Historic Agreement Signed Ahead of the 2026 Saskatchewan Winter Games in
Flying Dust First Nation-City of Meadow Lake
2026 will mark the first time in Games history that the biennial multi-sport event has been jointly hosted by a city and First Nation
Meadow Lake, SK (December 10, 2024) – With just over fifteen months to go until the torch is lit, preparations for the upcoming 2026 Saskatchewan Winter Games are heating up. The Games are set to take place from February 15-21, 2026 in the neighbouring northwestern Saskatchewan communities of Flying Dust First Nation and the City of Meadow Lake, marking the first-ever time that a City and First Nation have partnered to host the youth multi-sport event.
On Tuesday, an historic quad-party agreement was signed to formalize the partnership between the Saskatchewan Games Council, Flying Dust First Nation, the City of Meadow Lake, and the 2026 Saskatchewan Winter Games Host Society, a newly-formed nonprofit organization that will manage the Games’ planning, operations, and legacy. As part of this agreement, the Saskatchewan Games Council has also committed to the Host Society a $550,000 hosting grant and a matching legacy grant worth $250,000. The legacy grant will be used to enhance sport facilities and equipment within the communities.
The 2026 Saskatchewan Winter Games will bring together upwards of 1,800 participants and 5,000 spectators from every corner of the province. The weeklong event will be supported by over 1,000 community volunteers and will drive up to $5 million to the local economy through tourism spending, capital investment, and upgrades to sport facilities and equipment.
The 2026 Games will be led by Chair Davin Hildebrand, Deputy Director of Education with Northwest School Division, along with Co-Chairs Dwight King, Recreation Coordinator with Flying Dust First Nation and Regan Beck, Parks and Recreation Manager with the City of Meadow Lake. The event will be driven by a core group of volunteers who will plan every aspect of the Games, including athlete experience, logistics and transportation, medical services, and more. Interested community members are invited to reach out to Hildebrand to learn how they can join the Host Organizing Committee.
At Tuesday’s signing, Hildebrand also announced that the Host Society had officially found its Games Manager in Brittani Dunsing. Dunsing’s hiring comes as a secondment from the City of Meadow Lake, where she has been Aquatics Manager since 2019.
The 2026 Saskatchewan Winter Games will feature 17 sports: Alpine Skiing, Artistic Swimming, Badminton, Biathlon, Bowling (5 Pin and Special Olympics), Cross Country and Para Nordic Skiing, Curling, Figure Skating, Futsal, Gymnastics, Judo, Ringette, Speed Skating, Table Tennis, Target Shooting, Weightlifting, and Wrestling. Athlete age categories and sport technical packages are now available at saskgames.ca/2026-winter/sports, and athlete tryouts and recruitment will take place across the province in late 2025 and into early 2026.
Quotes
“We are glad the 2026 Saskatchewan Winter Games will promote hard work, friendship, and best of all, unity. All the hard work, teamwork, and relationship-building between Flying Dust and Meadow Lake will be shown by the success of this event. We’re looking forward to creating many more partnerships that will benefit the youth and our communities as a whole.” - Chief Tyson Bear, Flying Dust First Nation
“This event highlights our commitment to promoting excellence and community spirit. As we prepare to host this prestigious event, we are reminded of the immense dedication and hard work that goes into making such events successful. This historic partnership highlights our dedication to reconciliation and shared prosperity. Thank you to Flying Dust First Nation for your unwavering support and shared vision. Together, we are creating a legacy that will benefit future generations.” - Deputy Mayor Martin Bishop, City of Meadow Lake
“The signing today brings our excitement to life. These Games are an opportunity to showcase Flying Dust and Meadow Lake, to be great hosts to so many athletes and families from across the province, and for our communities to work together for an exciting event for young people.” - 2026 Saskatchewan Winter Games Chair Davin Hildebrandt
About the Saskatchewan Games
First established in 1972, the purpose of the biennial Saskatchewan Games is to provide an opportunity for the province’s developing athletes, coaches and officials to participate in an inclusive and exciting multi-sport event in preparation for a higher level of competition, including the Canada Games and North American Indigenous Games. Countless Saskatchewan Games alumni have advanced to competition on the national stage and beyond, with Olympic champions such as Emily Clark, Colleen Sostorics, and Lucas Makowsky counting the Saskatchewan Games as a key step along their journeys to the highest levels of sport. The Saskatchewan Games also leave behind valuable legacies that benefit each host community for years to come. To learn more, visit saskgames.ca.
Digital Media Kit
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Media Contacts
Kaitlin Harman
Marketing & Communications Chair
2026 Saskatchewan Winter Games
kaitlin.harman@nwsd.ca | (306) 240-0234
Karen Lawson
Games Services and Communications Lead
Saskatchewan Games Council
klawson@saskgames.ca | (306) 529-3120