Team Manitoba is sending 207 of the province’s best young athletes, along with 47 coaches, 15 managers, 6 technical support staff, and 22 mission staff to participate at the 2023 Canada Winter Games February 18th-March 5th in Prince Edward Island.

Speed skating’s Sofia Bieber of Winnipeg was introduced as Team Toba’s flag bearer for the opening ceremonies.

“I’m so honoured to represent Manitoba as the flagbearer for the 2023 Canada Winter Games. When I first heard, I was like “wow, they picked me?!”, noted Bieber in Sport Manitoba’s press release. “The Canada Games are different than any other competition. We’re representing our province together as a team, more than just ourselves. This is our moment.”

Bieber was not at Tuesdays Sport Manitoba press conference in downtown Winnipeg to introduce Team Toba. She’s currently in Germany competing at the World Junior Speed Skating championships.

The Canada Games brings together more than 2,000 able-bodied athletes and athletes with physical and intellectual disabilities for the largest amateur multi-sport event in the country. Alternating between winter and summer, they span over 30 different sports to showcase the very best in Canadian sport and spirit.

“This is such a special achievement for each of these athletes. The Canada Games are a key milestone on the high-performance pathway, but this is just one step of many great things ahead,” said Chef de Mission Drew Todd. “Alongside my incredible mission staff, we are doing all we can to help our athletes succeed, and we confident they will perform at their best on the national stage.”

Team Manitoba athletes won 25 medals including nine gold, seven silver and nine bronze at the 2019 Games in Red Deer.

The 2023 Canada Winter Games will take place just six months after the COVID delayed Canada Summer Games were held in Ontario’s Niagara Region.


Central Region Athletes Competing at the 2023 Canada Winter Games
Raavi Maur. La Salle - Biathlon
Mia Sawatzky, Altona - Cross Country Skiing
Kate Sawatzky, Altona - Cross Country Skiing
Naomi Wiens, Morden - Cross Country Skiing
Ben Wiens, Morden - Cross Country Skiing
William Vanden Berg, Winkler - Cross Country Skiing
Gideon Hoeppner, RM of Stanley - Cross Country Skiing
Hezekiah Hoeppner, Thornhill - Cross Country Skiing
Dayna Wahl, Altona - Curling
Piper Stoesz, Altona - Curling
Anna Ginters, Altona - Curling
Gillian Hildebrand, Altona - Curling
Mackenzie Arbuckle, La Salle - Curling
Alison Convery, Morden - Figure Skating
James Wyatt, Elm Creek - Figure Skating
Jorja Best, Carman - Figure Skating
Danika Botterill, Portage - Hockey
Olivia Krynski, Portage - Judo
Karly Vince, Oakville - Ringette


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