The Canadian Senior Games Association is pleased to welcome Ed Mark as our new Ontario Director.

Ed brings with him a strong background in athletics and recreation, along with a passion for enriching the experience of senior participants across Canada. He has been actively involved with the Ontario Senior Games Association (OSGA) for the past three years, having served as Secretary from 2022 to 2024 and now as Vice-President.

With 18 years of experience as Manager of Athletics and Recreation at George Brown College, Ed has played a key role in shaping collegiate sports in Ontario. His leadership extended to the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA), where he served as Vice President of Recreation, and nationally through his involvement with the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) as a committee member for both women’s basketball and cross-country running.

Ed’s primary focus within the OSGA—and now with the CSGA—is to enhance the quality and accessibility of the Games for seniors. His dedication to inclusive, meaningful participation will help guide the future of our national events and programs.

Please join us in welcoming Ed Mark to the CSGA Executive Board. We look forward to his continued leadership and contributions to the growth of senior sport in Canada.

The Canada 55+ Games, originally set for Winnipeg in 2026, have been postponed to
2028 due to funding challenges and rapid growth in participation. Held every two years,
the Games promote physical, social, and mental well-being for seniors aged 55+,
featuring 20+ events and activities. Participation surged to nearly 3,000 in 2024.

Run by the volunteer-led Canadian Senior Games Association (CSGA), the Games were
canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19 but made strong comebacks in 2022 (Kamloops) and
2024 (Quebec City). Since the Games support senior health, social connection, and
active living, they align well with public health and community well-being initiatives.

CSGA President Dave Finn expressed disappointment over the postponement, citing the
struggle to secure funding despite extensive efforts.

“This is such an unfortunate situation where we have a national event that encourages
so many seniors to stay both physically and mentally active, and yet, despite constant
door knocking, emails, and grant applications, we can’t find the funding to support it.”

Supporters/participants are encouraged to contact their local Members of Parliament
(MPs) to highlight the importance of the Games and to support the CSGA in advocating
for funding to ensure the Canada 55+ Games long-term success.

During the delay, the CSGA will continue working to secure resources to make the 2028
Games even better.

In the meantime, seniors can stay engaged by participating in local and provincial 55+
Games, joining community activities, or staying active with fitness groups.

Welcome Our New Technical Director – Lawrence Woytowich!

The Canadian Senior Games Association (CSGA) is excited to introduce Lawrence Woytowich as our new Technical Director! With over 40 years of leadership and volunteer experience, Lawrence is a passionate advocate for active living and community spirit. We’re thrilled to have him join our team and bring his expertise to the CSGA.

Lawrence’s impressive qualifications include:

• Over 40 years of experience as a director on various boards and associations.
• Strong skills in management, administration, and public relations.
• Extensive experience in arbitration and negotiation.
• A talent for resolving challenges fairly while keeping everyone’s best interests in mind.

A Lifelong Learner

• Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) from the University of Alberta.
• Completed management courses at the University of Alberta.
• Studied legal and agency courses at the University of Calgary and the University of British Columbia.
• Ethics training through Extended University courses.

Decades of Dedication
Lawrence’s volunteer experience is nothing short of extraordinary. Over the past 40 years, he’s worn many hats:

• A board director and leader in organizations spanning education, politics, business, and community initiatives.
• A dedicated advocate for curling, holding leadership roles with Curl BC, Pacific Coast Master Curling Association, and Glen Meadows Curling Centre.
• A key figure in classic car organizations, earning multiple “Volunteer of the Year” honors.
• Host Chair for the 2022 BC Senior Games (Curling) and a 14-year Zone Coordinator for the BC Senior Games.
• Honored with awards like the Curl BC “Builder of the Year Award,” Sports BC “President’s Award,” and lifetime recognition for his dedication to volunteerism.

Canada 55+ Games Experience
Lawrence has been actively involved in the Canada 55+ Games for years, including:

• Participating in Games across the country, from Brockville (2010) to Kamloops (2022).
• Leading the charge in organizing and registering 200 BC participants for the 2014 Strathcona County Games—a record-breaking achievement!
• Playing a key role in helping BC join the Canada 55+ Games.
• Collaborating with the Canada 55+ Board of Directors and the Technical Director for four years.

Currently, Lawrence serves as President of the Pacific Coast Master Curling Association, representing over 2,300 members with the same dedication and energy he’s shown throughout his career.

Looking Ahead

With Lawrence on board, the future of the CSGA is brighter than ever. His passion, leadership, and commitment to community will inspire seniors across Canada to stay active and connected.

Let’s give Lawrence a warm welcome to the CSGA family!

August 27 to August 30, 2024
Quebec City, Quebec

2024 Games Web Site: more information can be located at the web site below:

canada55plusqc.ca

Bid Guidelines for the 2026 Games are now available. Please click the image below to open and save the current document:

Our 2019 Spring Newsletter is now available.

Click the image below to view.

We are very pleased to advise you that the 2018 Games in Saint John have been selected as a finalist for the CSTA Sport event of the Year Award for Canada and Barb Curry the co-chair of the Games has been nominated as a finalist in the Volunteer of the Year Award category.  CSTA (Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance) is the umbrella organization for the sport tourism industry and this will be the 13^th year these awards have been presented.  The actual selection will be announced at their annual Sport Events Congress to be held in Ottawa on March 20^th.

Please join me in congratulating both  the 2018 Canada 55+ Games Host Committee and their Co-chair Barb Curry.  The finalists in both categories are as follows:

CSTA Canadian Sport Event of the Year Award (Group B: budget less than $1 million) presented by Québec Destination affaires

• 2018 Canada 55+ Games, (Saint John, N.B.)
• 2018 WBSC Junior Men’s Softball World Championship, (Prince Albert, Sask.)
• Curl 4 Canada 2018, (Leduc, Alberta)

CSTA Sport Event Volunteer of the Year Award presented by Edmonton Events

• Barb Curry, Volunteer Co-Chair, 2018 Canada 55+ Games, (Saint John, N.B.)
• Bernadette McIntyre; 2018 Tim Hortons Brier; 2018 CP Women’s Open; 2018 Mastercard Memorial Cup,  (Regina, Sask.)
• Jen Stark, Head of Junior Volunteers, Head of Game Scores and Spirit Scores Reporting, WFDF 2018 World Masters Ultimate Club Championships, (Winnipeg, Man.)