CSCM reflects on our time at the Canada Summer Games
The 2025 Canada Summer Games were held August 8 – 25, 2025 in St. Johns, Newfoundland and Labrador. Over 4000 young athletes from across Canada attended the event. Team Manitoba (or Team Toba, as they are more commonly known) had athletes competing in all 17 sports (19 disciplines), sending 374 athletes, 94 coaches and managers, and 26 mission staff. Two of those mission staff also work for CSCM: Kylo Harris (Performance Pathway and Athlete Services Manager) and Kevin Kristjanson (Psychologist Candidate). After they were home (and caught up on sleep) we asked Kylo and Kevin some questions about their experiences in St. John’s.
If you had to describe your time at the Canada Summer Games in three words only, what would they be?
Kylo Harris: Welcoming; Promising; Challenging
Kevin Kristjanson: Invigorating; Enriching; Collaborative
Was there a specific moment from the Games that was particularly impactful for you?
Kylo: Week 1 we certainly ran into a significant challenge with a wildfire (primary reason for “Challenging” as one of my three words) that started in the community of Paradise, which was the location of the Beach Volleyball and Box Lacrosse events. The Province, Host Society and community did a fantastic job of ensuring the safety of the Games participants while still prioritizing the opportunity to get the competition completed for those sports. It was a great demonstration of collaboration.
Kevin: This was actually a moment that happened after the Games, but it was an indication of how important the experience was. I was leaving the grocery store wearing some Team Toba gear, when from across the parking lot I heard someone yell, “Team Toba! I was there!” One of the Manitoba athletes had seen me across the way and felt compelled to shout out. We ended up chatting for a few minutes about what a great experience it was for them, how proud they were to be a part of the team, and how they created memories they expect to last a lifetime. The athletes’ and coaches’ experiences are what it’s all about for me, so hearing that this athlete came away from the Games with such a positive impression was heartwarming.
How many Team Toba medal moments did you witness?
Kylo: I think of the 30 plus medals that we won I was able to see about 1/3rd of them. With so many medals coming from the pool, specifically from athletes Teagan Purvis (Special Olympics) and Maxine Lavitt (Para), and that venue being limited in seating, we made sure family and friends that travelled could be inside and we streamed many of those races.
I was fortunate to see our flag bearer Luke Enns earn his first medal of the games in week 1 as well as be at the track week 2 when Daxx Turner (Javilin & Triple Jump) and Lara Denbow (High Jump) medaled, both of who competed earlier in the year for Canada at the FISU Games in Germany.
Kevin: I wasn’t able to catch as many medal moments as Kylo by virtue of only being there for Week 2, but I was able to watch the Men’s Volleyball team win a silver medal, as well as some excellent performances and near-podium finishes by Emma Gobeil, Chloé Winn, and Calla Gosselin (Artistic Swimming), and Spence Mott (Golf).
Based on CSG performances, are there any Team Toba athletes that you predict we’ll be seeing on national teams in the future?
Kylo: That is the reason for the “Promising” part of my 3 words for sure. Opening ceremonies flag bearer Luke Enns with Canoe/Kayak is well on his way with wearing the Maple Leaf.
We already had 3 athletes on the male volleyball team that had represented Canada earlier this summer (Matt Brown, Ethan Baraniuk, Simon Oberuchner) that I am sure will earn a future opportunity again.
The red and white on the athletics athletes that attended FISU, Lara Denbow, Daxx Turner and coach Gee-ef Nkwonta, suited them well and I think we will see them repping those colours again in the future. In addition we saw great performance on the track from Kyla Findley and in the field from Jencie Henry, both of which were in medal contention as 16 year olds and are eligible for the 2029 Canada Summer Games, if they are not already representing Canada!
Finally, a surprise for the announcers at the cycling venue but not a surprise for coach Nick Bergen, was the performance of Soren Weselake who earned a bronze medal in Individual Time Trial for road racing week 1 and gold in Cross Country mountain bike in week 2. That performance over two weeks was impressive and earned Soren the opportunity to be Team Manitoba’s closing flag bearer.
