Gatineau, le 6 juin 2025. – From the walk onto the board to the completed dive hitting the water, the Canada Cup of Diving competition is the place to witness the history and legacy of elite diving.
Since its modest beginnings as the Winnipeg Easter Invitational in the 1960s, the Canada Cup has become a cornerstone of international competition and athlete development. Rooted in Canada’s quiet but unwavering commitment to the sport, it has become a proving ground for emerging talent and a stage for world-class performances.
The event traces back to 1969 when it debuted in Winnipeg at the Pan Am Pool under the name Easter Invitational. “That’s where the event lived for quite a few years,” says Nancy Brawley, a two-time Olympian and Pan Am Games gold medalist. “It later became part of a three-country circuit with the U.S. and Mexico, three international events over three weeks so athletes could travel and compete.”
By 1975, the meet had been rebranded as the Canada Cup and began rotating between Canadian cities. Through the 1980s and ’90s, it grew in prestige, attracting top athletes from across the Americas. In the 2000s, it was folded into the FINA Diving Grand Prix series, where it became known as one of the premiere events of the season. Today, it continues as an important stop on the World Aquatics Recognized Events series.
“There’s been only a couple of years where Canada didn’t host a major international diving competition,” Brawley notes. “That kind of consistency means something.”
That legacy has been built not only through the athletes but also by the people who kept the meet alive and evolving. Gord Peterson, a former national team diver, coach, and past president of Diving Canada, remembers competing in the very first iteration. “It started as just diving,” he says. “Then over the decades, it grew into a global event.”
Peterson credits the competition’s regular hosting schedule with helping Canadian divers build confidence and improve their performance on the world stage. “We’ve seen that ripple into Olympic and World Championship results since the ’90s,” he says.
For Brawley, who also helped create Canada’s national official program, now the model for international judging standards, the Canada Cup reflects more than medals. “Diving is a special sport,” she says. “It didn’t matter what country you were from; everyone cheered for each other. That sense of community has always been strong at this event.”
It has also been a launchpad for some of the sport’s most recognizable names. Tom Daley, for example, competed at the Canada Cup as a young teenager before rising to global fame.
“It’s a bit like junior hockey,” Peterson says. “You’re watching stars before they become stars.”
Canada’s reputation for innovation is another reason athletes return. The competition has experimented with knockout rounds, compressed finals, and new formats aimed at improving the athlete experience.
“Some things work, some don’t,” Peterson says, “but we’re not afraid to try.”
As the international diving calendar becomes more crowded and competitive, the Canada Cup continues to adapt while staying true to its roots: showcasing talent, fostering community, and elevating the sport.
If you want to witness this anticipated event, you can watch it in person at Centre Sportif de Gatineau this week or online through the CBC broadcast. Admission is free.
This event is made possible thanks to the support of valued partners: the Government of Canada, the Government of Quebec, the City of Gatineau, Tourisme Outaouais, Speedo, the Gatineau Diving Club, and Plongeon Québec.
About Diving Canada
Diving Canada (DPC) was established in 1967 as a not-for-profit organization to promote the growth and awareness of the sport in this country. As a member of FINA, the world’s governing body of aquatic sports, DPC contributes to the development of globally accepted standards of excellence in diving and supports the rules and regulations of international competition. DPC shares a national commitment to advance the art and sport of diving and to position Canada as the number one diving nation of the world. For information, visit www.diving.ca.
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Information:
Alexandra Piché
Communications Manager
Diving Canada
alexandra@diving.ca