Last week at a ceremony at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre in Whistler, the Lil̓wat7úl (Líl̓wat), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) First Nations, together with partners at the City of Vancouver, Resort Municipality of Whistler, Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) and Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC), officially revealed a concept for hosting a future 2030 Olympics and Paralympics in British Columbia.
Indigenous-Led 2030 Olympics Bid Concept Reveal
“As we navigated the feasibility phase, our Nations worked closely with the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Committees, and our municipal partners, to not only determine if it is possible to host, but to truly explore what it would mean to host an Indigenous-led Olympic and Paralympic Games,” said yəχʷyaχʷələq, Chief Wayne Sparrow. “With the release of the Games concept, we can finally begin to share that we are ready to welcome the world back to our territory and create new paths towards reconciliation through sport.”
The concept reveal marks the end of the feasibility phase, one step in an Indigenous-led and privately funded process that can set a global model for partnerships between First Nations, governments, and the world of sport in the exploration of hosting transformative major events.
“This is an important step in our consideration of a potential Indigenous-led bid for the Olympic and Paralympic Games,” said Squamish Nation Spokesperson Wilson Williams. “Now it is time to speak to our communities, and indeed the Canadian public, as we seek feedback on the more detailed proposal. In keeping with the traditions of our Nations, the communities will have an opportunity to add their voice to the discussion and help the Leadership Assembly as we move closer to a decision.”
Proposed 2030 Winter Olympics Venues
The hosting concept represents a proposed Winter Games that is sustainable, values-led and community-focused. The plan almost exclusively reuses and revamps existing venues – such as UBC’s Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre (ice hockey and Para ice hockey), the Richmond Olympic Oval (speed skating), and the Whistler Sliding Centre (bobsleigh, skeleton, luge) – ensuring that these important pieces of Canadian sport infrastructure are maintained and viable for generations to come. The concept also proposes a new partnership with Sun Peaks Ski Resort near Kamloops, which would host snowboard and freestyle skiing events on the traditional unceded territories of the Adams Lake, Little Shuswap Lake and Neskonlith Indian Bands.
“[This] is a very important day, as we enter into the next phase of this Olympic journey,” said Chief Jen Thomas, Tsleil-Waututh Nation. “Tsleil-Waututh is honoured to stand with our families from the Four Host Nations and our partners as we continue the good work to move towards the first ever Indigenous-led Olympic and Paralympic Games.”
In addition, the Games are designed to be climate-positive – the first Games mandated by the International Olympic Committee to have a net negative carbon footprint. This means sustainability is at the core of the concept, from venue reuse and construction to athlete transportation, with the aim of having a lasting impact on climate policy and action in Canada long beyond the Games.
The Indigenous-led process of exploring opportunities to bring the Games back to British Columbia began with a historic signing of an MOU between the Lil̓wat7úl (Líl̓wat), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) First Nations, the City of Vancouver and the Resort Municipality of Whistler in December. The Four Host First Nations along with the two municipalities invited the COC and CPC into the process through a collaboration agreement in January.
As part of the collaboration agreement, all parties committed to participating in a feasibility assessment and the initial concept development to bring the Games back to Canada’s West Coast in 2030, while respecting the Truth and Reconciliation Call to Action 91, the Province of British Columbia’s legislation of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA), and the federal government’s United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (UNDRIP).
With an initial hosting concept developed, the project will advance into a broad and ongoing phase of community engagement and discussion with the public – a process that started within the communities of the Four Host Nations. The team is now actively seeking to discuss the project in greater detail with the public and other key stakeholders at the local, regional, and national levels. In the coming weeks, more details will be announced, including financial estimates.
This engagement will help inform the leadership assembly partners. Should the project proceed, the COC, on behalf of the partners, would continue dialogue with the IOC within the international bidding process.
Today FIFA confirmed that Vancouver has been chosen as an official host city for the FIFA Men’s World Cup 2026. The Province will work with FIFA to confirm the number of matches that will be held in Vancouver.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 will be jointly hosted by Canada, the United States and Mexico with matches held in select host cities across North America. This World Cup will be the largest ever held, and the first to feature 48 teams playing in 80 matches. It is expected that the United States will host 60 matches, with Canada and Mexico expected to host 10 matches each.
FIFA Women’s World Cup England Canada – Rebecca Bollwitt, Miss604 Photo
Vancouver to Host 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup Matches
The selected cities in alphabetical order are:
CANADA: Toronto, Vancouver UNITED STATES: Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Francisco Bay Area and Seattle. MEXICO: Guadalajara, Mexico City, Monterrey
“Soccer is a globally unifying sport. It is an important sport to Musqueam – just like it is important to so many communities around the world. We are thrilled to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup in our ancestral territory. There is no doubt that our youth will not only take pride in our involvement, but be inspired to continue playing the game that so many of us love.” – Chief Wayne Sparrow, Musqueam Indian Band
This is the first time that FIFA Men’s World Cup matches will be played on Canadian soil, and the tournament is watched by billions of people around the world. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to support the tourism sector, put the global spotlight on British Columbia and inspire the next generation of players.
“The Squamish Nation is thrilled the FIFA World Cup will kick off on our shared traditional territories in 2026! We look forward to working with our partners to make this world cup the biggest and best one yet. This event will promote Coast Salish cultures and languages to billions of soccer fans around the world and will inspire all Indigenous athletes to compete on the global stage.” – Sxwíxwtn, Wilson Williams, spokesperson, Squamish First Nation
FIFA Women’s World Cup 2015 – Rebecca Bollwitt Miss604 Photo
At this time, the estimated costs for planning, staging and hosting the FIFA World Cup 2026 in BC range from $240 million to $260 million. This estimate is before considering offsetting contributions from the federal government and the City of Vancouver, stadium and training site rentals and other sources, and potential marketing opportunities that are expected to generate revenue. Additionally, early modelling from Destination BC and BC Stats estimates that the tournament could bring more than $1 billion in new revenue to BC’s tourism sector during the tournament and in the five years following, depending on the number of matches played in Vancouver.
