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11.9.2022
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BY
The Host Society
2023 Canada Games Presents IllumiNATION Festival
Charlottetown, PE (November 9, 2022) — Today the 2023 Canada Winter Games Host Society marked its ‘100 Days to Go’ milestone by launching its Games-time festival “IllumiNATION” – a 14-day celebration of PEI and Canadian arts and culture.
The announcement was made today at the Seaport located at Port Charlottetown, site of IllumiNATION’s mainstage concert series that will showcase a 100 per cent Canadian artist line-up featuring headliners The Beaches, The Trews, Classified, Tom Jackson, and many more to be announced.
From February 19 – March 4, 2023, the province will be aglow with music, culinary, visual art, and interactive exhibits, shining a light on the diverse and thriving arts scene and cultures in Prince Edward Island and Canada. Celebrations will take place across the Island with every event open to the public and free to attend.
IllumiNATION Festival at a Glance
Festival Hub at Port Charlottetown – February 19 to March 4, 2023
Join us on the waterfront and get cozy with some action-packed winter fun. There will be something for everyone with family-friendly winter activities, including an outdoor skating rink and food pavilion at Founders’ Food Hall & Market, art installations, light displays, and partner activations complete with sugar shacks, food demos, warm-up stations and ice sculptures.
Mainstage Concert Series – Seaport Stage at Port Charlottetown
Get ready to rock the night away with some of Canada’s most talented artists. Featuring artists from across the country, this exciting line-up includes Juno, CCMA and ECMA award winners:
Dairy Farmers of Canada Community Program – Port Charlottetown
A showcase of local homegrown talent, experience PEI’s finest musicians and entertainers through daily programming.
Summerside Concert Stage – February 25 and March 4, 2023
Share in the excitement of the Games with two festival evenings at Credit Union Place in Summerside! Enjoy live music, activations, giveaways and more. Headliners to be announced soon.
Partnered Community Concerts Series
In partnership with Music PEI and this town is small, we’re bringing illumiNATION to you. Mark your calendars and experience an intimate concert series showcasing local and provincial talent in rural theatres and venues across PEI, including Kensington, Alberton, Borden-Carleton, Evangeline Region, Cornwall, Stratford, Hunter River, Morell ,Three Rivers, Georgetown, Souris, and St. Peters.
Quotes
“Next February, Prince Edward Island will be the place to be! We will all be cheering on our young athletes competing at the 2023 Canada Winter Games. Visitors will also get a chance to learn more about PEI’s arts and culture through exhibits all over the island. We look forward to the upcoming Canada Winter Games, which are not only a venue where our athletes can compete and fraternize, but also an event that brings us all together to celebrate their performance and our common heritage as Canadians.”
- The Honourable Pascale St-Onge, Minister of Sport and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency for the Regions of Quebec
"The IllumiNATION festival is an incredible way to kick off the '100 days to go' mark of the PEI 2023 Canada Winter Games. With quintessential Canadian winter activities like outdoor family skates, sights and sounds from award-winning musical performers like the Trews, and other family-friendly events held across our province, people of all ages will have the opportunity to discover what makes Prince Edward Island such an incredible vibrant province."
- Dennis King, Premier of Prince Edward Island
“The Canada Games are a national celebration of Canadian sport and spirit. While the next generation of athletes are sparking greatness on the field of play, the PEI 2023 Canada Winter Games will warm the hearts of Canadians from far and wide through its powerful and inclusive festival program, celebrating Canada’s diverse arts and culture scene with that renowned Islander hospitality. We cannot wait to feel the heartbeat of the nation on Prince Edward Island in just 100 days and invite you to join us on the journey to the Games.”
- Evan Johnston, Chair, Canada Games Council
“The 2023 Canada Winter Games are a not only a great opportunity to cheer on our amazing athletes, but to share PEI and Canadian arts and culture with every corner of the country. Join us at IllumiNATION Festival as we light up PEI and welcome the nation to our friendly shores for what will be an amazing 14-days of live music, dance, art exhibits, and elements of PEI’s vibrant culinary scene!”
- Kim Doyle, Ceremonies & Culture Committee Lead, 2023 Canada Games Host Society
“Culture and Sport have so much in common – we share the magic of bringing people together to celebrate human potential, outstanding talent, and the strength of the human spirit. All of us at Confederation Centre of the Arts are grateful to the PEI 2023 Canada Winter Games athletes and organizers for bringing the magic to Prince Edward Island, where sport and culture are so strong. We’re honoured to be a partner in the Games and looking forward to the celebration! “
- Steve Bellamy, CEO, Confederation Centre of the Arts
“Dairy Farmers of PEI is extremely proud to be sponsoring the Community Program at the IllumiNATION Festival. Our 157 dairy producers work hard to provide Islanders with high-quality milk products, yet still find time to be active members of their communities. Whether it’s coaching youth sports, volunteering at local events, or leading 4-H organizations, you can often find a dairy farmer at the heart of their hometown. It’s that commitment to community that inspired us to follow in their footsteps and help provide Island entertainers with a platform to showcase their talents alongside one of Canada’s biggest sporting events.”
- Gordon MacBeath, Chairman, Dairy Farmers of PEI
"Music PEI is grateful for the Canada Winter Games partnership to create these opportunities for PEI artists. We are excited to present an amazing lineup of all women and gender-diverse musicians directed by Alicia Toner. These will be shows you won’t want to miss."
- Rob Oakie, Executive Director, Music PEI
Stay tuned for more artist announcements in the coming weeks with the full line-up and programming details confirmed in January 2023.
After 16 incredible days, the 29th edition of the Canada Games will officially conclude tonight with the Closing Ceremony from Eastlink Centre in Charlottetown at 7:30 PM AST.
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It’s only fitting that boxing occurred during Week Two of this year’s Canada Winter Games, coinciding with Women’s History Month, which runs the month of March.
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Chants of “Novaaa Scotiaaa” echoed throughout Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre in Charlottetown as proud fans watched Ritu Shah and Thomas Ashton add two silver medals to Team Nova Scotia’s growing medal count.
When people speak of the legacy of the 2023 Canada Winter Games the conversation usually focuses on two things, the lifelong memories people take away from the Games and the new sports facilities the Games leave behind.
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