Thursday, August 21, 2025
A fast paced and very physical match between Team NL and Team Alberta Thursday evening at King George V field in St John’s. it was a very good game with both teams not letting up the whole game. Alberta opened the score board with a goal late in the first half and Newfoundland tied it up early in the second. In the end Alberta won the tie breaker. Photos By Greg Locke © 2025
On Wednesday, Millie Janes stepped up to steal the spotlight scoring twice in soccer to secure a heart stopping win for Newfoundland and Labrador. Saskatchewan opened the scoring from Calla Zimmer in the fourth minute but Janes would strike the equaliser for Newfoundland and Labrador 13 minutes later to send the two sides into the break level at 1-1.
Janes would again find the mark in the second half netting the winner in the 77th minute triggering a wild celebration at King George V Soccer Stadium and sending the hosts top the Group D standings.
Gavin Baggs earns NL’s first gold medal of 2025 Canada Games winning the 1500m wheelchair competition.
Wednesday, August 20, 2025
St. John’s, NL – August 19, 2025 – Team NL athlete Gavin Baggs of Paradise, NL, captured the gold medal today in the Men’s 1500m Wheelchair Race at the 2025 Canada Games in St. John’s.
This victory comes after Baggs’ impressive silver-medal performance earlier in Week One, where he raced to the podium in the 400m Freestyle Para Swimming event on opening day.
“It was an unexpected result with the wind and the rain today,” said Baggs. “In the end, I just put my head down, focused on what was ahead of me, and raced my heart out. To walk away with a gold for Team NL is an absolute honour.”
Baggs is no stranger to the national stage. A seasoned competitor, he has represented Newfoundland and Labrador at the past three Canada Games. His athletic journey is also defined by remarkable versatility, as he is competing in both swimming and athletics at this year’s Games in his home province.
“Gavin worked hard all season with a medal for his province in mind,” said Head Coach of Team NL Athletics, Mark Miller. “Very little was going to get in the way of that today — certainly not 60-kilometre winds. We’re proud to have him representing Team NL this week.”
“What an incredible moment on the track today as Gavin powered his way to a gold medal for Team NL,” said Team NL Chef de Mission Jamie Randell. “Gavin is truly an extraordinary athlete. Not only has he competed in four Games, but he has now earned his second medal here at home in St. John’s during Week Two. We could not be more proud of him on behalf of all of Team NL.”
With today’s gold, Baggs further cements his place as one of the province’s most accomplished multi-sport para athletes.
That might be a foul. Team NL and Team SK in Action in women’s basketball last wee. Photo Leona Rockwood / CANADA GAMES
MONDAY, August 19, 2025.
ST JOHN’S – The Canada Games reloaded on Sunday as the second wave of athletes arrived in St. John’s ready and eager to add to their team’s medal haul and the excitement building across the host city.
The first week set a high bar with some show-stopping moments from the pool to the hardwood as athletes and Games organisers displayed remarkable focus and determination in the face of disruptions caused by wildfires.
Team Ontario swimmer Isabella Cooper got the competition off to an explosive start destroying the Canada Games record in the 1,500 metres freestyle on way to claiming the first medal in the pool on opening night.
The first week closed on Saturday with a stunning upset, Alberta shocking Team Ontario 72-69 in the men’s basketball final to bring their run of four consecutive gold to a screeching halt.
The second week will launch on a historic note when Newfoundland and Labrador and British Columbia meet in the Canada Games first women’s baseball contest. The two teams will have the Games’s spotlight to themselves when they step out onto St. Pats Ball Park on Monday with no other sports in action.
It seems only right that the milestone moment happens in St. John is with Jaida Lee, who helped pave the way for women’s baseball at the Canada Games by pitching for Newfoundland and Labrador’s men’s team three years ago in Niagara. Her jersey, and the ball she threw for her first pitch, sit in the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.
“I like to think I had some part in pushing that, but it’s just really cool to see the progression that’s happening for women’s sports in general,” Lee told the CBC. “You see it in a bunch of different sports, but baseball seems to be a little bit behind right now. “But that’s a really good … step forward for women’s baseball, especially in Canada.”
Artistic swimming and diving take over The Works Aquarena from the swimmers who lit up the pool during Week One.
Men’s softball and box lacrosse and women’s soccer all swing into action on Tuesday.
Week Two begins with Quebec and Ontario locked in a seesaw battle for top spot in the medal standings.
Quebec leads the Games table with 103 total medals, one more than Ontario.
But Ontario starts the week with the most gold 37, two more than Quebec with British Columbia in third on 27.
Newfoundland and Labrador are one of six provinces or territories still looking for a first gold.
Gavin Baggs gave the hosts reason to get excited on the opening night of the swimming taking silver in the 400m freestyle men’s para but the hosts have had little to celebrate since Thomas Pelley adding silver in the Special Olympics 100m freestyle and a bronze in the 50m free.
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Some great photo by David Howells from the pool of Team NL.
www.davehowellsphoto.com
www.davehowellsphoto.com
www.davehowellsphoto.com
SUNDAY August 17, 2025
St John’s, NL – Its have way point of the 2025 Canada Summer Games and a break day as Week 1 athletes prepare to leave and Week 2 athletes arriving. Air Canada stike and forest fires have disrupted the games but they carry one.
