Greetings from those who make the Legion Nationals possible

Message from the Dominion President

With a year of excellent athleticism already behind us, I am pleased to welcome you back to the great city of Sherbrooke, Quebec for the 45th Legion Nationals!

This is the year of the Peacekeeper. We commemorate the 75th anniversary of United Nations peacekeeping missions. Please take a moment to remember all the Veterans who have served, and will serve our country and our global community, helping to facilitate peace.

We take pride in promoting important values during these games. Leadership, teamwork, fair play, and athleticism are all attributes that will serve you well. We are dedicated to strengthening our upcoming generations.

Anything is possible at these games… new connections, new firsts, even a new path towards international or Olympic success.

On behalf of everyone at Dominion Command, I commend your hard work. I salute your coaches, families, Legion members, volunteers, sponsors, chaperones – and our invaluable hosts.

Have fun!
Bruce Julian, Dominion President
The Royal Canadian Legion

Message from the Sports Committee Chair

The Legion’s commitment to youth sport becomes stronger every year.

Not only are these Championships the country’s top event for young athletes, they literally change lives.

I understand all the challenging work required for you to make it here. And I know there are many people around you who have helped clear your path. From supportive family and friends to your incredible coaches and communities.

You truly represent the cream of the crop for the under 16 and under 18 age categories. No matter what your sporting future holds, be proud you have come this far.

The Legion Nationals are where old records are broken, and where new friendships are forged.

With a country as vast as Canada and competitors from coast to coast to coast, this gathering is also a chance to have fun, and to learn more about our geographic and ethnic diversity. Embrace it!

On behalf of the Legion’s 250,000 members in 1,350 branches, I wish you the best of luck at these games.

Go Teams!
Brian Weaver, Dominion Command Sports Committee Chair
The Royal Canadian Legion

A word from Évelyne Beaudin, Mayor of the City of Sherbrooke

I'm delighted to welcome hundreds of young athletes from across Canada to the Royal Canadian Legion’s 45th Canadian Youth Championships. This event will showcase the athletes’ efforts, encourage them to excel and foster camaraderie. Congratulations to all of the teenagers who dedicate themselves to their sport, proving that discipline and determination can lead to great adventures.

I would also like to acknowledge the coaches, officials and family members of the athletes who are here with us, for supporting and encouraging them as they strive to achieve their goals. And let’s not forget the volunteers, without whom the championships could not take place. To all of you, I say a huge thank you for your commitment to youth.

The City of Sherbrooke joins Athletics Canada, the Fédération québécoise d'athlétisme, the Club d'athlétisme de Sherbrooke and the Université de Sherbrooke in ensuring the continuity of this major event.

I invite all Sherbrooke residents to come and cheer on our young athletes. Your applause will give a major boost to their performance!

The Mayor,
Évelyne Beaudin

A word from Jean-Pierre Boucher, Director General de l’Université de Sherbrooke

For the second year in a row, the Service du sport et de l’activité physique de l’Université de Sherbrooke is honoured to join forces with the City of Sherbrooke and the Sherbrooke Track & Field Club to organize the 2023 edition of the Legion’s National Youth Track and Field Championships, to be held August 11th to 13th at the Centre sportif YvonLamarche’s outdoor stadium. It is with great pride that we team up to host this unique event that brings together on our campus young and promising athletes from across the country.

Our first-rate sports facilities along with the expertise and dedication of our staff will certainly be important assets for us over the coming days. But more importantly, our volunteers will be there to greet the athletes, coaches, officials and their families, helping them to forge lasting memories and enjoy an unforgettable sporting and human experience.

Apart from this summer of 2023, Sherbrooke has hosted this major sporting event several times, more specifically on six occasions (1996, 2001, 2002, 2008, 2009 and 2022). It is indeed with great pride and pleasure that we welcome the Canadian cadet and juvenile athletes who will have the unique opportunity of training and competing in athletics at the only 2023 pan-Canadian competition for athletes between the ages of 16 and 18.

May you all enjoy these championships!

Jean-Pierre Boucher
Director General
Service du sport et de l’activité physique de l’Université de Sherbrooke

A word from Alain Perreault, President de Fédération québécoise d’athlétisme

For the second year running, this August the City of Sherbrooke will host the Legion's National Youth Track and Field Championships. This year's event again promises to be just as exciting as all those that came before!

The Fédération québécoise d'athlétisme (FQA) is proud to be associated with the organization of these Championships, which, now going on 46 years, have enabled Canada's youth to come together through sport. From one generation to the next, young athletes from every province and territory will come together and ‘pass the baton’ so as to keep alive the legacy handed down by those who served their country.

Track and field events are closely linked to The Royal Canadian Legion, notably through the values of community, team spirit and personal achievement. These values lend themselves to the creation of memorable moments for athletes and spectators alike who will be attending yet another edition of these Championships that won't deviate from this rule!

On behalf of the FQA, I thank the organizers, athletes, officials, coaches, families, as well as volunteers and all those who contribute to making these Championships a success.

Enjoy the Championships!

Alain Perreault
President – Fédération québécoise d’athlétisme