in a small city that's very compact and has so many amenities," he said. "Enjoy the landscape, the culture, and the heritage but if you need any assistance, anything at all, just ask someone. That doesn't have to be somebody with a volunteer sweater. You ask people in St. John's a question and you'll get the answer – and whatever help you need." WATCH | Test your knowledge with some Canada Games rapid fire trivia: Test your knowledge with some Canada Games rapid fire trivia 6 days ago Watch CBC Sports' Anastasia Bucsis test athletes' knowledge on the Canada Games.
CBC
23 minutes ago
- CBC
Iroquois Roots Rugby bringing the game to places its never been
Social Sharing On the first Friday evening in August, Canada's senior women's rugby team hosted the Eagles, the American women's national team in Ottawa. Nearly 12,00 fans descended on TD Place stadium, making it the largest crowd to ever watch a standalone women's rugby match in North America. Canada was dominant in winning 42-10, the 11th straight victory over the Americans. This send-off match bid the team well as they set out for Ireland for some pre-tournament friendlies ahead of the Women's Rugby World Cup that will be hosted in England beginning Aug. 22. Canada plays its first game Aug. 23 against Fiji. With Canada's every attempt to fly up the wings, the crowd roared with encouragement. Canada is ranked second in the world and after a stunning silver finish at the Paris Olympics in the sevens, the 15s team has podium ambitions. Playing against one of the most famous women's players in the world surely helped in drawing attention to the sport as hordes of fans with signs screamed to get Ilona Maher's attention. Maher is part of a dedicated group of rugby players putting the sport on the map. Here at home, a humble squad of Canadian players were thrilled to play a match in front of their fans. After the match, Canadian forward Pamphinette Buisa said that having a crowd at home is very important and gives an edge before heading out. "I think from the last World Cup, we learned a lot, and this time, we are, I feel like, more than ready," she said. "I'm just so excited to be able to showcase that with this team, especially with the new movie, the one squad movement, that we're just so dynamic." Buisa said it was the first time her family and community saw her compete in a Canadian jersey on home soil so she was extra proud. While the senior women's face-off match was a resounding success, there was another match that took place at TD Stadium that day. In a combined effort with both rugby unions and corporate partner Canadian Tire Jumpstart, Iroquois Roots Rugby and Play Rugby USA brought girls teams to compete and meet the senior women's teams. The collaboration was important. Iroquois Roots Rugby (IRR) co-founder and director Melanie Squire is a proud Haudenosaunee woman from Six Nations who started the organization with her daughter, Meagan Wilson. Wilson is an accomplished rugby player who helped McMaster University to the U Sports championship in 2015. She is now the head coach of IRR. Their family connection (Squire's son also played) to rugby is strong but for Squire any opportunities should extend to the entire community. "The world of rugby was open to us, because, oddly enough, where we're from, near Brantford, Ontario, every high school there has a rugby team," Squire said. "So for us, it was kind of a big thing, obviously, not in our communities — like we're trying to do now, but big in that area." Squire saw how her daughter excelled in school and sports and wanted that for more girls. She started with two players in 2018 and now there are more than 115 participants at IRR. "We show up with a weird-looking ball that kind of looks like a football," she said with a laugh. "But you're not wearing any pads. So then that's scaring people, and they think it's barbaric, and you're kind of like, this one rugby ball can do so many things that you don't need a professional field. You need a little open space and a buddy, and you're playing rugby." While all the girls from IRR are not from Indigenous or First Nations communities, they learn a lot and respect the culture part of what sport is intended to do. IRR creates space for young women who may feel isolated or unwelcome in traditional sports places and systems. Access to sports, equipment and training are barriers for First Nation and Indigenous girls but IRR navigates that through their programming. "Well, a lot of, probably all of our girls out here wouldn't necessarily have access to sport, or the sport in particular," Squire said. "So just for us to be breaking down all of the barriers for them, in terms of they don't pay to play, they don't pay to travel, so it's no financial burden on families. We come to them. We're in our own communities. They don't have to travel outside. We provide everything they need." In addition to the competition, Squire offered a session for both senior women's teams that included educational teachings from her culture. Canadian national team member Olivia Apps said the presentation was "very impactful" and that she feels wearing the Canadian jersey is "complex". "You know, like, when we sing the national anthem, we think a lot about our nation's history and what that really means to us, and also all the unraveling we're doing with our nation's history with colonialism," Apps said. "So I think it's like for us being able to connect with that community and see the impact that rugby can have in young girls is like, I think it connects with all of our story in a lot of ways. "But also I think it just brings a lot of love and passion and peace to sometimes issues and situations that you know have a lot of trauma associated and harm. I think it brings a beautiful side to life that I'm really proud to be a part of." On the U.S. side, Play Rugby USA brought a team up from New York City. The predominantly Black girls team comes from the Bronx and their own existence is part of resistance coupled with excellence in sport. Their coach, Brianna Thomas, played NCAA Division I rugby. She was one of the only Black players on her team but fell in love with the mental strength required in the game. She teaches that to her own players as part of her coaching philosophy. "I tell my players that they're just as deserving as anyone else," Thomas said. "Sometimes there's going to be rooms and doors that we're not expected to be in, right? But you gotta walk in with that confidence and believe that you do deserve to be there, that you do belong there, even when other people say that you don't deserve to be there. "Believe in yourself because we're believing in you." Very often, Thomas introduces rugby to players who have never watched it. There is limited space to play in New York which is a barrier. Space to play on a field or even in the sport can be a challenge. Like IRR, Play Rugby USA offers free programming and no fees for participation. Both teams told me that this was the first sports-related traveling opportunity for many of the athletes. "I love that Iroquois Roots Rugby is very inclusive and a safe environment for all athletes," said Elaina McNaughton, who plays with the U16 Girls team at IRR. "The program has an amazing coaching staff that helps myself and many athletes grow and thrive in the sport." Above and beyond traveling, the merchandise and the thrill of participating, I saw a moment between two players after they played two matches. The players had taken a photo between the goalposts and were walking back to their respective team benches. After following each other on Snapchat, they wished each other well and thanked each other so sincerely it almost made me tear up. Isn't this what sport is supposed to be? Amplifying and exposing new players and potential fans to sport? With the Canadian women's team heading off to conquer new ground, creating new legacies in rugby is important. Rugby has a wonderful tradition of camaraderie and friendship. To see this expanded toward Indigenous, Black and racialized youth is formidable and necessary. At a time when sports can be divisive and confusing, this is a moment when we can sit back and enjoy the players's experiences and appreciate that the purpose is as powerful as the game.
CTV News
2 hours ago
- CTV News
Red Sox, Miller Express underdogs heading into playoffs
Regina Watch WATCH: The Regina Red Sox and Moose Jaw Miller Express have earned playoff berths and are embracing their underdog roles going forward.
