Opening and Closing Ceremonies entertainment announced
WINNIPEG (May 15, 2017) – The Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the 2017 Canada Summer Games will be a celebration of sport and culture, with musical stars, athletes, performers, dignitaries and a national television audience coming together to honour the heart and spirit of the Games. The Games’ Host Society and Co-Hosts unveiled the line-up for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, key components of the 2017 Canada Summer Games to be held in Winnipeg, Gimli and Kenora from July 28 to August 13, 2017.
The Games’ Co-Hosts, Treaty No. 1, Treaty No. 3 and the Métis Nation represented by the Manitoba Métis Federation, will play a special role as well as elements of traditional indigenous culture have been incorporated into both Ceremonies.
“The Ceremonies are our opportunity to make the athletes feel special and showcase all that Winnipeg and Manitoba have to offer,” said Mariette Mulaire, Co-chair of the 2017 Canada Summer Games Host Society. “These ceremonies will have a special significance as this is the 50th anniversary of the Games and the country is marking its 150th birthday,” added Co-chair Hubert Mesman. “We’re very proud of the line-up we’ve put together in collaboration with our Ceremonies Producer, Patrick Roberge Productions (PRP).”
Patrick Roberge, President and Creative Director of PRP, explains that while sport is the reason the nation will gather in Winnipeg for the Games, the Ceremonies are also a celebration of culture and community. Spectators can expect Manitoba talent to be in the spotlight.
“Winnipeg is known for its dynamic arts and cultural scene,” said Roberge. “It was a no-brainer to incorporate a large number of local talent into the Ceremonies. Between the two shows, over 500 dancers and a choir featuring hundreds of voices will ignite the MTS Centre and Investors Group Field. The energy they bring to the show will be amazing.”
“Canadian athletes and artists will be front and centre and full of spirit as they share the stage during the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the 2017 Canada Summer Games in Winnipeg,” said the Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities.
“The Host Society and its partners are preparing ceremonies that will embody the culture of Manitoba and showcase athletic and artistic talent in one of Canada’s most diverse and vibrant communities, ” Minister Qualtrough continued. “Sport and the arts both require dedication, passion and perseverance—all of which will be on display at the Opening and Closing Ceremonies this summer.”
“We are Canada!” – welcoming the nation to Winnipeg on July 28, 2017
The Opening Ceremony, presented by James Richardson & Sons, Limited will take place Friday, July 28, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. at Winnipeg’s MTS Centre. Titled “We are Canada!”, the two-hour show will celebrate 50 years of amateur sport at the Canada Games and mark Canada’s 150th anniversary at The Hottest Summer in Half a Century. Featuring hundreds of performers from all parts of Manitoba’s community, the show will also feature sports celebrities and Canada Games alumni.
“The Opening Ceremony will set the tone for two weeks of competition and will showcase our community to the nation,” said Roberge. “We are pulling out all the stops to make this an unforgettable moment for athletes, visitors, and everyone watching – in the stands or across the country.”
With a colourful set reminiscent of rays of sunshine over the prairie horizon, the Opening Ceremony will capture the excitement felt when the cold winter makes way for long summer days, when the temperature rises and the Manitoba heat moves in.
Musical headliners for the Opening Ceremony include Ontario’s Serena Ryder, Québec’s Coeur de Pirate, and Winnipeg’s own Juno-award winning Brothers’ Landreth, who will perform with a youth chorus from Studio Works and young dancers in a special collaboration with Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet.
Bringing the competitions to a close with a “Grand Summer Party”
The Closing Ceremony, presented by Investors Group, will take place Sunday, August 13, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. at the Investors Group Field in Winnipeg. The ceremony will bring to a close the 26th edition of the Canada Games, celebrate athletes’ successes and pass the torch to the 2019 Canada Winter Games in Red Deer, Alberta.
Titled “Grand Summer Party”, the Closing Ceremony will transform Investors Group Field into a summer festival site that will celebrate The Hottest Summer in Half a Century. The two-hour show will also celebrate the natural beauty of the province and call attention to the vibrant culture of its capital city Winnipeg.
Ceremonies Producer Patrick Roberge called the August 13 ceremony a festival of festivals, adding: “The Closing Ceremony will be an opportunity for the athletes to celebrate their performances as we crank up the music and fill the stadium with colour and dance.”
Perennial favourite Fred Penner and Manitoba’s star fiddler Sierra Noble are among the local artists who will share the stage with Alberta’s country music sensation Brett Kissel.
“Excitement is building for the Canada Summer Games and the festivities that will surround the athletic competition,” said the Hon. Rochelle Squires, the Minister for Sport, Culture and Heritage. “ The Opening and Closing Ceremonies are shaping up to be highlights of Summer 2017 as they showcase the talent and diversity of Manitoba’s finest festivals and homegrown performers like The Bros. Landreth, Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet and Fred Penner.”
“The announcement of headliners for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies really puts things into perspective on just how close the 2017 Canada Summer Games really are,” added Mayor Brian Bowman. “It’s great that local performers will be incorporated into the events so the nation will get a peek into one of Canada’s most vibrant and diverse arts communities.”
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About the 2017 Canada Summer Games:
Winnipeg, Manitoba will host the Canada Summer Games July 28 – August 13, 2017. Featuring 16 sports, over 250 events and a major cultural festival, the 2017 Canada Games will welcome over 4,000 athletes and coaches and more than 20,000 visitors. Celebrating the Games’ 50th anniversary and acknowledging Canada’s 150th anniversary, the Canada Games are this country’s largest multisport event for young athletes. They will leave a lasting legacy of new and enhanced sport facilities, volunteer and leadership development that will benefit athletes and the broader community for years to come. This event has been made possible in part by the Government of Canada, Province of Manitoba and City of Winnipeg. canadagames.ca/2017
About the Co-Hosts:
The 2017 Canada Summer Games Host Society acknowledges and welcomes our official Co-Hosts, the First Nation communities of Treaty No.1, Treaty No.3, and the Manitoba Metis Federation (MMF) whose traditional lands and waters the 2017 Games will be held upon. As we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Canada Games and acknowledge the 150th anniversary of Confederation, the Host Society also recognizes the thousands of years the First Nations communities have called this territory home and the hundreds of years it has been the home of the Metis peoples.
The Host Society and Co-Hosts respectively thank Turtle Lodge and the many Elders and Grandmothers that have provided the Games with cultural guidance and teachings that will make the 2017 Canada Summer Games one of the most inclusive in its 50 year history.
About PRP Productions
PRP Inc. (Patrick Roberge Productions) is an award-winning show and content producer with over thirty years of experience presenting high-profile international events and entertainment. PRP is a leader in creating a world that is entertained through shared experience. Select high-profile projects include: the upcoming 2017 Invictus Games, the Opening Ceremony of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2015, the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games, the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the 2015 Canada Games, the Grey Cup Halftime shows and Rick Hansen’s 25thAnniversary. We imagine beyond the possible, have fun in the process and we do it great. www.prpconnect.com.
For more information, or to arrange interviews/media availability, please contact:
Monique LaCoste, Media Relations Consultant C: 204.451.1202
E: mlacoste@2017canadagames.ca canadagames.ca/2017 | jeuxducanada.ca/2017