From left: Greg Perreaux, Dwight King, Reagan Beck, Leslie Blyth, Chief Tyson Bear, Merlin Seymour and Davin Hildebrand during the joint announcement earlier Thursday in Flying Dust First Nation. (Matt Ryan/CJNS)

By meadowlakeNOW staff

Winter Games

Historic Moment: FDFN and Meadow Lake to co-host 2026 Saskatchewan Winter Games

Jul 5, 2024 | 9:37 AM

An historic announcement was made in Flying Dust First Nation earlier Thursday.

For the first time, a First Nation and a city will be joining forces to host the 2026 Saskatchewan Winter Games.

“I think it’s honestly an exciting time,” said Dwight King, FDFN recreation manager, speaking to Matt Ryan of CJNS.

“We’re still a couple years away from the games actually coming but the relationships we can build together with the City of Meadow Lake and Flying Dust First Nations is exciting.”

According to a news release, the biennial games are set to run from February 15-21, 2026 and will welcome 1,800 athletes to the area – a place Meadow Lake Mayor Merlin Seymour said was all encompassing.

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“Just goes to show, we’re basically one community,” said Meadow Lake Mayor Merlin Seymour.

“Two separate entities but we’re one community – whether it be shopping or going to school, or playing hockey or whatever the case may be, everybody works together.”

The last time Meadow Lake played host was in the summer of 2012 and the release said the Co-Op Centre – set to be completed next year – will be a major hub for the games, which are set to draw 5,000 spectators.

“We believe that this is kind of a leaping off point, this is the opportunity to set the bar high,” said Leslie Blyth, chairperson of the Saskatchewan Games Council.

“Then perhaps other organizations where you have a city and a First Nations that are in proximity can recognize how they can come together.”

The winter games will feature 17 sports from alpine skiing, curling and figure skating to judo, target shooting and wrestling. Blyth said the next step will be for the city and Flying Dust to get together, talk about their partnership and decide who will host each sport.

“Then you’ve got to get the community involved,” she said referring to sponsorships and similar ventures.

Co-Chair of the Winter Games, Davin Hildebrand said they look forward to welcoming athletes coming to the communities in the northwest.

“Sport is fun and to be host and in such an exciting area is just going to be really exciting,” he said.

For Parks and Recreation Manager Reagan Beck, it’s an exciting opportunity to build off the legacy of their previous games experience.

“I think this is a transformational thing for the City of Meadow Lake and an opportunity to show off our new facility as well,” he said.

“It seems like it’s a long ways out, we know it’s not and we know it’s going to be a lot of work but it’s fun work and we can’t wait to have everybody here.”

With files from Matt Ryan

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cjnbnews@pattisonmedia.com