The official Canada Games flag will visit each past Host Community of the Canada Games in the lead up to the Opening Ceremonies for the 2011 Canada Winter Games in Halifax, Nova Scotia from February 11-27, 2011.

The flag began its journey in Whitehorse yesterday as host of the 2007 Canada Winter Games and will be making appearences around town before working its way East to Halifax on February 10th, the day prior to the Opening Ceremonies.

As part of the Canada Games Council's (CGC) alumni engagement initiatives, the CGC is working to engage all past Canada Games Host Communities in the celebration of the upcoming Canada Games.

The official Canada Games flag, to be flown at the Opening Ceremonies in Halifax on February 11, 2011, will be with each past Canada Games Host Community for a total of three days before being sent to the next community, similar to Halifax's Provincial Torch Relay.

"This is an excellent opportunity to unite all Canadians in the celebration that is the Canada Games,” says Tom Quinn, Chairman of the Canada Games Council. "Past hosts will be able to show their involvement and pride with the Canada Games and show off the legacy the Games has left in their community while spreading the excitement for the 2011 Games.”

A map of Canada will be created on the CGC's website so the public can view the location of the flag with photos, stories, quotes and videos provided by each community of their time with the flag.

Activities planned by past host communities include raising the flag at City Hall, organizing a Canada Games Day, memorializing a facility that was touched by the Canada Games and recognizing local athletes going to the 2011 Games.

To follow the flag's journey across Canada, visit the Canada Games website at www.canadagames.ca, the Canada Games Facebook page at www.facebook.com/CanadaGames or the Canada Games blog at canadagamesblog.ca.

Held once every two years, alternating between winter and summer, the Canada Games represent the highest level of national competition for up and coming Canadian athletes. The Games have been hosted in every province at least once since their inception in Quebec City during Canada's Centennial in 1967.

The Games are proud of their contribution to Canada's sport development system in addition to their lasting legacy of sport facilities, community pride, volunteerism and national unity.