“Soccer is incredibly important to the Tsleil-Waututh community, and we are pleased that this tournament will be hosted in our territory in 2026. Sport is like medicine to our people and can help heal and inspire our communities. We are excited to collaborate on these games and look forward to the opportunities they will bring to our people.” – Chief Jen Thomas, Tsleil-Waututh Nation
Vancouver (including BC Place Stadium) was invited to apply to plan and stage matches in summer 2026, and the city was approved as one of 22 candidate host cities in April 2022.
“We are ecstatic that Vancouver has been named a host city for the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup. This is an incredible opportunity to welcome everyone back to Vancouver, as we did for the 2010 Winter Olympics and the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, and once again celebrate our special city. Vancouver Whitecaps FC are excited to support our partners at the Province of British Columbia, City of Vancouver, and BC Place Stadium as we get set to host the world in our home city and stadium.” – Axel Sschuter, Vancouver Whitecaps FC sporting director and chief executive officer.
The next FIFA World Cup will be held in Qatar in November 2022. The Canadian men’s national team qualified for a place at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, a first since 1986.
What a busy and fun-filled weekend ahead with Father’s Day activities, festivals, and summer favourites! Miss604 is proud to sponsor Beer by the Pier in North Vancouver in support of Family Services of the North Shore, along with the Summer at Burnaby Village Museum. Find these events, attractions, and more things to do in Vancouver this weekend listed below:
Things to do in Vancouver This Weekend June 17-19 Father’s Day and More
The Talking Stick Festival, Vancouver Civic Theatres, and the Vancouver International Jazz Festival are hosting the Indigenous Summer Stage at šxʷƛ̓exən Xwtl’a7shn (formerly the QET Plaza) on June 24th. The free and lively outdoor stage will feature Indigenous artists spanning multiple genres and nations.
Indigenous Summer Stage in Downtown Vancouver
When: Friday, June 24, 2022
Where: šxʷƛ̓exən Xwtl’a7shn (formerly the QE Theatre Plaza) 630 Hamilton St
Hosted by Elaine Bomberry the lineup includes Tsatsu Stalqayu (Coastal Wolfpack) at 4:30pm; Zach Saunders at 5:05pm; Eden Fine Day at 5:40pm; Caitlin Goulet at 6:10pm; Norine Braun at 6:40pm; and Murray Porter at 7:10pm.
The Talking Stick Festival is known as the premier, multi-disciplinary Indigenous arts festival in North America. From June 12 to July 3, 2022. Performances are a mix of Full Circle-produced events and partnerships with other notable local performing arts organizations. Other events inlucde:
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by Rebecca BollwittDisclosure: Sponsored Post — Sponsored by Paquin Entertainment Group Please review the Policy & Disclosure section for further information.
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Beyond King Tut: The Immersive Experience is coming to Vancouver in October, and we’ll be the first Canadian city to host the highly anticipated exhibition! Developed in partnership with the National Geographic Society, the exhibition commemorates the 100th anniversary of one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of all time.
Beyond King Tut Vancouver – Photo Submitted
Beyond King Tut in Vancouver
When: October, 2022
Where: Vancouver Convention Centre (1055 Canada Place)
Tickets are timed and dated, and advance purchase is strongly encouraged with sellouts expected. Prices start at $31.99 for adults and $23.99 for children ages 5-15 (plus ticketing fees). Package rates for families, seniors (on Tuesdays) and groups are available, as well as VIP Tickets, which include a flex ticket for entry, merchandise and entry to the award-winning “Tutankhamun: Enter the Tomb” VR companion experience voiced by Hugh Bonneville.
National Geographic’s Beyond King Tut will take visitors on a time-traveling journey flooded with sight, sound and intrigue through the world of King Tut—the boy who reigned as pharaoh of Egypt more than 3,000 years ago—and the discovery of his tomb and treasures in 1922.
The discovery of the intact tomb of King Tut captured the imagination of the world, and the mysteries surrounding the tomb still resonate today. Drawing from the storied archives of the National Geographic Society, the exhibition combines the power of cinematic storytelling and soaring imagery made possible with state-of-the-art projection mapping to invite visitors into the golden king’s world like never before.
Beyond King Tut is produced by Paquin Entertainment Group and Immersive Experiences. Paquin Entertainment Group’s exhibition portfolio includes the acclaimed Beyond Van Gogh and Beyond Monet exhibitions that have attracted more than 3 million visitors around the world.
The North American debut of the award-winning virtual reality experience “Tutankhamun: Enter the Tomb” will be presented alongside Beyond King Tut as an optional add-on experience. Created by immersive cinematic storytelling company CityLights and voiced by lauded English actor Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abbey), the groundbreaking experience whisks guests through a photorealistic version of King Tut’s tomb and all its treasures, just as archeologist Howard Carter and his financier Lord Carnarvon found it when they first peered inside in 1922.
In addition to the premiere of Beyond King Tut, National Geographic is commemorating the 100th anniversary of the discovery of King Tut’s tomb in November 2022 with content including a documentary and a National Geographic magazine feature.
Enter to Win
I have a family pack of tickets to give away, here’s how you can enter to win!
