Interview with Andre Gallant

Partial Transcript: I do like to talk about myself so I do have to be reminded from time to time that I'm dragging it on a little too much. I grew up in New Brunswick...

Segment Synopsis: Andre talks about how he got his start in the Canada Games at the 1985 Canada Summer Games in Saint John, New Brunswick.

Keywords: Fitness and Amateur Sport; Football; Mount Allison; New Brunswick; UNB

Partial Transcript: So my boss Tim made a point of introducing me to Jack Pelech, as an example, who was chair of the Canada Games Council at that time.

Segment Synopsis: Andre talks about how he became involved in the Canada Games, and the importance of networking during his university years.

Keywords: 1985 Canada Summer Games; Canada Games Council; Cape Breton; Host Society; New Brunswick; Saint John; Sport Canada; Student; Univeristy

Partial Transcript: First five years were at Sport Canada, doing the Canada Games stuff in support of the Canada Games Council and one of my last things from within the federal public service was to support the Canada Games Council in its efforts to incorporate and move out of government.

Keywords: Canada Games Council; Government; Sport Canada

Subjects: Government Relations; Organizing the Canada Games

Partial Transcript: Sure, that's that's a good question, so the first time through for '79 in wrestling, first off I was not a good wrestler and my coach knew it, ok? My high school coach knew it.

Segment Synopsis: Andre talks about his high school and university athletic career, and his view of the Canada Games in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Keywords: Coach; High School; New Brunswick; Referee; Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean; Wrestling

Subjects: Sport & Recreation in Canada

Partial Transcript: So I I don't know... I I don't know that turning point of getting um... I have an original host society logo pin from the 1967 Canada Winter Games.

Segment Synopsis: Andre explains what he believes to be the origins of pin trading at both the Canada Games, and larger sporting events like the Olympics.

Keywords: Commonwealth; Official(s); Olympics; Pin(s); Saskatoon; Whitehorse; Winnipeg

Subjects: Pin collecting

Partial Transcript: Yeah, any of you ever been to Whitehorse or been to the North? So, I'd already been to the North a few times um, part of my job when I was with, with Sport Canada was also handling the Arctic Winter Games.

Segment Synopsis: Andre describes his experience at the 2007 Canada Winter Games in Whitehorse.

Keywords: Arctic Winter Games; Community; Leadership; North; Piers McDonald; Politics; Whitehorse; Yellowknife; Yukon

Subjects: Bidding; Built Legacy

Partial Transcript: So and and there's clearly been an evolution to that and I might not be 100% current although it's one piece that I've stayed or that I've tried to stay up on a little with Kelly-Anne...

Segment Synopsis: Andre talks about the history and evolution of host society bidding for the Canada Games.

Keywords: Canada Games Council; Community; Host Society; Indigenous; Kamloops; Kids; Miꞌkmaq; National; Niagara; Politics; Province; Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean; Territory; Whitehorse

Subjects: Bidding; Canadian Identity; Drug Testing/Anti-Doping Movement; Education; Government Relations; Inclusivity in Sport

Partial Transcript: Ok, so I think I have described some of it, right? Certain populations that could gain a disproportional benefit if it's if it's done well.

Segment Synopsis: Andre gives his perspective on the role of the Canada Games in unifying Canadians.

Keywords: Broadcasting; Hockey; Sidney Crosby; Sponsorship; TSN; Unity

Subjects: Canadian Identity; Media; Unity Through Sport

Partial Transcript: If I don't get to a sport that'll be ok so long as I see the people that I want to see. Right? It's it's an excuse... it's it's gives us a point on a calendar where I can plan to get together...

Segment Synopsis: Andre talks about what he's excited to see at the 2022 Canada Summer Games in Niagara, and how he's looking forward to catching up with certain people more than viewing any particular events.

Keywords: Friends; People

Subjects: Friendships at the Canada Games