Tomorrow, Monday, the events begin again and here are a few things to look our for.
| 19:30 | Baseball | Women’s | Preliminary | Pool A – Game 01 – BC vs NL | St. Pat’s Ballpark |
The Medal Count as of today
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Saturday, August 16, 2025. CYCLING (Downtown St. John’s)
The Canada Games come to downtown St. John’s with cycling criterium where spectators can watch the action from one of Water Street’s well-known pubs as the athletes chase gold. Woman’s race was 40 laps of 1.5km course on Water street and Harbour Drive. WEDNESDAY, August 14, 2025
Team Newfoundland and Labrador’s Thomas Pelley (right) makes a return visit to the podium for a Bronze Medal in the 50 Metre Freestyle Special Olympics event. The third medal for Newfoundland and Labrador team. On Monday night Pelley won a silver in 100m Freestyle Special Olympics. Sport Schedule Changes for Wednesday, August 13 Out of an abundance of caution, the following sport schedule changes have been made for Wednesday, August 13: – Beach Volleyball and Sailing are postponed We are monitoring the situation closely and working with the Provincial Emergency Operations Centre, the City of St. John’s, the Towns of Paradise and Conception Bay South, and our National Sport Organizations to adjust competition plans as needed. |
Tuesday August 12, 2025
Team NL’s Thomas Pelley Claims Silver in Men’s 100m Freestyle Special Olympics at 2025 Canada Games
St. John’s, NL – August 11, 2025 – Team Newfoundland and Labrador’s Thomas Pelley added to his impressive Canada Games record today, winning a silver medal in the Men’s
100m Freestyle Special Olympics at the 2025 Canada Games. Pelley, a proven competitor on the national stage, previously earned three medals at the 2022
Canada Games in Niagara: silver in the Men’s 50m Freestyle Special Olympics, silver in the Men’s 100m Freestyle Special Olympics, and bronze in the Men’s 100m Backstroke Special
Olympics. “I tried my best and I am happy with my race,” said Pelley.
“Thomas had an amazing swim,” said Team NL Swimming Special Olympics coach Keelin Tucker. “He swam his heart out and it shows that dedicated training is key to success.”
“We are so incredibly proud of Thomas, who earned a second medal for Team Newfoundland and Labrador tonight in the 100m Free Special Olympics!” said Jamie Randell, Chef de Mission
for Team NL. “He’s carried forward the incredible momentum from the 2022 Canada Games in Niagara, where he brought home three medals for our province. Way to go, Thomas!”
MONDAY, AUGUST 11, 2025
Today’s events for Team NL
08:00 Canoe and Kayak qualifier begin at Quidi Vidi Lake this morning.
08:00 Woman’s Rugby 7s at Swilers Park
08:30 Woman’s Basketball at NL Sports centre
10:30 Men’s Volleyball at Paradise park
10:50 Men’s Rugby at Swilers Park
11:00 Sailing at Long Pond, Conception Bay
13:30 Woman’s beach volleyball at Paradise Park
14:00 Woman’s Box Lacrosse at Paradise Double Ice Complex
15:52 Woman’s Rugby at Swilers Park
17:00 Men’s Volleyball at Paradise park
18:48 Men’s Rugby at Swilers Park
19:00 Men’s Baseball at St Pat’s Field
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At the baseball diamond, Newfoundland and Labrador, opened their first round with a 9-7 victory over Manitoba on Sunday
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More Gavin Baggs!
Perhaps no athlete competing in St. John’s has a more unique and audacious Canada Games to do list than Team NL’s Gavin Baggs who will be splitting his time between the pool and the track.
Having snatched a silver in the 400m freestyle men’s para Baggs will compete in four more events at the pool before turning his attention to para-athletics where he will race in the 100, 400 and 1,500m
If that wasn’t enough to keep Baggs busy he is also a member of Canada’s men’s national para-hockey team and hopes to be on the squad for next year’s Milano/Cortina Paralympics.
Competing in his fourth Canada Games and still chasing a first medal Baggs admitted to feeling pressure to get the job done at home but with the raucous support of the crowd finally stepped onto the podium taking the silver behind Team British Columbia’s Ken Stroud.
“I absolutely felt the pressure, I want to give the hometown fans something to cheer for I want to give them a medal and at the end of the day I got it,” said Baggs, who competed in his first Canada Games when he was just 11 years old.
SUNDAY AUGUST 9, 2025
ST. JOHN’S, NL – the 2025 Canada Summer games kicked off it first full day of competition today, Sunday August 10th. Team NL started its first event with Beach Volleyball at Paradise Park.
The Woman’s team defeated Yukon Terr an North West Terr in straight sets and now site in first place in pool F.
The Men’s team lost only match to New Brunswick in straight sets.
Team NL’s Gavin Baggs Captures Silver in Men’s 400m Freestyle Para on Opening Day of 2025 Canada Games
Team Newfoundland and Labrador’s swimmer Gavin Baggs of Paradise, made waves on the opening day of the 2025 Canada Games, earning a silver medal in the Men’s 400m Freestyle Para Swimming Men’s event.
The achievement marks the first medal of the Games for Team NL and a career milestone for Baggs, who is competing in his home province.
“This means the world,” said Baggs. “I’ve been to four Canada Games and have not won a medal at any of them. To win my first one in my home province and to get the first medal for Newfoundland and Labrador in the Games is such an amazing feeling.”
Baggs is no stranger to multi-sport competition, having represented Newfoundland and Labrador at four Canada Games:
- 2019 – Wheelchair Basketball
- 2022 – Swimming
- 2023 – Wheelchair Basketball
- 2025 – Swimming & Athletics
His silver medal performance is not only a personal triumph, but also a moment of pride and inspiration for all of Newfoundland and Labrador.
“An incredible moment was witnessed at the Aquarena today as Gavin Baggs captured Team NL’s first medal on Day 1 of the Canada Games,” said Team NL Chef de Mission, Jamie Randell. “To win on the first day of the Games in your home province is a true honour that we can all celebrate together as Team Newfoundland and Labrador. Congrats Gavin!’
The 2025 Canada Games continues throughout the week, with Team NL athletes competing in a variety of sports.
