OTTAWA – Swimming Canada is confirming multiple host locations for its revamped event schedule through 2028.
The slate of events includes 21 editions of the six domestic events, including the Canadian Open, Masters championships, Trials, short-course national championships, Open Water Festival and Ken Demchuk International Invitational.
The event lineup is part of Swimming Canada’s “Canadian Way” event hosting strategy through to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The organization’s High Performance department conducted an eight-month consultation process that began at the carded coaches sessions in Sept. 2022. This included the Athlete Advisory Council and other national team athletes, coaches of Sport Canada Athlete Assistance Program (“carded”) athletes, provincial executive directors and technical leads, high performance staff, technical experts and performance science staff.
”All of the feedback we received went into developing this new ‘Canadian Way’ and it is great to now know where these events will take place,” said High Performance Director John Atkinson. “We have listened, now we are moving forward with our plans and this is a great announcement. Thanks to all who have worked with us to put Swimming Canada in the best position to succeed at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games and beyond.”
Edmonton will host the next four editions of the Canadian Open, which makes its debut this year from April 10-13 in Toronto. The high-level senior meet is expected to become a staple of the long-course season.
Meanwhile, the Canadian Swimming Trials will return to Victoria for the 2025 and 2027 editions, while Montreal will play host in 2026 at the Olympic pool, which is the site of this year’s Olympic & Paralympic Trials, Presented by Bell May 13-19. Swimming Canada announced late last year that Olympic & Paralympic Trials will return to the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre in 2028.
A new short-course national championships will debut in 2025, with Sherbrooke, Que., as host, followed by the Open Water Festival at the Montreal Olympic Basin used for rowing at the 1976 Olympic Games. The Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre will take on the short-course event in 2027, with the Open Water Festival taking place at the Welland International Flatwater Centre.
Rounding out the schedule are Masters championships in Saskatoon (2025), Windsor, Ont., (2026) and Etobicoke, Ont. (2028), with the Ken Demchuk meet taking place in Markham, Ont., later this year and next, followed by in Montreal (Laval City) from 2026-2028.
“We look forward to hosting events across five Canadian provinces in the next four years leading to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games,” said Acting CEO Suzanne Paulins. “Provincial sections, clubs and tourism groups all play an important part in the hosting of our events, and we thank all our partners for their roles in ensuring a successful quad.”
Hosts for some 2026 domestic meets, as well as 2027 Masters championships and 2028 short-course championships will be announced at a later date.
Dates are subject to change, but the tentative schedule is:
- Ken Demchuk International Invitational – Nov. 29-Dec. 1, 2024 – Markham (Ont.) Pan Am Centre
- Canadian Open – April 10-12, 2025 – Edmonton Kinsmen Sports Centre
- Masters championships – May 17-19, 2025 – Saskatoon Shaw Centre
- Canadian Swimming Trials – June 6-12, 2025 – Victoria Saanich Commonwealth Place
- Short-course national championships – Aug. 7-10, 2025 – Centre sportif de l’Université de Sherbrooke (Que.)
- Open Water Festival – Aug. 12-13, 2025 – Montreal Olympic Basin
- Ken Demchuk International Invitational – Nov. 28-30, 2025 – Markham (Ont.) Pan Am Centre
- Canadian Open – April 9-11, 2026 – Edmonton Kinsmen Sports Centre
- Masters championships – May 2026 – Windsor (Ont.) International Aquatic and Training Centre
- Canadian Swimming Trials – July 5-9, 2026 – Montreal Olympic Pool
- Short-course national championships – Aug. 2026 – TBD
- Open Water Festival – Aug. 2026 – TBD
- Ken Demchuk International Invitational – Nov. 2026 – Montreal (Laval City)
- Canadian Open – April 8-10, 2027 – Edmonton Kinsmen Sports Centre
- Masters championships – May 2027 – TBD
- Canadian Swimming Trials – June 4-10, 2027 – Victoria Saanich Commonwealth Place
- Short-course national championships – Aug. 5-8, 2027 – Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre
- Open Water Festival – Aug. 10-11, 2027 – Welland (Ont.) International Flatwater Centre
- Ken Demchuk International Invitational – Nov. 2027 – Montreal (Laval City)
- Canadian Open – April 6-8, 2028 – Edmonton Kinsmen Sports Centre
- Masters championships – May 2028 – Etobicoke (Ont.) Olympium
- Olympic and Paralympic Swimming Trials – June 2-8, 2028 – Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre
- Short-course national championships – Aug. 3-6, 2028 – TBD
- Open Water Festival – Aug. 8-9, 2028 – Montreal Olympic Basin
- Ken Demchuk International Invitational – Nov. 2028 – Montreal (Laval City)