Kylo, You served as the Assistant Chef de Mission for Team Manitoba. What is expected from that role? What was the best part? What was the most challenging?
Kylo: With each contingent there is a Mission Staff team. The Mission Staff teams are there to provide background support to the teams so the athletes and coaches can focus on Eat-Sleep-Compete.
We have a core leadership team that consists of one Chef de Mission and two Assistant Chef de Missions. The leadership team’s role is to be the information conduit between the Host Society and Team Manitoba. We work with the Host Society around overall logistics, athlete care and comfort as well as competition plans. In addition to that, within Team Toba, we support performance planning with our teams to make sure they are as prepared as possible to be able to have their best ever performances.
The best part of the role is the ability to be able to support all of Team Toba over a two plus year lead up to the games. It is great to be a resource for the teams as they put in all the hard work.
The most challenging part can be the length of the Games and maintaining your energy levels over 3 weeks. It is a very demanding environment with multiple problems each day to solve which can take its toll. However when you get to be at a sport and be a fan and supporter it helps bring that energy level back up so I try to make sure that each day I am in a sport environment cheering our athletes/coaches as a reminder of why we do all the work.
Kevin, how many athletes or sports were you responsible for providing mental health support to, over the course of the week?
Kevin: I was one of three mental performance consultants that Team Toba brought to the Games, along with Kiera Wortley and AJ Zeglen. Our role was in supporting mental performance, while more serious mental health concerns were addressed by the on-site professionals at the polyclinic. Between the three of us, I think we were able to connect with about half of the 374 athletes in the leadup to and during the Games.
Was there any specific theme or issue that kept coming up over the course of the week, or that many athletes struggled with?
Kevin: For many athletes, Canada Games is the pinnacle of their athletic careers and the week flies by so quickly it’s almost over before it starts. So trying to soak in all the excitement, enjoy the atmosphere, and experience the moment fully while trying to adjust to a new environment, bounce back from disappointments, and perform at your best is an emotional rollercoaster.
How did the faster pace of the Games affect your service delivery, or did you have to change your methods?
Kevin: At the Canada Games, the atmosphere is so heightened and there are so many events going on all the time that you’re trying to be in so many places at once. You don’t always know when or how you’re going to be needed, but you have to be ready to jump into action at a moment’s notice. At the end of the day, sport is all about building relationships and establishing trust, and that’s especially true in the type of work I do. If I can help an athlete or coach feel empowered to bring out the best in themselves and know that they are cared about and supported no matter what happens on the field, I’ve done my job.
Kylo, You are from Newfoundland originally. How did it feel to be back there but representing Manitoba?
Kylo: It certainly was a fun experience to be home for an event like this. 1999 was the last time Newfoundland hosted so it is very realistic that some people will never get to experience a Games in Newfoundland, so for me to have the timing line up was special.
Sport is sport regardless of where we are. Having spent so much time committed to the athletes and coaches here in Manitoba I was very much invested in their performance. We had a couple events head to head with Team NL and I was definitely ringing the cow bell for Manitoba, but anytime I would hear about a good Team NL performance or we could do something to support their athletes, I was all in on that!
Last one… What’s your message for all of the athletes hoping to represent Team Toba at the next Canada Games?
Kylo: Start preparing now. The work you do in the years out from Games is what allows performance to shine at the Games. 2027 Canada Winter Games in Quebec City are quickly approaching and in no time the 2029 Canada Summer Games in New Brunswick will be upon us.
Kevin: Competing at the Canada Games is a great opportunity to experience everything that a multi-sport event has to offer. Sport routinely asks you to make brave choices and push yourself beyond what you think you’re capable of, but it’s absolutely worth it to have the chance to attend an event like this.
CSCM congratulates all of the athletes, coaches and managers, and mission staff on a great Games. We look forward to continuing to see these athletes progress in their sport careers, and hope to support them as national team athletes in the future!
Learn more about the 2025 Canada Summer Games here: https://www.2025canadagames.ca/
Learn more about Team Toba at the 2025 Canada Summer Games here: https://www.teamtoba.ca/current-games
