Event Highlight: The 2026 Ontario 55+ Winter Games in Huntsville

9 hours ago
3 min read

Huntsville recently hummed with the energy of competition and community spirit as Explore Huntsville hosted the 2026 Ontario 55+ Winter Games from February 3–5, 2026.

A Grand Success

Huntsville welcomed 971 athletes and many more friends and family from across Ontario. Hosting this prestigious event for the third time (previously in 2013 and 2019) solidifies Huntsville's reputation as a premier destination for world-class sporting events. Beyond the thrill of the games, the event brought a significant economic boost to our community, filling our accommodations, restaurants, and local businesses during the heart of the winter season.

The Sports & Venues

Athletes competed in 11 different sports across 17 local venues, showcasing that active living has no age limit. Events ranged from high-energy team sports to strategic indoor games:

Ice Sports: Hockey (Men’s & Women’s), Curling, Stick Curling, Prediction Skating, and Figure Skating.
Outdoor Adventures: Alpine Skiing and Nordic Skiing.
Indoor Competition: Badminton, Table Tennis, Volleyball, and Duplicate Bridge.

Venues included: Canada Summit Centre, Deerhurst Resort, Hidden Valley Highlands Ski Area, Arrowhead Provincial Park, Huntsville Curling Club, Huntsville High School, The Royal Canadian Legion Huntsville, and several regional locations in Lake of Bays, Bracebridge, Gravenhurst, and Burk’s Falls.

Heartfelt Thanks to Our Sponsors

An event of this magnitude is only possible through the generous support of our partners. We would like to extend a sincere thank you to:

Province of Ontario & Games Ontario
Ontario Senior Games Association (OSGA)
HearWell BeWell (Presenting Sponsor)
HomeEquity Bank (Exclusive Platinum Sponsor)
TD (Middle Night Sponsor)
OLG (Gold Sponsor)
Ice Halo (Gold Sponsor)
Fowler (Gold Sponsor)
Performance Auto Group (Gold Sponsor)
Rotary Club of Huntsville (Friend of the Games)
Lakeland EV Charging (Friend of the Games)
Lakeland Networks (Friend of the Games)
Cavalcade (Friend of the Games)
Algonquin Outfitters (Friend of the Games)
Canvas Brewing Co. (Friend of the Games)
Electrolit (Friend of the Games)
Cottage Vacations (Sport Event Sponsor)
Deerhurst Resort (Sport Event Sponsor)
Bullock's Independent (Sport Event Sponsor)
Werther's Original (Sport Event Sponsor)
Chilly Moose (Sport Event Sponsor)
Pita Pit (Sport Event Sponsor)
SportChek (Sport Event Sponsor)
Lindgren Mini Storage (Sport Event Sponsor)
Township of Lake of Bays (Funding Partner)
Explorers' Edge (Funding Partner)
The District Municipality of Muskoka (Funding Partner)
Hunters Bay Radio (Media Sponsor)
105.5 Moose FM (Media Sponsor)
North Star Networks (Media Sponsor)
Huntsville Doppler (Media Sponsor)

A Salute to Our Volunteers

We are incredibly grateful to the 275 enthusiastic local volunteers who served as the backbone of these Games. From timekeeping and medical support to hospitality and logistics, your warm Muskoka welcome ensured that every participant felt celebrated. Your dedication is what makes Huntsville a truly world-class host.

A special and profound thank you goes out to the Games Organizing Committee. Your tireless planning, expertise, and leadership over the past year were the driving forces behind this seamless and memorable event. Huntsville's success as a host is a direct reflection of your hard work.

Legacy Fund

The impact of the 2026 Games will be felt long after the final medals are awarded. Every extra dollar raised through the event contributes to a Legacy Fund dedicated to increasing opportunities for athlete development and enhancing amateur sport at the community level.

Information regarding the total contribution and application details for the Legacy Fund will follow shortly.