The Ontario 55+ Winter Games are coming to Orillia in 2024.
Provincial and local officials made the announcement Friday at the Orillia Recreation Centre.
The city will receive a $235,000 grant from the province to go toward hosting the games.
The games will bring more than 1,000 athletes to the area and an estimated $1.5 million in economic activity, officials said, as well as the opportunity for athletes to test their skills across 10 events.
2024 will mark the third time Orillia has hosted the Ontario Winter Games in recent years, having hosted the youth games in 2018 and 2020.
“It is an honour to be here … to announce that the City of Orillia has been selected as the host community for the 2024 Ontario 55+ Winter Games. These games have a rich history. They have celebrated healthy lifestyles and active living for more than 20 years,” said Simcoe North MPP Jill Dunlop.
“Seniors will show the rest of the province how it’s done in 2024 in the Sunshine City.”
Mayor Don McIsaac said it is an “honour” for the city to be selected as games host again.
“The 2018 and 2020 youth games ... gave a really good chance to showcase some of what we do best,” McIsaac said. “Orillians have, certainly, world-class facilities, volunteers and event-management skills, and we will be able to put those to use again.”
McIsaac called for Orillians who would like to get involved to volunteer for the event.
“This is a call to arms for all Orillians. We need help putting this together,” he said. “We need to build a team for this, so anyone interested in helping, please reach out.”
Tim Payne, a senior athlete and an Oro-Medonte resident, was also on hand at Friday’s announcement.
He said the games are a great opportunity for seniors to test their athletic abilities and gather with like-minded individuals.
“You reconnect with a lot of people that you only meet every six months (to) a year in person, and you keep renewing your friendships, and a lot of the friendships involve discussing life’s challenges as you age,” Payne said. “That’s a huge thing among senior athletes that participate ... how they’re managing aging and staying active.”
Payne is a veteran of more than 40 senior games in Canada and the United States, and he said the games provide the rare opportunity for senior athletes to test themselves against others their age.
“It’s a great avenue for bringing together specific age groups, people that you’d never, never have a chance to compete against (otherwise), and events that have a lot of people in your age group,” he said.
Payne said the games can inspire other seniors to get back into sports, on top of providing an opportunity for lifelong athletes to compete.
He also said the games serve as an example for younger generations.
“I know when younger people see us involved, it gives them a chance to see what is possible as they age, and I think that’s very valuable,” he said.
Residents interested in volunteering can read more here.
The Ontario 55+ Winter Games began in 2000 in Collingwood.
