National
#1 Sports Event (up from #2)
About 500,000 people attended this football festival last time it was in Edmonton, one of the biggest football cities around, and similar numbers are expected this year. Free festivities downtown will be a big draw for families, and a sell-out crowd of over 55,000 is expected at Brick Field for the big game. Shaw is the title sponsor. Next: November 21-25, 2018
Montreal
#2 Sports Event (up from #3)
Ticket sales increased by 28 percent in 2018, when Formula 1 celebrated 40 years in Montreal. Highlights included Jacques Villeneuve driving his father’s winning 1978 car at the head of the drivers’ parade on Sunday and Ferrari winning in Montreal for the first time in 14 years. Next: June 2019
Toronto
#3 Sports Event (up from #4)
About 100,000 Indy fans attend the races and festival over the family-friendly weekend, including free-admission Fan Friday. New Zealand driver Scott Dixon racked up his third win of the season at this year’s Honda-sponsored event. Next: July 2019
Toronto
#4 Sports Event (up from #8)
The festival for Canada’s oldest thoroughbred horse race grew to three days this year, returning to the Woodbine Racetrack over the Canada Day weekend. Aside from the marquee event, the $1 million Queen’s Plate race, 2018 saw the return of the Stella Artois Hats and Horseshoes Party, and the Budweiser Beer Garden was a new addition. Next: July 2019
Montreal/Toronto
#5 Sports Event
Some 188 players—84 men in Toronto and 104 women in Montreal—took part in the Roger’s Cup this year, with attendance falling for the men’s event to about 150,000. Rain hampered play in both cities, and in Montreal the Women’s Tennis Association president Mickey Lawlor called for the building of a covered stadium to “futureproof” the event. Next: August 2019
Toronto
#6 Sports Event
The purse for the RBC-sponsored tourney grew again this year, by $200,000, to $6.2 million, and Steam Whistle Brewing became the new official beer partner. Named the most fan-friendly event by the P.G.A. Tour, the Canadian Open will change location and date next year: one week before the U.S. Open at the Hamilton Golf and Country Club. Next: June 3-9, 2019
Vancouver
#7 Sports Event
A record number of participants came out this year—some 17,000 runners—to race on Vancouver’s beautiful course and take in the stunning scenery. Local Robin Watson became the first Canadian to win the men’s marathon since 1983, and female runner Zhiling Zheng became the first-ever Chinese person to win. BMO remained the title sponsor. Next: May 5, 2019
Whistler, B.C.
#8 Sports Event
Participation was expected to remain level at about 4,500 riders this year’s European-style mass cycling event, with RBC returning as the main sponsor. This year also saw some big news: In 2018, the organization won the rights to hold the UCI World Gran Fondo Championships in 2020. Next year’s race will be a qualifier for the 2020 event. Next: September 7, 2019
Whitehorse, Yukon
#9 Sports Event
From Whitehorse, Yukon, to Fairbanks, Alaska
The field in the 1,600-kilometre (1,000-mile) dogsled race grew to 26 mushers in 2018, including at least three representing the second generation in their family to take on the wintertime challenge. The City of Fairbanks and Tourism Yukon remained the lead sponsors. Next: February 2, 2019
Lake Louise, Alberta
#10 Sports Event
The season for skiing’s World Cup speed events—the men’s and ladies’ downhill and super-G races—kicks off at Lake Louise Ski Resort again this year and will be broadcast to an audience of about 184 million. Audi returns as a key sponsor. Next: November 24-December 2, 2018
