WINNER
2025 Para Cup named STC International Sport Event of the Year (Group B)
The 2025 Para Cup was honoured as the Sport Tourism Canada International Sport Event of the Year (Group B) at the 2026 STC PRESTIGE Awards, presented during Sports Events Congress 2026 in Mississauga, Ontario, on March 11, 2026.
The award recognizes an event that demonstrated excellence in hosting while creating meaningful economic, social, and community legacies. Hosted in Dawson Creek, British Columbia, from November 30 to December 6, 2025, the Para Cup brought together the world’s top para hockey nations for the final major international competition before the 2026 Paralympic Winter Games.
Drawing 8,828 spectators and supported by 108 volunteers contributing more than 7,000 volunteer hours, Dawson Creek delivered an exceptional event that earned praise from participating teams, Hockey Canada, and spectators alike.
As the northernmost host community in Para Cup history and the tournament’s first return to British Columbia, Dawson Creek embraced the opportunity to showcase both its hospitality and its commitment to inclusive sport.
Throughout the week, the event inspired thousands through innovative community programming. More than 4,200 students attended games through the Goal Line Getaway Program, introducing many to para sport for the first time. Seven Try Para events, coaching clinics, accessibility workshops, and collaborations with Sportability BC, the Northern Adapted Sports Association, and regional accessibility organizations helped expand opportunities for adaptive sport across northern British Columbia.
The tournament also created unforgettable moments for local athletes. Members of the Grimshaw Para Hockey program skated alongside Team Canada, served as flag bearers, and received equipment support from the national team’s staff- experiences that embodied the spirit of inclusion and inspiration that defined the event.
The host committee also worked closely with Indigenous artists and community leaders to celebrate the region’s culture. Custom Indigenous-designed wooden para hockey sticks were presented as Player of the Game awards, while opening ceremonies featured a traditional blessing and smudging ceremony that reflected the host community’s commitment to meaningful cultural inclusion.
The event’s legacy will continue for years to come through significant accessibility upgrades at the venue, including improved player facilities, additional accessible seating, and the installation of a Para Kit that positions Dawson Creek to host future international para hockey competitions. Additional investments supported local minor hockey, adaptive sport programming, and community legacy initiatives.
The event also generated overwhelming community support. Local businesses, regional partners, Indigenous communities, volunteers, and schools came together to create a welcoming atmosphere that reflected the very best of Canadian sport hosting. An impressive 99.6% of surveyed attendees expressed support for continued investment in events like the Para Cup, underscoring the value major sport events bring to communities.
Congratulations to the City of Dawson Creek, Tourism Dawson Creek, Hockey Canada, the Host Organizing Committee, volunteers, partners, and the entire community on this well-deserved recognition.
The PRESTIGE Awards are presented annually, with 10 awards across eight categories, to honour individuals, companies, and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to the success of the sport tourism industry. The 2026 awards presentation was held in Mississauga at the PRESTIGE Awards Gala – Wednesday, March 11, 2026.