Media advisory - Governor General to cheer on athletes at the Special Olympics Canada Summer Games Medicine Hat 2026

OTTAWA, ON, Aug. 7, 2026 /CNW/ -- Her Excellency the Right Honourable Louise Arbour, Governor General of Canada, will travel to Medicine Hat, Alberta, from August 10 to 13, 2026, to attend the Special Olympics Canada Summer Games.

This will be Her Excellency's first visit to Medicine Hat and the first time a Governor General will attend the Special Olympics Canada Summer Games. During her visit, she will deliver remarks at the Opening Ceremony, cheer on athletes as they compete, meet with coaches, families and friends to recognize their unwavering support. She will also take this opportunity to thank the many volunteers whose dedication is making the Games possible.

Itinerary:
Times are indicated in local time (Mountain Daylight Time).

Monday, August 10, 2026

5 p.m.
Bowling 
The Governor General will attend tenpin bowling divisioning games.
Panorama Lanes, Medicine Hat, Alberta
OPEN TO ACCREDITED MEDIA

5:45 p.m.
Softball
The Governor General will go to a softball divisioning game.
Big Marble Go Centre, Medicine Hat, Alberta
OPEN TO ACCREDITED MEDIA

7:30 p.m.
NextGen Coaching Session
The Governor General will meet with coaches of the Special Olympics community and participate in peer-to-peer group discussions to learn more about how coaching is evolving in Canada.
OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHERS ONLY

Tuesday, August 11, 2026

9 a.m. 
Basketball 
The Governor General will watch a basketball divisioning game.
Medicine Hat High School, Medicine Hat, Alberta
OPEN TO ACCREDITED MEDIA

10:30 a.m. 
Soccer 
The Governor General will attend soccer events such as a soccer divisioning game and women's soccer training.
Big Marble Go Centre, Medicine Hat, Alberta
OPEN TO ACCREDITED MEDIA

11:30 a.m. 
Bocce 
The Governor General will cheer on athletes at bocce divisioning games.
Big Marble Go Centre, Medicine Hat, Alberta
OPEN TO ACCREDITED MEDIA

6 p.m.
Opening Ceremony
The Governor General will deliver remarks.
Co-op Place, Medicine Hat, Alberta
OPEN TO ACCREDITED MEDIA

Wednesday, August 12, 2026

9 a.m.
Golf 
The Governor General will attend the first round of golf competition.
Medicine Hat Golf & Country Club, Medicine Hat, Alberta
OPEN TO ACCREDITED MEDIA

10:15 a.m. 
Soccer 
The Governor General will attend the women's soccer competition games 7 and 8.
Big Marble Go Centre, Medicine Hat, Alberta
OPEN TO ACCREDITED MEDIA

12 p.m.
Distribution of lunch boxes 
The Governor General will help hand out lunch boxes to volunteers, athletes, coaches, and officials to thank them for making the games a success.
Big Marble Go Centre, Medicine Hat, Alberta
OPEN TO ACCREDITED MEDIA

1:30 p.m.
Athletic competitions
Governor General Arbour will be on site for the 200 M divisioning game, shot put divisioning game, 25 M wheelchair final and 1500 M final.
Medicine Hat Rotary Track, Medicine Hat, Alberta
OPEN TO ACCREDITED MEDIA

3:30 p.m.
Athletics medal presentations
The Governor General will present medals for the 25 M wheelchair final and 1500 M final and 10 000 M final in athletics.
Medicine Hat Rotary Track, Medicine Hat, Alberta
OPEN TO ACCREDITED MEDIA

5 p.m.
Visit to the Healthy Athletes screening centre
The Governor General will tour the centre providing health screenings for athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities while advancing inclusive healthcare through the training of healthcare students and professionals.
Medicine Hat College, Medicine Hat, Alberta
OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHERS ONLY

6:25 p.m.
Friends and Family Reception
The Governor General will engage with athletes and their families and friends to recognize their unwavering support.
Medalta Historic Clay District, Medicine Hat, Alberta
OPEN TO ACCREDITED MEDIA

Thursday, August 13, 2026

9 a.m.
Gymnastics 
The Governor General will watch the rhythmic gymnastics ribbon level 1-4 divisioning games
Big Marble Go Centre, Medicine Hat, Alberta
OPEN TO ACCREDITED MEDIA

9:45 a.m. 
Swimming 
Governor General Arbour will attend the swimming 50 M breaststroke and 100 M backstroke divisioning events.
Big Marble Go Centre, Medicine Hat, Alberta
OPEN TO ACCREDITED MEDIA

10:35 a.m. 
Powerlifting 
The Governor General Arbour will attend the powerlifting squat competition.
Medicine Hat College, Medicine Hat, Alberta
OPEN TO ACCREDITED MEDIA

Additional programming – Saskatchewan

2 p.m.
Visit of the Okimaw Ohci Healing Lodge in Maple Creek, Saskatchewan
The Govenor General will travel to Maple Creek, Saskatchewan, to visit the Okimaw Ohci Healing Lodge to listen, learn and engage with Indigenous women, Elders and staff.
Okimaw Ohci Healing Lodge, Maple Creek, Saskatchewan
OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHERS ONLY

About Special Olympics Canada Summer Games and the Okimaw Ohci Healing Lodge.

• Special Olympics Canada Summer Games in Medicine Hat 2026
• Special Olympics Canada
• Healthy Athletes 
• Okimaw Ohci Healing Lodge

Notes for media:

• Media wishing to cover the Special Olympics Canada Summer Games Medicine Hat 2026 in person must obtain accreditation prior to the start of the Games by filling out the Special Olympics Accreditation Form.
• For questions on the Special Olympics Canada Summer Games Medicine Hat 2026, please contact Director of Communications (Regional Office) Sean Rooney.
• For questions on the Okimaw Ohci Healing Lodge, please contact media relations at Correctional Service Canada (CSC).
• Photos of the visit can be provided to media upon request via [email protected].
• Media members can follow the Governor General's visit and activities at www.gg.ca.

Stay connected:
Follow GovernorGeneralCanada on Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.

SOURCE Office of the Secretary to the Governor General

Media information: Rideau Hall Press Office, [email protected]