Kitchener-Waterloo·Photos

Hundreds rally behind region's Canada Summer Games bid

Waterloo region welcomed the Canada Games evaluation committee on Tuesday . Hundreds from the community gathered in front of TheMuseum in downtown Kitchener during a lunch-hour pep rally.

Evaluation committee in Waterloo region to review venues, get a sense of the community

Waterloo region welcomed the Canada Games evaluation committee on Tuesday. Many form the community gathered in downtown Kitchener to show their support. The national anthem was sung and the Canadian flag was unfurled. (Carmen Ponciano/CBC)

Hundreds gathered for a noon-hour pep rally in downtown Kitchener to welcome the Canada Summer Games evaluation committee on Tuesday.

Sporting red and blue tuques and holding up signs, the crowd cheered when a massive Canada flag was unfurled that covered the front of TheMuseum and sang the national anthem.

"I think they are impressed by the passion of the community, our the sense of collaboration and we know those are some of our strengths," Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic said.

"An event like this it certainly allows us to provide a visual to them to what we described in terms of community spirit."

Many took to social media to show their support by using the #WeRally2021. The hashtag even made it to number one on Twitter at one point.

The evaluation committee visited several key venues such as those at the University of Guelph, the University of Waterloo, Wilfrid Laurier University and Chicopee Ski and Summer Resort.

Waterloo region is competing against Sudbury, Niagara and Ottawa for the chance to host the 2021 Canada Summer Games.

The Canada Games evaluation committee will head to the Niagara region on Wednesday. The committee will reveal who will host the 2021 Canada Games on March 30.

Students from Cameron Heights Collegiate were amongst many in the community who gathered in front of TheMuseum in downtown Kitchener to show their support. (Carmen Ponciano/ CBC News)
Canada Summer Games bid evaluation committee chairperson Wayne Carew spoke to the community during their visit to Waterloo region on Tuesday. (Carmen Ponciano/CBC News )
Students from the Waterloo Region District School Board also gathered to show their support and led the crowd in the singing of O Canada. (Carmen Ponciano/ CBC News)
Those attending the pep rally said they feel the 2021 Canada Summer Games should be hosted in Waterloo region. (Carmen Ponciano/CBC News)
Members of the Canada Summer Games evaluation committee visited several key venues in Waterloo region and Guelph on Tuesday before heading to downtown Kitchener. (Carmen Ponciano/ CBC News)