Sport Tourism Canada’s STEAMPRO economic impact assessment reveals that the 2025 Canada Summer Games generated approximately $193.2 million in total economic activity across Newfoundland and Labrador, including more than $180.7 million in the St. John’s area alone.
Held from August 8-25, 2025, in St. John’s, the Canada Summer Games brought together more than 5,000 athletes, coaches, managers, and mission staff from across the country, competing in 19 sports across 22 venues. As the largest multi-sport event in Canada, the Games transformed the city into a national gathering place, celebrating high-performance sport, youth development, and the distinct culture and hospitality of Newfoundland and Labrador. Volunteers, partners, and community members played a central role in delivering an event that showcased both world-class competition and the province’s renowned warmth and creativity.
The Games generated exceptionally strong visitor engagement and travel behaviour. An extremely rare 100 percent of out-of-town attendees stayed overnight during their visit, underscoring the event’s ability to attract high-value, destination-focused travellers. In addition, one-third of visitors extended their stay before or after the Games, creating incremental tourism benefits for local accommodations, restaurants, attractions, and transportation providers.
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The Canada Summer Games also created lasting destination value. Survey results show that the vast majority of attendees indicated they are likely to return to Newfoundland and Labrador in the future, reinforcing the long-term tourism potential generated through national exposure and positive visitor experiences. Combined with investments in new and upgraded sport infrastructure, the Games have strengthened the province’s capacity to host future events while delivering enduring community benefits.
“The results of this economic impact report are something our entire province can be proud of. Sport Tourism Canada delivered a thorough and credible report highlighting the significant benefits of hosting the 2025 Canada Games,” said Kim Keating and Karl Smith, Co-Chairs, 2025 Canada Games Host Society. “This confirms what we saw firsthand, through the collective efforts of our volunteers, staff and partners, these Games delivered a lasting impact for our communities and set a strong foundation for continued investment in sport, tourism, and legacy-driven events.”
“The 2025 Canada Games are yet another example of the tremendous return on investment of sport and hosting for all Government partners, and especially our Host Communities,” added Kelly-Ann Paul, President and CEO of the Canada Games Council. “We’re thrilled to see the concrete evidence of the economic impact that the Canada Games had in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Canada, and we thank all partners who invested in these Games!”
“The Canada Summer Games represent one of the most significant sport tourism opportunities a destination can host,” said Derek Mager, Sport Tourism Canada’s Senior Consultant and Program Manager of Economic Impact, who analyzed the data and prepared the report. “The scale of visitation, length of stay, and level of investment associated with the Games translate into meaningful economic outcomes for host communities and leave a legacy that extends well beyond the event itself.”
Are you interested in using primary data collected from event attendees at your event? Work with an STC Economic Impact Consultant to analyze the actual economic impact of your event in a specific Canadian community. Contact Sport Tourism Canada today to learn more.