NB Launches Bid to Host 2029 Canada Games

The provincial government and the Canada Games Council have launched the competitive bid process for the 2029 Canada Summer Games.

The cities of Fredericton, Moncton and Saint John have until next month to confirm their intention to bid on hosting the largest amateur multi-sport event for the nation’s top young athletes.

“Hosting a sporting event such as the Canada Games is a great opportunity to showcase the best of what New Brunswick has to offer,” said Tourism, Heritage and Culture Minister Tammy Scott-Wallace. “As we move through this process, the partnership between the government of New Brunswick, the Canada Games Council and the municipalities will only strengthen our success. We look forward to engaging with community leaders and industry partners to ensure everyone taking part and visiting our beautiful province has a positive and memorable experience.”

The Games are often a stepping stone in the development of Canada’s national, international, Olympic, Paralympic and Special Olympics champions.

“We are thrilled to officially launch the competitive bid process and embark on the journey to the 2029 Canada Summer Games,” said Catherine Gosselin-Després, chair of the Games evaluation committee. “We look forward to working alongside the government of New Brunswick and the bidding municipalities throughout the bid phase and evaluation process and determine which host community will ignite the spark to inspire greatness in Canada’s next generation of athletes and leaders in 2029.”

The bid evaluation committee and technical review committee will assess the bids in two phases. Both phases include a formal submission by the bid committees representing each municipality, as well as a site visit by the Canada Games Council committee.

The technical review phase will be conducted this June and July to assess the ability of each city to host the Games based on standards for sport venues, non-sport venues and the Games Village.

Phase 2 is a comprehensive review scheduled for January and February of 2025, during which the bid committees submit their proposals that include an overall vision, a marketing and communications strategy, community commitment and a budget.

The host city will be announced in March of 2025.

“The Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games was the catalyst for kick-starting my athletic career, and will forever be associated with Niagara Falls,” said Vivian Kutnowski, Canada Games bronze medallist for Team New Brunswick. “Learning that the Canada Summer Games are coming to New Brunswick in 2029 makes me excited for the memories that will be made in our beautiful province by the next generation of athletes.”

The event features two weeks of competition, between 16 and 20 sports, about 4,600 participants (athletes, coaches and managers), and more than 5,000 volunteers. The Canada Summer Games are expected to generate about $200 million in economic spending in the host province or territory.

New Brunswick has hosted the Canada Games twice: the 1985 Summer Games in Saint John and the 2003 Winter Games in Bathurst-Campbellton.

Registration Fees Waived for Newly Graduated Nurses

The latest collaboration between the provincial government and the Nurses Association of New Brunswick will exempt newly graduated nursing students from first-time registration fees.

“Nursing recruitment is key to ensuring we have a well-staffed health-care system that can provide New Brunswickers with the care they need,” said Health Minister Bruce Fitch. “Working with the Nurses Association of New Brunswick to reduce the barriers for nurses entering the profession is one more way we are working to increase staffing, which benefits patients and ensures other health-care workers are part of a well-resourced team.”

The government has committed $2.7 million over five years toward the initiative, which is meant to enhance accessibility for applicants from within and outside the province. The savings for each recent graduate registering with the association is about $500.

“We are encouraged by the exponential growth in the number of students enrolled in nursing programs here in the province, having increased by over 90 per cent in the past five years,” said Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour Minister Arlene Dunn. “We are pleased to support this initiative that will assist post-secondary students with their transition from learning to becoming established in our health-care system.”

Dunn said eliminating such financial barriers reflects the association’s and government’s collective dedication to nurturing a diverse and skilled nursing workforce, which ultimately benefits the health-care sector.

"This agreement with the province is a testament to the shared vision of creating an environment where aspiring nurses can embark on their professional journey unencumbered,” said Denise LeBlanc-Kwaw, the association’s CEO and registrar. “We are immensely grateful for the collaborative spirit that has brought about this positive change.”

This initiative follows a collaboration between the government and association that reduces financial barriers for internationally educated nurses, including the cost of first-time registration.

Exhibits of Two Sussex Artists Open at the Saint John Arts Centre

There was so much to celebrate tonight at the Saint John Arts Centre with the opening of exhibits by two incredible artists from my riding - Heather McCaig and Andrew Giffin. There were so many friends, neighbours and local artists who travelled into the city to support their wonderful work displayed in separate exhibitions. Congratulations Heather and Andrew. As a bonus for me as minister responsible for arts and culture, I was also thrilled to have another look at our latest collectionArtNB acquisition that also opened in exhibit at the Arts Centre tonight.

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