OTTAWA: The Ontario government is committing $3 million to support the Valour Games, a new, national multi-sport competition for wounded, ill and injured military personnel and veterans.
This funding will build on the success of the 2017 Invictus Games in Toronto by continuing to showcase the athletic skills and abilities of Canada’s wounded veterans.
Providing details about the Games, Premier Doug Ford said: “We owe our veterans and active service members a debt of gratitude for their service. The Valour Games will provide another important opportunity for Ontarians to recognize the skills and excellence of our men and women in uniform.”
Lisa MacLeod, Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries, said: “The recovery, rehabilitation and reintegration of Canadian service members and veterans into their communities can be greatly enhanced through the transformative power of sport,” said Minister MacLeod.
Ottawa will host the inaugural Valour Games in 2022, welcoming more than 500 competitors and family and friends from across Canada to compete in adaptive team and individual sports over the course of one week.
These could include archery, indoor rowing, powerlifting, sitting volleyball, swimming, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair tennis and wheelchair rugby. Following the Ottawa event, the Valour Games will be hosted in a different Canadian city every two years.
“We are thankful to Premier Ford and Minister MacLeod for their support of inaugural Canada’s Valour Games in 2022,” said Major-General (Ret’d) Lew Mackenzie, Member of the Board for Canada’s Valour Games.
“Today’s announcement moves us closer to the realization of our mission to bring the adaptive sport to thousands of our ill, injured and wounded service members and veterans.”
“I have served my country with great pride and distinction over the past 19 years. My goal is to carry on that tradition and wear the Canadian flag once more, to inspire pride in others and to prove that a disability does not define you,” said 2017 Invictus Games Team Canada athlete Master Corporal (Ret’d) Mike Trauner.
“One inspires many and I look forward to today’s announcement supporting many athletes at the Valour Games.”
• The inaugural Valour Games are scheduled for 2022.
• The province is committed to using the funds from The Invictus Games to help create a legacy project to further support wounded veterans and their families.
• Sixty per cent of medically released military personnel have permanent physical limitations. Military personnel and veterans also experience higher than average rates of mental illness such as depression, stress, anxiety and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
• Evidence shows the recovery, rehabilitation and reintegration of wounded, ill or injured military personnel and veterans can be greatly enhanced through the transformative power of sport.