The CCAA (Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association) is the national governing body for collegiate sport in Canada. It is the country’s largest intercollegiate sport organization, with athletes competing in seven sports. Only the best attend the CCAA’s most prestigious events: nine annual national championships held for golf, soccer, cross-country running, badminton, men and women’s volleyball, men and women’s basketball, and curling.
Every national championship is hosted by a different CCAA member institution, making each one unique.
They provide sports fans with a live experience you simply can’t get watching from home; the athletes’ performances, friendly community atmosphere, and surrounding beauty of Canada’s outdoors are guaranteed to inspire spectators. In short, there’s no better way to see the best of what the country has to offer.
The CCAA’s upcoming events also offer tourists an opportunity to travel Canada off the traditional beaten path. As a bonus, national championship tickets are always affordable, and sometimes free.
The winter season kicks off with the 2012 CCAA Badminton National Championship, taking place March 1-3, 2012 in Kamloops, British Columbia. Known as Canada’s tournament capital, Kamloops is the perfect place to get inspired by Canada’s top athletes. When not taking in the tournament, get outdoors and enjoy hiking in MacArthur Island Park, rock climbing near Kamloops Lake, or bundle your visit with a trip to nearby Sun Peaks ski resort.
Stick around the west coast and you’ll be able to catch the 2012 CCAA Men’s Volleyball National Championships, hosted by Columbia Bible College March 8-10 in Abbotsford, B.C. The host team will be defending their 2011 national title, so the atmosphere surrounding the tournament will be electric.
Meanwhile, the 2012 CCAA Women’s Volleyball National Championships will also be hosted March 8-10 in the coastal city of Nanaimo, B.C. Witness the excitement of the championships then explore the rest of breathtaking Vancouver Island. We recommend surfing the Pacific Ocean along the wild beaches of Tofino, or visiting Victoria, the province’s lush capital city.
Dedicated hoops fans will want to plan their trip around one of the CCAA’s basketball tournaments, which enjoy a strong national following. Both take place March 15-17. The 2012 CCAA Men’s Basketball National Championships will be held in Truro, Nova Scotia, so expect some of Canada’s famous East Coast hospitality. Truro is a prime location to witness the famous tidal bore in the Bay of Fundy, and the coastal town is surrounded by parks and trails. It’s also close to Halifax, a beautiful port city brimming with maritime history.
The 2012 CCAA Women’s Basketball National Championships will be held the same weekend in Lethbridge, Alberta. If you’re a hockey fan, see the Lethbridge Hurricanes before they wrap up their regular season. Locals also recommend exploring two UNESCO World Heritage sites: Waterton Lakes National Park and Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, a historical Native American site.
Curling fans will get their fix at the 2012 CCAA Curling Invitational Championship in Peterborough, Ontario, March 21-24. Peterborough’s a charming example of small-town Ontario, and conveniently located in between Toronto, Canada’s biggest city, and Ottawa, the national capital. Both are brimming with history, shopping and entertainment. But if you’re looking for more sports action, tickets to an NHL hockey game are the ultimate score.
Whichever national championship you choose to attend, the CCAA welcomes you!
By Stephanie Wereley (CCAA Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association)