WHY THE CANADA GAMES ARE SPECIAL
Representing Team Ontario at the Canada Games is a unique opportunity for young fencers to experience one of Canada’s largest sporting events.
Québec 2027 will feature:
- 3,500 athletes and coaches
- 22 sports
- Athletes representing provinces and territories from across Canada
- Fencing at the Québec City Convention Centre
- The 60th anniversary of the Canada Games
- A return to Québec City, where the first Canada Games were held in 1967
For six Ontario fencers, Québec 2027 will be an opportunity to represent their province on a national multisport stage.
Event Details
- Dates: February 27 – March 14, 2027
- Location: Québec City, Quebec
- Significance: The 2027 Games will mark the 60th anniversary of the first Canada Games, which were also held in Québec City in 1967.
- Participants: More than 2,000 young athletes and coaches will compete across 22 sports.
Ontario Team Selection Policies
The Ontario Team Selection could be modified until all dates of competition confirmed. Any modifications will be made promptly and as often as required following developments that directly impact the Internal Nomination Procedure. In such circumstances, any modifications will be communicated to all affected individuals as soon as possible.
Objectives
The Ontario Team Selection (OTS) have been developed with the objective of selecting a team/athlete that will win more than 6 medals at the 2027 Canada Games.
Team Size
The Ontario Team will have a maximum team size of 6 athletes (3 male, 3 female), and 1 coach and 1 team leader. One of the roles will be for a man the other role will be for a woman.
The size of the team is subject to the restrictions of the Canada Games Organization Committee (CGOC).
Contact
For clarifications or questions on the contents of the OTS, please contact: tech_coordinator@fencingontario.ca.
Decision Making Authority (DMA)
- The Technical Coordinator (TC), following consultation with the OFA High Performance Committee (HPC), is responsible for developing and approving the selection process and procedures for the team that will be nominated to the CGOC for the 2027 Canada Games.
- The CGOC mandates the OFA to determine the Team Selection policies for the athletes and staff that will be nominated to the CGOC for the 2027 Canada Games.
- The TC is responsible for the initial nominations of individual and team athletes. All nominations, including alternates and staff, will be ratified by the HPC in consultation with the board.
- The TC is responsible for ensuring that the process outlined in this document is properly followed and that the selection process is fair and equitable for all candidates.
- All OFA nominations are also subject to the approval of the CGOC.
- The TC has the final jurisdiction over the selection of the team. Where there is a lack of clarity or if unanticipated circumstances arise that are not covered in the selection criteria, a final and binding decision will be made by the Technical Coordinator.
CGOC CRITERIA
The Canada Games Organization Committee has established that the Ontario Fencing Association may nominate a maximum of 6 eligible athletes to participate in the 2027 Canada Games and shall be subject to the following restrictions:
- A maximum of 1 athlete per individual event
- A maximum of 1 team for the team event
ATHLETE ELIGIBILITY
- Be a member in good standing with the OFA
- Remain in good standing with the OFA through to the conclusion of the 2027 Canada Games
- Be under 17 as of December 31, 2026 (born between 2010 and 2013)
- Be of Canadian nationality or have permanent resident status (passport or permanent resident card required)
- Be domiciled in Ontario for at least 180 days before the opening of the Games (school certificate and last report card required)
- Be affiliated with Ontario as a competitive member of the OFA (national affiliation)
- Participate in mandatory preparatory training camp for the Canada Games (TBD)
- Meet any other criteria described in the Canada Games technical package 2027
Excluded Athletes
- Senior National Team Members (SR, SR1, SR2, C1 card holders or rostered Senior National Team members)
- Athletes who have previously competed at:
- Senior World Championships
- Olympic Games
- Pan American Games
- FISU Games
- Junior World Championships
No athlete can be rendered ineligible within 90 days of the opening of the Games due to National Team status, carding status or competing in an excluded event (i.e., if an athlete is granted National Team status for the first time, carding status or competes in an excluded event after November 20, 2026 they will still be considered eligible to compete at the 2027 Canada Games).
Athletes who hold a C1 card (as defined by Sport Canada’s Athlete Assistance program) or are in their first year of Senior National Team status may be deemed eligible on a case by case basis. Requests must be submitted to the respective P/T Team Chef de Mission and approved by the Canada Games Council’s Eligibility Committee.
Alternate Athlete Requirements
- Deadline to replace a selected athlete by an alternate: January 27, 2027
- Alternates must comply with all items in this document and fulfill administrative and financial obligations within 48 hours of notification
- After this date, substitutions may occur only for illness or injury and must be same-gender athletes competing in another weapon
DOPING CONTROL REQUIREMENTS
The CGC adopts the Canadian Anti-Doping Program (CADP) Covenant as a fundamental commitment to engage in a cooperative and collaborative effort to eliminate doping in sport and to support harmonized, coordinated and effective anti-doping measures in Canada.
Any Canada Games participant (athlete, coach, manager, technical support, or other person) found to have committed an anti-doping rule violation at the Canada Games (as determined pursuant to the CADP) will be subject to all of the penalties and consequences, as outlined in the Canadian Anti-Doping Program.
Other Requirements
- Athletes named to compete in the 2027 Canada Games will be required to comply with dress code regulations of the OFA Team.
- Athletes named to the 2027 Canada Games will only be allowed to use equipment that meets with the rules and regulations of the FIE.
PSO SELECTION CRITERIA
Athlete Selection Process and Criteria
The OFA will identify eligible athletes as follows:
Individual (1 athlete per weapon) – 6 athletes (3 males, 3 females)
Fencers ranked number 1 on the OFA Canada Games Rankings as of January 28, 2027, in the following weapons will qualify:
- Women’s Épée
- Women’s Foil
- Women’s Sabre
- Men’s Épée
- Men’s Foil
- Men’s Sabre
Canada Games Ranking Structure
| The 4 best out of the 5 OFA competition (Cadet/ Junior) | |
| Oct 17–18 | OFA Cadet Circuit #1 (Ottawa) |
| Nov 21–22 | Brock Open (Cadet & Junior) |
| Dec 5–6 | OFA Cadet Circuit #2 (Oshawa) |
| Jan 23–24 | OFA Cadet Circuit #3 (Stratford) |
| The best out of the 3 NAC (Cadet and Junior events) | |
| Oct 9, 12 | Cadet NAC (Orlando, FL) |
| Nov 20–23 | Cadet & Junior NAC (Columbus, OH) |
| The best 2 out of the 4 Canada Cup (Cadet and Junior events) | |
| Sept 25–27 | Cadet / Junior Canada Cup – Montreal |
| Nov 28–30 | Cadet / Junior Canada Cup – Vancouver |
Athletes interested in representing Ontario at the 2027 Canada Games should plan their competition schedule accordingly.
Points Grid
| Grid Points | OFA Circuit | NAC | Nationals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 100 | 400 | 200 |
| 2 | 80 | 320 | 160 |
| 3 | 60 | 260 | 130 |
| 5 | 45 | 210 | 110 |
| 6 | 40 | 200 | 100 |
| 7 | 35 | 190 | 90 |
| 8 | 30 | 180 | 80 |
| Top 16 | 20 | 120 | 55 |
| Top 32 | 15 | 75 | 35 |
| Top 64 | 10 | 45 | 20 |
| Top 128 | — | 25 | 10 |
| Top 256 | — | 10 | — |
Alternates
The number 2 ranked fencers in each weapon (as of February 1st, 2027) will be nominated as alternates.
Tie-Breaking
Should two (2) or more fencers be tied with the same point total, the tie will be broken as follows:
- Best NAC result (by points) among the designated NAC.
- Best OFA result (by points) among the designated OFA competitions.
- Last NAC result (by points) in the OFA Canada Games ranking.
Team Criteria
All athletes selected in an individual event will be automatically selected for the team event.
PERFORMANCE READINESS
Selections are conditional on the selected athlete following the OFA selection policies and competition and training camp plan.
- Taking part in the mandatory January training camp.
- Exemptions can be requested in advance of a specific event. Exemptions will be granted on a case-by-case basis once discussed between the High Performance Committee, the coaching staff of the Canada Games and the Technical Coordinator.
Injuries
If an athlete is injured or ill, their personal doctor must confirm readiness to compete. A doctor’s letter must be provided 2 days before departure.
Removal of an Athlete once selected
The HPC may, at any time, and at their discretion, disqualify an athlete from being considered for nomination to the Ontario Team or remove an athlete after selection based on current or past behavior of the athlete which is inconsistent with the CFF’s Code of Conduct.
The Ontario Team will advise the affected athlete, in writing, of his/her/their decision.
An athlete will be removed from consideration if he/she is in violation of any anti-doping policy or procedure as outlined by the CFF, World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), and the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES)
On Site Decision Making Authority (if it changes once the team is on site)
During the actual competition period onsite at the 2027 Canada Games all final decision-making authority will reside with the head coach, or the team leader in the absence of the head coach.
CONFIRMATION OF ENTRIES
- On January 25, 2027, the Ontario Fencing Association shall determine the athletes it proposes to nominate to the COC for positions on the 2027 Canada Games Team.
- Also, on January 25, 2027, the OFA shall determine the athletes it will select as alternates.
- Subject to any revisions required by an athlete’s decision to decline a nomination to be a member of the 2027 Canada Games Ontario Team, or by an athlete’s inability to participate at a competitive level due to a health-related curtailment of activities, the OFA shall submit its list of athlete and alternates being nominated to the COC for the 2027 Canada Games Ontario Team on January 25, 2026.
Canada Games Council Appeal Policy
Appeals relating to the Fencing Technical Package, or any decisions made by the CGC will be made in accordance with the CGC’s Appeal Policy.
STAFF SELECTION
Coaches are directed to the CFF Coach Development Model for comprehensive information on the Canadian Fencing Federation’s coaching pathway.
Coach Selection
- Coaches registered in the Canada Games electronic registration system must be certified under the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) Competition-Development Context (certified status) in one of the fencing disciplines of foil, epee or sabre.
- Coaches must be so certified no later than 90 days prior to the opening ceremony (November 29, 2026).
- Please note that “NCCP Competition-Development Certified, Not Renewed” does not qualify under the coaching standards for the 2027 Canada Winter Games.
- Please refer to the CGC’s Coach Certification Policy for additional information: For more information on the coach certification pathway for Fencing, please see Appendix 1.
TIMELINES SUMMARY
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| September 1, 2026 | Athlete selection policies published/circulated |
| September 1, 2026 – January 24, 2027 | Qualification period |
| January 25, 2027 | Team selected |
| January 27, 2027 | Athlete acceptance deadline; appeal deadline |
| January 28, 2027 | Deadline to sign Ontario Athlete Agreement |
FUNDING
The Ontario Team is dedicated to providing the necessary funds for an individual to compete at the 2027 Canada Games.
