New Brunswick’s provincial government has announced nearly $11.85 million in funding to support the 2029 Canada Summer Games, which will be jointly hosted by Moncton and Saint John. The announcement, made Thursday, comes roughly 1,000 days before the games are set to begin.
Of the total commitment, $8.85 million is earmarked for operational funding, while $3 million will go toward capital projects tied to the event. Tourism Minister Isabelle Thériault said the province expects the two-week Games to generate a total economic boost of $200 million for New Brunswick.
How the Funding Will Roll Out
According to a government news release, $2.97 million in operational funding will be distributed in the current fiscal year, with an additional $1.47 million allocated in each of the following four budget years. On the capital side, organizers will receive $1.5 million this year and another $1.5 million next year to support upgrades to facilities and infrastructure in the host communities.
Thériault, who attended the recent Canada Summer Games in Newfoundland and Labrador, said witnessing the event firsthand left an impression on her. She described the Canada Games as an opportunity for the country’s top young athletes to compete and pursue excellence, and said the 2029 event would foster community pride by bringing together residents, volunteers and visitors from across the country.
A Major Draw for Host Communities
Organizers expect about 4,600 athletes, coaches and managers to take part in the 2029 Games, along with roughly 20,000 visitors travelling from across Canada over the 14-day event, according to Louis Leger, co-chair of the board of the host society. Leger characterized the scale of the anticipated turnout as a major undertaking for the host communities.
Bill MacMackin, Leger’s fellow co-chair, said people who have been involved in past Canada Games recognize the event’s ability to bring youth and families together and highlight what he called the strength of the country. He pointed to what he described as outstanding facilities already in place in both Moncton and Saint John, saying that existing infrastructure and prior investments helped make the joint hosting bid feasible for a smaller province.
MacMackin also said the Games would give young New Brunswick athletes a chance to compete on a larger stage in front of a hometown crowd, which he said can influence both performance and a sense of local pride.
The 2029 Games will mark the third time New Brunswick has hosted the Canada Summer Games, following Saint John’s turn in 1985 and a joint hosting by Bathurst and Campbellton in 2003.
2029 Canada Summer Games: Key Figures
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