Sport Niagara and Row Ontario are pleased to announce a formal partnership that will strengthen traditional rowing programs in Niagara while also advancing the development of innovative rowing programs that expand participation, engagement, and excellence across the region.

Through this agreement, Sport Niagara and Row Ontario commit to working collaboratively on a shared development plan focused on three key program areas: coastal rowing, indoor rowing and e-rowing programs in schools. Together, these initiatives are designed to grow rowing participation year-round, create new competitive and recreational opportunities, and build long-term sustainability for the sport in Niagara and Ontario.

A central objective of the partnership is the establishment of sustainable coastal rowing programming in Niagara, including the identification of suitable locations, the delivery of safety and technique training clinics, and the creation of pathways to host regional, provincial, national, and international coastal rowing competitions. Environmental awareness and coastal stewardship will be embedded within this programming, reinforcing rowing’s connection to Niagara’s natural waterways.

The agreement also outlines a collaborative approach to developing indoor rowing events that are accessible to both recreational participants and high-performance athletes. Planned initiatives include seasonal challenges, virtual competitions, technology-enabled performance tracking, and annual indoor rowing festivals designed to attract broad community participation and media attention.

In addition, Sport Niagara and Row Ontario will work together to integrate e-rowing programs into schools across the region. These programs will introduce students to rowing through standardized digital resources, teacher training, inter-school virtual competitions, and educational sessions that connect sport with data analysis and sport science concepts.

Row Ontario will continue to operate within the shared Sport Niagara and Canadian Sport Institute of Ontario offices at Canada Games Park, supporting close coordination, shared planning, and daily collaboration between organizations.

The formalization of this partnership represents a positive and lasting legacy outcome of the 2024 World Rowing Championships hosted in Niagara, an event that highlighted the region’s capacity to deliver world-class sport experiences while fostering strong organizational collaboration.

Quote – Doug Hamilton, Chair, Sport Niagara
“This agreement reflects a shared commitment to growing rowing in Niagara through innovation, collaboration, and long-term planning. The past success of many rowing events in Niagara has demonstrated what is possible in our region, and this partnership ensures that our previous successes translate into meaningful new programs and lasting impact.”

Quote – Andrew Backer, CEO, Row Ontario
“Niagara has a proud rowing history, and this partnership allows us to both honour that tradition and expand the sport in new and exciting ways. By working closely with Sport Niagara, we can deliver programs that engage youth, support athletes, and strengthen rowing’s presence across the community. We also intend to take the learnings from this partnership into different areas of the province.”

Rowing has deep roots in Niagara, shaped by its waterways, clubs, volunteers, and competitive success. This partnership reinforces a shared vision to ensure that rowing in Niagara continues to flourish — from grassroots participation to high-performance pathways — for generations to come.

For more information:
Visit www.sportniagara.ca or www.rowontario.ca

Sport Niagara, in collaboration with Dodgeball Ontario and the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre, is proud to announce Snowed In Comedy Tour: A Celebration of Niagara’s Dodgeball Community — an evening of laughter, recognition, and community spirit in support of the upcoming 2026 Dodgeball Ontario Provincial Championships.

Taking place on Monday, March 23, 2026, this one-of-a-kind event will shine a spotlight on Niagara’s vibrant dodgeball community while delivering side-splitting entertainment from the Snowed In Comedy Tour, Canada’s biggest comedy tour and a national fan favourite.

The night kicks off with a Recognition Podium Program honouring 3–4 champions from Niagara’s dodgeball community—athletes, builders, and volunteers—who have made outstanding contributions to the sport. Following the recognition program, audiences will enjoy a 105-minute comedy showcase featuring four world-class comedians:

• Dan Quinn – Just for Laughs winner and tour founder
• Paul Myrehaug – Great Canadian Laugh Off champion
• Pete Zedlacher – Six-time Canadian Comedian of the Year nominee
• Erica Sigurdson – Beloved Debaters regular with over 70 appearances

“This event celebrates the incredible people who’ve built and grown dodgeball across Niagara, while bringing the community together for a night of laughter and recognition,” said Dan Kennedy, Executive Director, Sport Niagara. “It’s the perfect warm-up to the 2026 Dodgeball Ontario Provincial Championships coming to Niagara this April 2026.”

