GIANT TIGER DEMONSTRATES ‘GIANT HEART’ AS THE OFFICIAL VOLUNTEER PARTNER FOR THE GLOBAL 2023 MASTERS INDIGENOUS GAMES

GIANT TIGER DEMONSTRATES ‘GIANT HEART’ AS THE OFFICIAL VOLUNTEER PARTNER FOR THE GLOBAL 2023 MASTERS INDIGENOUS GAMES

Giant Tiger is back at it, with another partnership supporting sport opportunities for Indigenous athletes from around the world.

March 24, 2023 – Algonquin Territory (Ottawa, Ontario) – The 2023 Masters Indigenous Games (MIG) organizing committee is pleased to announce Giant Tiger Stores as the official volunteer partner for the 2023 Masters Indigenous Games (MIG), scheduled to take place in the Nation’s capital, this summer from August 24-27.

“Giant Tiger is thrilled to be the official volunteer partner for the 2023 Masters Indigenous Games,” said Gabrielle Hargrove, Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, Giant Tiger Stores Limited. “As a proud community retailer, we recognize the importance of volunteers, and we are honoured to have the opportunity to support more than 500 volunteers from our nation’s capital, whose collective efforts will contribute to the success of the games and welcome athletes and visitors from across the country, and beyond. This partnership also allows us to deepen our relationship with Indigenous Sport & Wellness Ontario (ISWO) and continue to help build a brighter future for indigenous athletes and the communities we serve across the country.”

Giant Tiger is a proud retailer dedicated to supporting the diverse communities it calls home with a history of partnering with many local and national charities donating their time, money and products across the country. This is not Giant Tiger’s first time collaborating with Indigenous Sport & Wellness Ontario (ISWO) (the provincial sport organization that also owns the rights to the Masters Indigenous Games franchise); the community centered retailer has partnered with ISWO on several initiatives that have directly and positively impacted Indigenous peoples and communities, right across the province of Ontario, including remote and northern locations. At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Giant Tiger recognized that some Indigenous communities were in assistance of critically needed essential supplies, for day-to-day living. Working in partnership with ISWO, Giant Tiger provided a significant donation of key essential items, including new clothing, bedding, kids’ toys, toiletries, and other essential home products for distribution to Indigenous communities across Ontario, through ISWO’s networks and provincial distribution system.

The retailer stepped up yet again, for last summer’s 2022 Ontario Summer Indigenous Games (OSIG) as the official volunteer partner of the Games, supporting sport participation and athlete development, for more than the 300 Indigenous youth who were in attendance from 92

communities across Ontario. Giant Tiger has demonstrated time and time again, that the organization has a ‘giant heart’ and is focused on giving back where it counts.

“Giant Tiger continues to inspire us with their commitment to community, and support for increasing sport and cultural opportunities for Indigenous Peoples,” says Marc Laliberte, President of Indigenous Sport & Wellness Ontario. “They provided tremendous support last year for the 2022 OSIG, ensuring that the more than 300 athletes in attendance, had a wonderful experience, as our organization returned to in-sport programming in a huge way after a long hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Giant Tiger is a partner in the truest sense of the word and one that consistently goes the extra mile; we are thrilled to have them join us once again for this incredible global event. As anyone who has run a major event or Games before knows, volunteers make it all possible and they are truly the heart of an event, and this partnership is so fitting, as Giant Tiger continues to demonstrate ‘great heart’ for Indigenous initiatives in sport, wellness, and culture.”

Giant Tiger’s support as the official volunteer partner for the 2023 MIG will include providing sponsorship funds to support the volunteer program, which will aim to recruit, train and outfit approximately 500 volunteers from the Ottawa area. Volunteers will support the successful delivery of the four-day event which is expected to attract more than a thousand Indigenous athletes from around the world, and thousands more in daily spectators and visitors. Through their support for the volunteer program, Giant Tiger will also provide in-kind donations for volunteer uniforms, venues for volunteer training and the volunteer appreciation event, a volunteer lounge and check-in area at the Games, and snacks and refreshments for volunteers and athletes throughout. This critical support for the 2023 MIG volunteer program will ensure that athletes and spectators alike, have a truly memorable experience at what is expected to be, one of Canada’s largest global Indigenous sport and cultural events of the year.

For more information about the 2023 MIG, visit mastersindigenousgames.com. Volunteer registration is now open, click here to register.

About Giant Tiger

Giant Tiger, the leading Canadian-owned family discount store, is on a mission to make every dollar matter and is committed to providing on-trend family fashion, groceries, and everyday household needs. The privately held company has over 260 locations across Canada and proudly employs over 10,000 members of Team Tiger. All Giant Tiger locations are locally owned or operated by a team member who knows the community. Whether Canadians are shopping in-store or online at gianttiger.com, Giant Tiger makes it easy and fun for all to shop smart and save smart every day. #GTCommunityProud #GiantTiger

About MIG

The Masters Indigenous Games (MIG) were founded by Indigenous Sport & Wellness Ontario (ISWO) to meet the growing need for competitive sport for the aging population. The Games encourage mature individuals to be active, with the awareness that competitive sport can continue throughout life, contributing to increased health and wellness. The inaugural MIG took place in Toronto, Ontario from July 12-15, 2018, providing an opportunity for Indigenous adults worldwide to engage in sport competition with their peers. #EmbodyTheSpirit #2023MIG #WellnessWarriors

2023 Masters Indigenous Games Quick Facts:

• The 2023 MIG will take place in Ottawa, Ontario from August 24-27, 2023.
• Volunteer registration is now open and can be found here.
• Six sports are on offer for competition, including Athletics, Basketball, Canoe, Golf, Lacrosse, and Volleyball.
• The 2023 MIG Cultural Festival will take place at Lansdowne Park from Friday, August 25 to Sunday, August 27, and will feature interactive sport demonstrations, an Indigenous marketplace with a variety of vendors, food trucks, a main stage showcasing Indigenous performers, and immersive cultural experiences; the festival is free of charge and open to the public. Vendor registration is now open until May 31, 2023.
• Participation in sport competitions is for Indigenous adults aged 19 years and over.
• There are no qualifiers; teams do not have to be part of any clubs or associations to register.
• Individuals may register for a team sport and will be placed on a team if space is available.
• The deadline to register for the 2023 MIG is May 31, 2023; the early-bird deadline ends March 31, 2023.

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Acknowledgment

ISWO honours the traditional lands and homelands of all Indigenous Peoples and communities across the province of Ontario, including First Nations, Inuit and Métis living both on and off reserve, in rural and urban communities.

Contact Information

Abby Shirazi

Director of Marketing and Communications, ISWO
General Manager, 2023 Masters Indigenous Games
Abidah.Shirazi@iswo.ca