National
#1 Sports Event
Winnipeg, the Blue Bombers’ hometown, hosts the Grey Cup game and festival this year. The game is played at Investors Group Field, but the Nissan Titan Street Festival and a gala dinner hosted by comedian Gerry Dee are not to be missed. Next: November 25-29, 2015, Winnipeg
Montreal/Toronto
#2 Sports Event (up from #3)
Toronto hosted the best in women’s tennis this year, while the men played in Montreal. Interactive on-site fan engagement tactics and a new tournament app aimed to bring fans closer to the players. National Bank was the presenting sponsor. Next: August 2016
Toronto
#3 Sports Event (up from #4)
Ontario’s largest annual sporting competition moved from July to June in 2015 to accommodate the Pan Am Games. Molson Coors returned as the official beer of the event, and the Verizon IndyCar Series race remained the marquee event. Next: July 2016
Montreal
#4 Sports Event (up from #5)
There’s nothing like race weekend in Montreal, when Formula One fans from overseas make the historic city feel more European than ever. The race takes place at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, on Île Notre-Dame. Mercedes-Benz and Sleeman beer sponsored in 2015. Next: June 10-12, 2016
National
#5 Sports Event (up from #7)
More than 150 P.G.A. Tour stars competed for an increased purse of $5.8 million in 2015. The event was played at the historic Glen Abbey Golf Club and sponsored by RBC, Shaw Communications, and BMW. Next: July 18-24, 2016, Glen Abbey
Toronto
#6 Sports Event
The most prestigious horse race in Canada maintained its purse of $1 million this year, including $600,000 for the winner. The Hats & Horseshoes party, with a red carpet and gourmet food trucks, was sponsored by Stella Artois. Next: July 2016
Vancouver to Whistler
#8 Sports Event (up from #9)
The “giro,” or pro, category of the popular cycling race is now a sanctioned race with a $50,000 purse. Racers ride up a car-free, 122-kilometer course from downtown Vancouver to the mountains of Whistler. RBC is the title sponsor. Next: September 12, 2015
Vancouver
#9 Sports Event
The race keeps amassing accolades from running organizations and travel magazines, including being named the world’s most exotic marathon. The new expo venue for 2015—the Vancouver Convention Centre West—offers three times more space than before. Next: May 1, 2016
Lake Louise
#10 Sports Event
The season-starting races make up the only World Cup outside of Europe to join the famous Club 5 Ski Classics. At the finish line and in the official cheering section at the base of the mountain, music and entertainment occupies crowds between runs. Next: November 21-December 6, 2015
Fairbanks, Alaska to Whitehorse, Yukon
#11 Sports Event
Following the historic Gold Rush trail, the 1,600-kilometer dogsled race sees a few dozen teams—one human musher and 14 dogs—compete for about $150,000. In 2016 lottery winners can again ride along for the race’s first 1.5 miles. Next: February 6, 2016