The Snowed In Comedy Tour continues its coast-to-coast run across 70 Canadian cities, known for its powerhouse lineup and reviews that hail it as “better than the Just for Laughs Tour” and “a flurry of laughs you can’t miss.”

Tickets go on sale to the public Friday, November 28, 2025, with presales for venue partners and stakeholders beginning Thursday, November 27, 2025.

Tickets:
Available at firstontariopac.ca
Prices range from $50–$65, reserved seating only.

Proceeds from this event will support the 2026 Dodgeball Ontario Provincial Championships, hosted in Niagara at Canada Games Park on April 4–5, 2026.

Dodgeball Ontario, in partnership with Sport Niagara, is thrilled to announce that the 2026 Dodgeball Ontario Provincial Championships will take place April 4 and 5, 2026 at Canada Games Park in Niagara. The province’s top dodgeball teams will compete for Ontario titles in an event expected to draw athletes, coaches, and fans from across the province.

The two-day intense tournament will include approximately 300 athletes from across Ontario that will compete in men’s and women’s divisions using the official World Dodgeball Federation rules for foam-style dodgeball. The Championship serves also as a qualifier earning the top teams from Ontario the opportunity to represent Ontario at the national club finals run by Dodgeball Canada.

To celebrate and build excitement leading up to the championships, two signature pre-event fundraisers will bring the Niagara community together in March 2026:

1. Niagara Community Dodge Wars
   Saturday, March 21, 2026 | 7:00–9:00 p.m. | Niagara Falls Convention Centre, Niagara Falls
   This spirited community tournament presented by Meridian Credit Union will feature 3 unique duel-offs including:

1. 1. Niagara College versus  Brock University
   2. Corporate & Community Groups, via a community challenge call out
   3. Local sports organizations including, Niagara IceDogs, Niagara River Lions, Welland Jackfish and an Niagara IceDogs alumni team

The event will provide a fun, high-energy showcase of community engagement, competition, and entertainment.

2. Snowed In Comedy Tour – “A Celebration of Niagara’s Dodgeball Community”
   Monday, March 23, 2026 | 7:00–9:30 p.m. | FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre, St. Catharines
   This unique evening will feature a recognition podium program honouring Niagara’s Dodgeball Champions — outstanding athletes, builders, and volunteers — followed by a performance from the nationally acclaimed Snowed In Comedy Tour. The event aims to sell out Partridge Hall’s 770 seats, generating awareness and funds for the Provincial Championships.  Official show announcement to follow with tickets on sale for December 12, 2025.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Dodgeball Ontario’s Provincial Championships to Niagara and to showcase our region’s world-class facilities at Canada Games Park,” said Doug Hamilton, Chair of Sport Niagara. “Through these events, we’re not only supporting sport development but celebrating the incredible community that makes Niagara such a vibrant place for athletes.”

“Dodgeball Ontario is excited to bring the province’s best players and fans together in Niagara for what promises to be an unforgettable weekend of sport and camaraderie,” said Steve Villeseche, President of Dodgeball Ontario. “The partnership with Sport Niagara ensures that this event will be both competitive and community-driven, highlighting everything that makes our sport great.”

Villeseche continues to state, ‘Niagara is no stranger to dodgeball champions’.  He highlights, the following athletes:

Joel Jodoin; a native of Thorold, Joel has competed widely including representing Canada at the 2024 World Championships as well as captaining Ontario’s men’s team to gold at the 2025 Nationals.

Beth Villeseche;  from growing up in Niagara-on-the-lake to bringing home the gold. Beth has medaled at the National and International level before transitioning into coaching, where she’s found the podium as assistant coach with both Team Canada and Team Ontario in the men’s division.

The 2026 Dodgeball Ontario Provincial Championships mark the first time the event will be hosted in Niagara, building on the success of previous tournaments across the province. The collaboration between Dodgeball Ontario and Sport Niagara underscores a shared commitment to community engagement, grassroots sport, and showcasing Niagara as a destination for major sporting events.

For more information:
Visit www.dodgeballontario.org or www.sportniagara.ca

The Niagara Region was alive with energy and pride from May 30 to June 1, 2025, as over 400 participants including athletes, coaches, officials and athlete assistants from across Ontario came together to compete, connect, and celebrate at the Niagara 2025 Ontario Parasport Games, hosted by Sport Niagara.

