Coming Together to Share #MyCanadianMoment

by Vanessa Puczko 
Social Media Community Manager, Summer Intern
Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame

If there was ever a need for the country to come together, the time is now.  

A time for inspiration. 

A time for hope.

During this unprecedented time, Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame is aiming, as always, to unite Canada through sport. We know that sport has the power to bring people together, and Canada has no shortage of incredible sporting moments! But as we faced cancellations, we needed a different way to connect with Canadians.

 

The #MyCanadianMoment campaign was created when The Guelph Games and Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame came together to discuss the possibility of a joint initiative after we both had to cancel significant events due to COVID-19. 

The Guelph Games was set to host the very first International Masters Multi-Sport Festival in Guelph, Ontario, from June 25 – 28, 2020. Masters, a class of sport for veteran athletes over the age of 30 – and sometimes centenarians! – provides athletes of all abilities the chance to compete in a world-class multi-sporting, social, and cultural event. At Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame, we were also set to host our Sport + Spirit Charity Gala in May, which would reveal our newly nominated Class of 2020 Inductees. But of course both events were cancelled due to COVID-19 and our connections with Canada were lost.

 

We all then agreed that if there was ever a need for the country to come together and connect with society, the time is now. The conversation began with the following three key points:

·         This was the time for inspiration. 

·         This was the time for hope.

·         Sport has always been a catalyst for uniting a nation.

 

So we worked together to think about how we could use both of our contacts to bring some “good stories” to Canadians. The #MyCanadianMoment campaign was born.

 

Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame and The Guelph Games began to reach out to Hall of Famers, Olympic athletes, and notable Canadians, asking them to share their personal stories. Stories that make them proud to be Canadian.

 

The response was overwhelming.

 

Originally, the campaign was to run for the month of June 2020 only, but because we received so many incredible #MyCanadianMoments, we extended it to August 1, 2020.

 

We hope that with the widespread use of social media, particularly during the pandemic, these stories will inspire Canadians to continue sharing their positive sport memories.

 

If you want to get involved with this campaign, post a video of yourself telling your favourite sport moment, and don’t forget to use the hashtag #MyCanadianMoment! Share your posts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn!

 

We’re excited to hear your stories!