Economic Impact

GDP of Sport and Sport Industries in Ontario

Statistics Canada reports the GDP of each province and industry. The following table shows the sport GDP and number of sport jobs in Ontario between 2010 and 2014.

The difference between Sport GDP and GDP of Sport Industries is that Sport GDP refers to any value added by sport products regardless of industry, whereas GDP of Sport Industries includes both sport products and non-sport products in sport industry. For example, food and beverage sales at a hockey game would be included in the GDP of Sport Industries, but not in the Sport GDP. The same difference is true between Sport Jobs and Jobs in Sport Industries.

Statistics Canada. (2016, May 11). Provincial and Territorial Cultural Indicators, 2010-2014.
Retrieved from http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/13-604-m/13-604-m2016081-eng.htm

Large Sporting Events Being Hosted in Niagara

Niagara is attracting large national and international sporting events that bring athletes, spectators, and media to the region, and generate tourism business, government investment in sport infrastructure and volunteering opportunities.

In March, 2015, Brock University hosted the ASICS Junior and Senior Canadian Wrestling Championships, including men’s freestyle, greco-roman and women’s wrestling.

Source: Brock University
Retrieved from: http://gobadgers.ca/news/2015/3/16/WWREST_0316153546.aspx?path=wwrestling

In June, 2015 the World Dragon Boat Racing Championships hosted in Welland attracted 2,000 athletes from across Canada.

Source: Welland International Flatwater Centre
Retrieved from: http://www.wifc.ca/site/canadians-2015

In July, 2015, Canada hosted the Pan American Games in Toronto, with the rowing in St. Catharines and the canoe/kayak sprint events in Welland. The Pan Am and Para Pan Am Games attracted 7,600 athletes from the Americas and the Caribbean, along with their fans to the world’s third largest international multi-sport games.

Source: Niagara Region
Retrieved from: https://www.niagararegion.ca/living/panam-games/default.aspx

In January 2016, St. Catharines hosted the 2016 IIHF (International Ice Hockey Federation) Ice Hockey U18 Women’s World Championship.
In January 2017, the Canada Games Council and Province of Ontario announced that Niagara Region successfully bid for Niagara to host the 2021 Canada Summer Games. The Games are Canada’s largest multi-sport event, and they are projected to bring $200,000,000 in economic stimulation; 1500 jobs ($76,000,000 in salaries and wages); 30,000 visitors; 5000 athletes; and 1500 media representatives to Niagara.

Source: Canada Games
Retrieved from: https://canadagames.ca/niagara-region-named-host-2021-canada-summer-games

In February, 2017, Scotties Tournament of Hearts – the Canadian Women’s Curling Championship, the world’s largest women’s curling event, was held at the Meridian Centre in St. Catharines.

Source: Meridian Centre
Retrieved from: http://www.meridiancentre.com/events/detail/scotties-tournament-of-hearts

In August, 2017, the 135th Royal Canadian Henley Regatta, held in St. Catharines hosted 2,293 athletes from 140 clubs and 10 countries. A total of 565 volunteers worked together to make the event possible.

Source: Royal Canadian Henley Regatta
Retrieved from: http://www.henleyregatta.ca/

In June, 2018, the International Basketball Federation U18 Americas Championships will see 8 teams competing at The Meridian Centre and Brock University in St. Catharines, hosted by the Niagara Sport Commission and Canada Basketball.

Source: International Basketball Federation
Retrieved from: http://www.fiba.basketball/americas/u18/2018/news

In April, 2015, the National Basketball League of Canada announced that the Niagara Basketball Group had acquired the league’s 9th franchise, projected to create approximately 20 new jobs in Niagara and to generate additional investment throughout the community. The Niagara River Lions began play in December, 2015, with home games held at the Meridian Centre in St. Catharines.

Source: Niagara River Lions
Retrieved from: http://www.riverlions.ca/

Sport Legacy in Niagara

Legacy aspects of hosting large sporting events in Niagara are being examined. A policy brief, “Sport Legacy in Niagara Before and After 2015” provided by the Niagara Community Observatory at Brock University explores the hosting of sporting events as a public policy strategy. It states: Sport Legacy is… “… all planned and unplanned, positive and negative, tangible and intangible structures created for and by a sport event that remain longer than the event itself.” – Holger Preuss, 2007.

The brief refers to the 2015 Pan Am games held in Toronto, for which Niagara hosted the rowing and canoe/kayak sprint events. It concludes with suggested questions for stakeholders: