Community effort sustains province-wide youth sports spectacle
Kelowna’s parks, schools and fields have become a hive of activity as the city hosts the 2026 B.C. Summer Games, and the vast majority of that activity is being run by local people. More than 2,000 volunteers have signed on to help stage the multi-sport event, logging what organisers describe as thousands of hours to keep competitions running safely and smoothly.
The volunteer contingent is a mix of longtime event helpers, parents, former athletes and residents taking time off work to lend a hand. Many have roles that are unseen by spectators but essential to operations: checking in teams, managing schedules, marshalling venues and guiding visitors. Others are visible on the sidelines — handing out water, running results to scorekeepers, or supporting young competitors as they wait for their turn.
“It’s kind of neat to see that come around,” said one volunteer who returned to the Games movement after competing as a young athlete herself. “There’s no better way to support your community than giving a little extra time.”
Organisers say the sheer geographic footprint of the Games makes the volunteer base indispensable. Events are taking place at venues across Kelowna and the Central Okanagan, with some competitions hosted in neighbouring Vernon. Orchestrating multiple sites over several days requires hundreds of roles to be coordinated every hour of the competition schedule.
- Volunteer total: more than 2,000 community members
- Roles: venue marshals, ticketing and accreditation, athlete services, results and timing, wayfinding and hospitality
- Scope: multiple venues across Kelowna and the valley, plus sites in Vernon
At École Okanagan Mission Secondary School on Saturday afternoon, volunteers such as Christina Roderigues and May Ling Chow were guiding spectators and delegates through crowded corridors, ensuring athletes arrived at the right place at the right time. Their work is one small example of the thousands of individual contributions that make a Games of this size possible.
Christina Skinner, the volunteer marketing director for the Games, praised the depth of community engagement. She said many volunteers bring experience from other local events, creating a resilient pool of helpers who step into a wide range of assignments as needed.
“One thing that I know is that many of the volunteers have been involved in other events as well, so this is a community that really supports their community events in many different ways.”
That continuity of experience has practical effects on the event: fewer logistical hiccups, quicker problem solving on site and a stronger welcome for visiting athletes and families. Volunteers also provide the personal touch — cheering lanes, offering directions and encouraging competitors — that transforms a tournament into a memorable Games experience.
Local ripple effects: beyond the competition
The volunteer-driven model also reduces operating costs and allows resources to be focused on athlete experience and venue readiness. Local hotels, restaurants and shops have seen steady traffic since the opening, and many volunteers report a sense of pride in showcasing Kelowna to athletes from across the province.
| Metric | Detail |
|---|---|
| Volunteers | 2,000+ |
| Venue reach | Across Kelowna, Central Okanagan and selected sites in Vernon |
| Roles filled | Accreditation, venue operations, athlete services, results, hospitality |
For many volunteers, involvement is a way to give back and to relive positive memories of competition. Jennifer Jobin, a Kelowna resident and former synchronized swimmer, responded to an online call for helpers and has been taking Fridays off work to assist during the Games. Her decision mirrors that of dozens of others who rearranged schedules to ensure their community could host a provincial event.
Organisers say the Games Society provided the framework and oversight, but the event would not function without the volunteer corps. The coming days will test the coordination across venues and volunteers as schedules tighten and medal events ramp up, but for now the atmosphere is optimistic: families and athletes moving between sites, volunteers solving problems on the fly, and a community showing up to support youth sport.
City residents watching from the sidelines should expect busy streets and full venues through the closing of the Games, and a sustained spotlight on Kelowna as a host city that depends largely on volunteer energy to deliver an event of provincial scale.
