Canada Games Council

The Canada Games Council is the private, non-profit governing body responsible for the ongoing management and administration of the Canada Games. Held once every two years, alternating between winter and summer, the Canada Games are the nation’s largest, multi-sport event for young, emerging Canadian athletes. A different Host Society (host city or town) mounts each Canada Games.

Before OPIN’s engagement with the Games Council in 2015, each Host Society took responsibility for their own digital properties and infrastructure – resulting in duplication of efforts and unnecessary added costs. The Council was ready to streamline the digital efforts and create a single platform for more immersive and informative experiences for participants, sponsors, and fans.

Host Societies are now able to use the custom Drupal 7, responsive theme and platform. Its shared infrastructure incorporates content and materials from previous Canada Games, has a consistent architecture and a “look and feel” that is accessible to all, including the visually impaired.

Host Societies can apply their unique branding elements to the custom Canada Games theme while respecting the “look and feel” of a Canada Games web property. The Hosts are able to use and share content with the Council and other Host Societies. 

For 2019, there was a whole new look and feel. The design incorporates a fluidly mobile approach, configuring for all screen and device sizes without breaking its format, no matter the type of content or device used. The scalable program approach gives the Council the ability to create new functionality and applications, provide consistent user experience while keeping costs in check. Additional user engagement tools have been added and consideration has been made for future websites, apps and online tools.

The cost savings from eliminating the frequent rebuilds allows the Games Council to redirect their efforts into rolling out other worthwhile digital initiatives, including other custom apps, to improve and update the Games experience. To date, this has included the “Illuminate the North” application, a free download for mobile users that was used during the 2015 Winter Games’ opening ceremonies.

OPIN is proud to have the worked with the Canada Games in British Colombia in 2015, Winnipeg in 2017, and the 2019 games in Red Deer have been officially recognized as a National Partner and sponsor.