It was a weekend of firsts, inspiration, and unforgettable moments that showcased the best of what Niagara has to offer.

“The Niagara Region once again showed why it’s quickly becoming a centre for sport and sport tourism,” said Dan Kennedy, Executive Director of Sport Niagara. “Our ability to bring together all 12 Niagara municipalities creates opportunities not just for sport, but for community building and inclusion.”

There were many “firsts” for the Niagara 2025 Parasport Games!
● First Parasport Games hosted in the Region.
● First Parasport Games to include Para-Golf and Para Swimming.
● First ever “Athlete Council”. This was a council of current para athletes from around Ontario that provided, among many things, athlete feedback from previous games. This allowed us as the host to create better overall athlete experience.
● First Athlete Village. All the athletes had the chance to stay and share meals and make connections with their peers at Brock University.
● First “Saturday Night Social”. Sport Niagara was able to elevate the athlete experience by hosting a night for athletes to get together in a social setting.
● First comprehensive Live Stream of the sport competitions – Niagara College provided its expertise by filming and streaming the Games. It was also carried on CBC Gem for the first time in Ontario Parasport games history!
● While not a “First”, our procurement policies did focus on working with businesses run by people with Disabilities. Our website, medals, program, accessibility audits and opening ceremony talent were through companies owned by or included people with disabilities.

Spirited by Volunteers
The success of any event can be directly attributed to volunteerism, and Niagara is at the top of the class! Well over 500 volunteers signed up to assist in the Niagara 2025 Ontario Parasport Games; so many in fact that we had to close our volunteer portal! Sport Niagara and its successes are built on the support of our over 5000 volunteers. Their spirit and willingness to lead a hand are what makes the Region so special.

Powered by Local Support
“The Niagara business community, along with national partners, stepped up in a big way for the 2025 Ontario Parasport Games – contributing over $120,000 to help us not only create an unforgettable experience for the athletes, but also a lasting legacy. This wasn’t just about dollars; it was about community. Thanks to the support and generosity of Meridian, Canadian Tire Jumpstart, Accenture, OLG, CAA Niagara, Alectra, Niagara College, Brock University and many others, we were able to raise the bar for what athlete-centered, inclusive sport can look like. We’re grateful beyond words!”, quoted Mat Milne, Director of Sponsorship for Sport Niagara.

The Niagara 2025 Ontario Parasport Games was made possible with the funding and support from the Government of Ontario with a total funding contribution of $175,000. Overall, the Games generated an estimated $400,000 in local economic impact, with 20% of that going to businesses owned or operated by people with disabilities — a true reflection of Niagara’s inclusive spirit.

Community Outreach
Sport Niagara in partnership with Parasport Ontario and generously supported by OLG and CAA Niagara, developed the Niagara 2025 Ontario Parasport Games “Try-it” sessions. This initiative provides the opportunity to discover and try a sport such as para hockey and wheelchair basketball. The ‘try-it’ sessions foster greater awareness, empathy, and appreciation among the broader community for the skill, and athleticism involved in parasport.

Leaving a Legacy for Future Generations
The legacy of the Games will live on through the creation of the Niagara Parasport Legacy Fund, established in partnership with the Niagara Community Foundation. With an expected endowment of $100,000, which includes a dedicated $10,000 from the Ministry’s financial contribution, the fund will support the launch of the Niagara Adapted Sport Hub (NASH) — a long-term initiative to expand accessible sport opportunities across the region.

Guided by the Games’ powerful motto, “Nothing for us or about us, without us,” the Hub will ensure people with disabilities continue to have a strong voice in shaping the future of sport in Niagara.

Quote from the Honourable Neil Lumsden, Minister of Sport
“Our government was proud to support the 2025 Ontario Parasport Games in the Niagara Region this summer. This event provided an opportunity to celebrate the remarkable talent of athletes from across the province, demonstrate the power of sport tourism to drive economic growth, and build a legacy that will expand accessible sport opportunities and benefit the community for decades to come. Thank you to Sport Niagara and all the supporters, sponsors, and volunteers who worked so hard to make these Games a success.” – Neil Lumsden, Minister of Sport