The 2026 Manitoba Games powered by Manitoba Hydro officially kicked off at 7:30 PM on Sunday, March 1^st, with the Opening Ceremonies taking place in the C.A. Nesbitt Arena at the Thompson Regional Community Center, in Thompson, Manitoba, located on Treaty 5 Territory. From March 1^st to 7^th, over 1,000 athletes will compete in 12 sports at the Hub of the North, located north of the 55^th parallel.

The ceremony lasted just under 90 minutes, including entertainment courtesy of local groups, greetings from dignitaries and Manitoba Hydro, the official Oaths of athletes, coaches, and officials, the arrival of the Games flag, the lighting of the Games Cauldron, and declaration by the Games Co-Chairs of the Games being officially open!

The ceremony started with the parade of athletes, youth aged 10 to 18 from across the six regions of the province, who entered the arena to the steady drum beat of the Women of While Wolf Drummers. The last region to host the games, represented by Team West, led the parade; they were followed by Team East, Team South, Team Winnipeg Blue, Team Winnipeg Gold, and your host region…Team North! Once the athletes were settled and the dignitaries were introduced, the crowd rose as Alex Moodie gave an incredibly powerful performance of O Canada in Cree. This was followed up with a solemn Honour Song performed by the Women of White Wolf Drummers.

Indigenous Elder and Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Grand Chief Garrison Settee brought the first round of greetings to the crowd, welcoming everyone to the territory that he called “our home”, and wishing for everyone to enjoy their experience in “the true North strong and free”. He acknowledged that this being the third time we hosted the Games, “is a testament to how strongly they believe in these games”.

The Capital Projects in Thompson leading up to the Games were presented, which includes: a new sound system, new benches in TRCC dressing rooms, accessible public Wi-Fi, a new scoreboard and shot clocks in the Bill Comaskey gymnasium, new paint and a roller curtain in the Trojan Gym at R.D. Parker Collegiate along with a new glass balcony, and a groomer and shed for maintenance of the cross-country ski trails, measuring devices for the Burntwood Curling Club.

The Sikh Society of Thompson Bhangra Dancers took to the stage to dazzle the crowd with a lively performance. Everyone clapped along and cheered as the Bhangra Dancers electrified the crowd.

While he was unable to attend the Opening Ceremony in person, Premier Wab Kinew was in Thompson a few weeks ago, when he recorded a brief video message while standing in a Norman Northstar jersey and holding a Manitoba Games sweater: “Māmawi ki-mētawānaw. Welcome to the Manitoba Games.” The Honourable Nellie Kennedy, Minister of Sport, Culture, Heritage, and Tourism, spoke on behalf of the Province of Manitoba, thanking Thompson for hosting the games and recognizing the Games as a stepping stone in the careers of many young athletes. Mayor Colleen Smook of Thompson shared her welcome and well-wishes for the athletes, also thanking the City of Thompson staff and Manitoba Hydro for making the games possible. Jeff Betker of Manitoba Hydro brought a message of unity, community-building, and Manitoba pride, also thanking the City of Thompson, as well as the family members who travelled to watch their athletes. He spoke of how Manitoba Hydro is a proud sponsor of the games, with their mission being to provide energy for life, including investments in events like this.

The final group to perform before the conclusion of the ceremony were traditional dancers from the Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation (NCN). Their performance was followed by the official oaths of athletes, coaches, and officials by Macy Portey, Kennedy Courvoisier, and Matt Steeves in turn. The Royal Canadian Air Cadets, led by Officer Cadet Sehn, brought the Games Flag into the arena, followed by the introduction to the Torch Relay. Spectators watched the Hall family’s dogsled team mush their way from the outskirts of Thompson into the city center, past City Hall, and to the exterior of the TRCC. Torch Bearer Cory Beardy, a gold-medallist at the 2025 Special Olympics World Winter Games in cross-country skiing, was on hand to receive the Torch, bring it into the arena, and proceed to light the Games Cauldron. 

Co-Chair of the Manitoba Games Host Steering Committee, Todd Harwood and Cristy Andres, delivered their remarks prior to the declaration of the Games being open. Cristy commended the athletes’ dedication to their training and preparation for the games, and how the Games are about more than just sport; Todd shared two Haiku poems written by athletes on the way to the Games. They declared the 2026 Manitoba Games to be open!

As the Opening Ceremonies came to their conclusion, athletes were given the opportunity to “make some noise” to get pumped up for the upcoming competition. They departed the arena to head off to their first night in the Athlete Village. The ceremony was a showcase of the vibrant, diverse culture of the North. Good luck to all the athletes and coaches in the upcoming week. Together We Play / Māmawi ki-mētawānaw!