Oftentimes, when we think of travel, we think of physically going elsewhere. There are other types of travel too. This column aims to demonstrate the joy in hyperlocal or backyard travel. There is also a third type of travel we have not yet discussed: when the world travels to you and you become the host.
From July 30 to Aug. 2, 2026, young athletes, their families and coaches from all over our gigantic province will arrive in Waterloo Region for the Ontario Summer Games. With 23 different sports, 19 venues across the Tri-Cities, four days of competition and roughly 6,000 athletes, coaches, staff and volunteers, this is a major event to put on your calendar.
The Ontario Summer Games originated in Oshawa, with the first event held in 1973. Today, the summer games are the largest multi-sport event in Ontario for amateur athletes. The Games are held every two years, alternating between summer and winter.
This year, it is our turn to be welcoming hosts. In fact, there are several opportunities to volunteer. If you are a people person, take pride in helping others, enjoy competition or sports, or want a new way of getting involved in the community, this is the perfect chance to do so. High school students, this counts towards your community service hours required to graduate!
The variety of volunteer positions range from administrative to food services, logistics to medical, security to transportation, and, of course, the exciting opening ceremonies. To register, keep an eye on www.waterlooregion2026.ca for the online system. You can also reach out now to the Ontario Summer Games team at volunteers@waterlooregion2026.ca to let them know you’re keen to participate.
There is no minimum amount of time required to volunteer.
Training sessions will be provided to all volunteers prior to the event. Meals will also be provided on-site to those with shifts longer than four hours.
At the heart of this province-wide sporting competition for 12- to 18-year-olds is connection, community and even education.
Sporting events such as the Ontario Summer Games provide a safe and fun environment for people that might not otherwise cross paths to do so.
Across Canada, communities share many similarities, yet each city and town also has its own unique culture. Northern Ontarians head to rustic “camps” in the summer, while, in Muskoka, a “cottage” is a four-season mansion. Kingston’s early settler homes were made with angular limestone and Paris, Ontario’s were built with rounded cobblestones. In rural Waterloo Region, crokinole has been a popular pastime for generations, and the cricket capital of Canada is nearby in Brampton. In Wilno, the Kashubian language intermingles with English, whereas the streets of Mississauga are sprinkled with Urdu.
Wherever we go in life—down the street, to the neighbouring province, or across the world —we bring these incredible cultural aspects of ourselves to wherever our feet land and to those with whom we interact. What a beautiful way to experience a cross-cultural exchange while hosting guests in your hometown.
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