The inaugural 2024 Southern Ontario Inuit Games were a success – the first of its kind in Ontario, held at TD Place Arena in Ottawa on February 3rd, 2024. The event ran from 10 am to 3 pm and brought together 10 Inuit youth, aged 18-29, to compete in traditional Inuit games like Arm Pull, One Foot High Kick, Airplane, and Kneel Jump. The arena was split in half: one side for the competition and the other for a workshop where people from the audience could try the games themselves.
Tungasuvvingat Inuit, with the help of sponsors planned the event. Judges like Darryl Day and Chris Church from Tungasuvvingat Inuit, along with RCMP O Division Constable Kipanik Eegeesiak and Hannah Millier, added their expertise to the games, they supervised and chose the winners for each competition.
The participants were also served a catered lunch with some country food as snacks. Local Inuit vendors were invited to sell their artwork, crafted items, and jewelry. About 100 people from Ottawa and nearby areas came to watch and cheer on the participants.
The competition had some standout winners: Timothy Erkloo in One Foot High Kick and Airplane, Kyle Hainnu in Arm Pull, and Javin Massey in Kneel Jump, all won first place. The top three competitors all got medals – Bronze, Silver, or Gold – for their efforts.
The folks behind the scenes, like Paige Kreps, Darryl Day, and their team from Toronto as well as a team from TI Ottawa, worked hard to make it all happen. Their dedication made the first-ever Southern Ontario Inuit Games a success.
It's clear that the 2024 Southern Ontario Inuit Games were more than just a competition. They celebrated Inuit culture, brought people together, and set the stage for what could become an awesome annual tradition.