Newcomers bring skills to AWG

The Canada Games Centre was buzzing with excitement on Friday as several sports reached final rounds of competition. And with morning temperatures shivering at the -35C mark it’s easy to understand why indoor sports are just as vital to northerners in winter as the ones outdoors on snowy mountains. Badminton, speed skating and futsal records, plus intense pin trading, were all in hot pursuit within this one big facility, originally built for the 2007 Canada Winter Games. 

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The benefits of having a multi-sport centre were recognized by competitors, coaches and visitors. Richard from Anchorage has been involved with the Games for many years, this time with a son playing hockey. He admires the foresight of Canadian sports funders in building centres to co-locate several sports and related recreational activities so that whole families can enjoy different levels and sports together during dark and cold months, as well as summertime. 

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One thing often noted at the 2026 AWG is the  growing diversity of participants from around the world who have made the North their home. Justin Raj Manirajoo coaches badminton in Anchorage now, having moved to Alaska as a teenager from Malaysia where he was a passionate player. Two of his players Jaycky and Ryan won Ulus, a testimonial to their hard work and his dedication to “growing the sport in Anchorage.” The players reported their new friends from the Yukon won silver and Team Kalaallit Nunaat (Greenland) the gold. Two from the Greenland U16 group were Bruno from Qaqortoq and Carla from Nuuk who said “it was super fun to be together meeting new people in their sport and watching all the other sports.” 

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Team Alaska futsal player Peja was excited to be moving on to the finals after a big win in a semi-final match. She likes the fast pace of this five person team sport that resembles soccer only played with a smaller ball. Her team has members from different communities who trained hard for several months with practices every Sunday in Anchorage. This has been a great experience with wide ranging sports all happening at the same place over one busy week.

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Some of the loudest cheering came from the supporters of speed skaters who raced around the lanes on the big indoor rink in both individual and team relay contests. Team Northwest Territories coaches Kerry Egan of Yellowknife and Val Gendron of Fort Simpson are AWG veterans, passionate about the value of this sport for young athletes. It teaches them “how to take care of themselves away from home—to eat well, look after their gear, get up on time, develop confidence and work respectfully within a group.” They gave a huge thank you to all the volunteers who made everything run so smoothly. One Yukon volunteer, Malcolm Taggart has contributed to the sport for over 20 years. Yukon club members Nolan and Odin worked as Youth Volunteers helping with logistics and looking forward to the next Games when they will be old enough to compete. Team Yukon’s Kieran “loves the action and competition on the ice likening it to Formula 1 car racing with its speed, strategy and pacing skills.”

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The most sought after volunteer today was Thorin, a big black Labrador dog touring with his handler Alison Harper. As members of PADS—Pacific Assistance Dogs Society—they bring warm canine comfort and reassurance to athletes who might be experiencing high emotions, stress and a longing for home amidst all the excitement of competition. Several athletes stopped by to offer big thanks and a pat, and receive tail wagging greetings from Thorin. Altogether everyone was having big fun at the CGC on Friday the 13^th!