Medals from the 2017 North American Indigenous Games, which were held in Toronto. (CBC)
Halifax has won the bid to host the 2020 North American Indigenous Games, beating out Vancouver Island’s Songhees Nation and Ottawa.
The games will include more than 5,000 Indigenous participants in 15 events.
“We congratulate Halifax and wish them every success as they work toward hosting the North American Indigenous Games in 2020,” said Chief of the Songhees Nation Ron Sam in a release.
“While disappointed, we are truly honoured to have been part of this process that saw unprecedented support from across cultures and across the region.”
The B.C. government committed $3.5 million to support the bid to bring the games to Victoria, the same amount as the Nova Scotia government.
The last time the games were on Vancouver Island was in 2008 when Duncan hosted them. Victoria hosted the games back in 1997.
With files from the Canadian press
Julian Kolsut
