Team Canada is preparing for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, with a delegation of 149 athletes. The event, often referred to as “The Friendly Games,” integrates both able-bodied and para sports, drawing competitors from 74 nations and territories. This year’s Games are scheduled to run from July 23 to August 2.
Leading the Canadian team as Chef de Mission is Erica Wiebe, an Olympic gold medallist in wrestling. Wiebe, who previously won gold at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and again in 2018 in Gold Coast, Australia, expressed her enthusiasm for returning to the Games in this new capacity. She noted the significance of the event as a developmental pathway for athletes, reflecting on her own experience where a victory at the Commonwealth Games helped build confidence for future Olympic success.
Saskatchewan talent on display
The Canadian roster includes a strong contingent from Saskatchewan, featuring seven athletes and one coach. Among them is Savannah Sutherland, a track and field athlete from Borden, Sask., who will compete in the women’s 400-metre hurdles. Sutherland previously made her Olympic debut at the 2024 Paris Games and is a two-time NCAA champion in her event.
Two para athletes from Saskatchewan, Maitlan Knoke of Saskatoon and Claire Norek of Gerald, are set to compete in shot put within the athletics program. Additionally, Saskatoon’s Etta Love will make her Commonwealth Games debut in 86-plus kilogram weightlifting, while Jordan Carroll, also from Saskatoon, will compete in team gymnastics and the men’s pommel horse event.
In men’s wheelchair basketball, Regina’s Garrett Ostepchuk will return to international competition, having previously represented Canada at two Paralympics in 2021. He will be joined by Kyrell Sopotyk from Aberdeen, a former Western Hockey League player who joined the senior national team last year and will be making his Commonwealth Games debut. The men’s wheelchair basketball team will be coached by Jared Sajtos, who has coaching experience in both Saskatoon and Regina.
Diverse sporting representation
Beyond the Saskatchewan athletes, Team Canada features a diverse array of talent across various sports. The track and field team includes several Olympic medallists such as Camryn Rogers, Andre De Grasse, Aaron Brown, Brendon Rodney, Jerome Blake, Ethan Katzberg, Evan Dunfee, Damian Warner, and Mohammed Ahmed, alongside world indoor champions Sarah Mitton and Christopher Morales Williams.
The swimming team is highlighted by Olympic and World Aquatics Championships medallists Kylie Masse and Josh Liendo. In artistic gymnastics, four-time Olympian Ellie Black will participate in her third Commonwealth Games, accompanied by reigning world silver medallist on vault, Lia-Monica Fontaine. The men’s gymnastics team includes Olympians Félix Dolci, René Cournoyer, and William Émard.
Other notable athletes include two-time Olympic medallist Maude Charron in weightlifting, and Olympians Maggie Coles-Lyster, Sarah Orban, James Hedgcock, and Tyler Rorke in track cycling. Canada will also field teams in 3×3 wheelchair basketball, para athletics, bowls and para bowls, boxing, judo, and para swimming. Wiebe emphasized the quality of the team, stating, “This team is amazing.”
The Glasgow 2026 Games will be a more streamlined event compared to previous editions, as Glasgow assumed hosting duties in 2024 after the Australian state of Victoria withdrew due to rising costs. Despite the reduced sports schedule, Wiebe confirmed that the Games will utilize “world-class venues with an expert sport operations staff.”
For the first time, Commonwealth Sport has allowed teams to partner with a charitable organization. Commonwealth Sport Canada has collaborated with Right to Play, a global organization dedicated to protecting, educating, and empowering children, including those in Indigenous communities across Canada, through play. The Right to Play logo will be featured on Canada’s non-competition uniforms to highlight sport’s role in fostering inclusive, equitable, and resilient communities. Wiebe, a Right to Play ambassador for over 15 years, views this partnership as a significant step towards using sport for social transformation. Fans can follow Team Canada’s progress with live daily broadcast and streaming coverage starting with the Opening Ceremony on July 23.
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Source: olympic.ca
