Timmins may soon become home to the official Ontario Aboriginal Summer Games

But the city with a heart of gold has some competition, as Sudbury is also bidding to become the official host of the provincial games

The best aboriginal athletes from across the province will compete before forming a team that will go on to compete in the North American Indigenous Games the following year. Clay Melnike with the Aboriginal Sport and Wellness Council of Ontario refers to the NAIG as the “Aboriginal Olympics”.

The Aboriginal Sport & Wellness Council of Ontario’s (ASWCO) is the Provincial Territorial Aboriginal Sport Body for Ontario. Their goal is “to promote the physical, emotional and cultural well – being of Ontario’s Aboriginal people through increased participation in sports, recreational and cultural activities”.  Additionally, ASWCO’s offers “training, certification and support programs and events for Aboriginal coaches and athletes across Ontario and manages the Team Ontario entries in both the North American Indigenous Games and the National Aboriginal Hockey Championships”.

Ontario is also bidding to host the North American Indigenous Games in 2017 using the athletic facilities built for next month’s Pan Am Games in Toronto, Melnike said.

A decision as to who will win the right to host the Ontario Aboriginal Summer Games will be made in August, Melmole says. He adds, Sudbury might have a bit of an advantage over Timmins because of their brand new watersports centre that is scheduled to open its doors this summer.

Through sports, culture and companionship Melnike says the goal of the games is to not only improve the quality of life for Aboriginal Peoples but it is designed to provide equal opportunity; ensuring thousands of aboriginal athletes in Ontario get a chance to compete in large, national and provincial competitions.

Interested athletes are encouraged to stay tuned for details on how you can sign up and make Canadian history