2027 Special Olympics Ontario Winter Games coming to North Bay
North Bay will be hosting the 2027 Special Olympics Ontario Winter Games.
The city was officially named as the next host community at the closing ceremony of this year’s Special Olympics Ontario Summer Games in Brantford on the weekend. Led by the North Bay Police Service, the Games will welcome over 500 athletes and coaches from across the province to compete in five official sports.
They include: alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, curling, and figure skating. North Bay Police Chief Daryl Longworth received the Games Torch from Brantford Police Chief Jason Saunders, symbolizing the transfer of leadership and responsibility for the next provincial games.“Our Service is honoured to lead the charge in bringing the 2027 Winter Games to North Bay,” says Chief Longworth. “Receiving the torch and flag alongside one of our athletes was an unforgettable reminder of what these Games represent. We are excited to bring that energy home and begin preparing to welcome the province in 2027.”
At the same ceremony, local North Bay Special Olympics athletes, Aidan Restoule and Alisha Windsor accepted the Special Olympics Ontario flag from Brantford athletes.
Officials say the city’s legacy of inclusion, athletic excellence, and strong community partnerships makes it the ideal stage for this next chapter in the Special Olympics movement. “Special Olympics started right here in Ontario and has grown because of committed communities like North Bay,” says Cody Jansma, CEO of Special Olympics Ontario. “We’re thrilled to see the flame of the Games passed forward and know that North Bay will create something truly special in 2027.”The games, scheduled to take place between January and March 2027, will feature multiple days of competition, ceremonies, and community events. The North Bay Police Service will lead planning efforts alongside volunteers, partners, and stakeholders from across the city and surrounding area. The city last hosted the games in 2015.
