SHERBROOKE: The Organizing Committee of the Canada Summer Games 2013 Sherbrooke worked overtime to highlight not only local talent but to include artists on a national level as well as exhibitions at regional museums and cultural centers, both big and small, focused on athletics and sports history of the area. Both opening and closing ceremonies featured musical talent by artists who not only were featured frequently in the area but also those who had ties to the Townships community such as award-winning country singer Johnny Reid, Tim Brink and Valerie Carpentier, winner of 1st season of La Voix.

Cultural events scheduled during the Games had everything going for them: they were offered free of charge and featured artists from everywhere performing in many disciplines and in a wide variety of styles – something for every taste. More than 100 artists stepped up to impressed visitors, athletes and the regional community over the 15 -day period.

“The Canada Games are first and foremost a sporting event, but the cultural component plays a significant role in programming and offers something for everyone. We hope to take advantage of the amazing showcase offered by the Games to highlight the talents of artists from our region. The projects we unveil are a reflection of this goal,” said Lynn Blouin, Deputy CEO–Communications and Human Resources for the Canada Summer Games–Sherbrooke 2013.

To accomplish this overwhelming task, the Team joined forces with a group of main cultural promoters in the region, working together to create a cultural program worthy of this unique event. The cultural projects were selected by the Cultural Consortium for the Games, comprised of the main promoters, producers, and cultural organizations in the region including the Centre culturel de l’Université de Sherbrooke, the Granada Theatre, the Centennial Theatre, the Festival des traditions du monde, Productions du Palais and the Conseil de la culture de Sherbrooke. The 12,000 participants, 15,000 visitors, and the entire population of the region were given the opportunity to discover these cultural projects in Sherbrooke and Coaticook this summer.

“We are proud of the high quality of the projects selected. Many of the initiatives were the creations of artists’ collectives, that resulted in many people leaving their mark. The projects were also representative of the cultural component of the Games – both unifying and diversified,” explained Alain de Lafontaine, Manager –Ceremonies and Culture Manager for the Canada Summer Games–Sherbrooke 2013.

The history of the Canada Games began in Quebec City in February 1967 – the motto being “Unity through Sport”. The first official ‘Canada Winter Games (1985)’ paved the way for what is now the largest multi-sport competition for young Canadian athletes. Beyond being a unique sporting event, the Games promote healthy living among young people and leave behind an important infrastructure, sport, and social legacy for the host region. “Hosting the Games means highlighting our culture and our diversity, and at the same time encouraging the development of our communities.”