Prince George picked to host Nordiq Canada 2026 Olympic Winter Games Trials

Some early Christmas presents are going to be buried under the snow at Otway Nordic Centre in December for Canada’s top cross-country ski racers.

They’ll have to earn them when they come to Prince George for the Nordiq 2026 Canada Olympic Winter Games Trials, Dec. 10-16.

The races will determine who gets the wear the maple leaf at the Olympics in Milano-Cortina, Italy, Feb. 6-22, 2026.

Beckie Scott, the 2002 Olympic sprint champion and the first Canadian ever to win an Olympic cross-country skiing medal, was on hand at the Caledonia lodge at Otway to make the announcement of the trials Friday afternoon.

“Prince George is a model for what community sport development can achieve,” said Scott, the CEO of Nordic Canada. “Caledonia Nordic Ski Club has repeatedly demonstrated their ability to deliver world-class competitions and we are proud to bring this pivotal moment in our Olympic pathway to such a dedicated and enthusiastic host.”

“I applaud you and the community for bringing this event together and for making this very special for the young people who will come here to participate and compete at the Olympic Games,” Scott said. “I know there’s a lot of work ahead of you but it’s a fantastic event to host.”

Scott was just getting established internationally when she came to Prince George to race in the junior national championships at Otway in the mid-1990s. She says the Caledonia club has proven it has  world-class trails hosting events like the World Paranordic Championships the city responds with a volunteer base needed to successfully host high-profile events.  

“For our club and for Prince George, this is more than just an event,” said Caledonia Club event chair Kevin Pettersen. Caledonia Nordic is already recognized on the international stage, but hosting the Olympic Trials takes us to an Olympic level and gives us an opportunity to showcase northern BC to the world. None of this would be possible without the volunteers who power every competition we host, and we hope this entire community will get behind this incredible event.”

The Caledonia club has hosted such events as the World Para Nordic championships (in 2019 and 2023), Para Biathlon World Championships (2023), Nordiq Canada selection trials (2023) and world junior biathlon trials (2024) and that put Otway at the head of the list for the Olympic trials.

“It has excellent facilities and it’s a known organizing committee with the capacity and the competency to pull off an important event like this,” said Scott. “The location is great, the facility is world-class. With the roller ski trails  this could become a real destination for skiers to train in the summer as well. Obviously the organizing committee is very highly regarded in the community, trusted, respected  and proven performers when it comes to organizing incredible events.”

The trials will feature six consecutive days of racing.

“The announcement marks a historic first for the city,” said Mayor Simon Yu. “To be selected to host the Olympic trials is the first time and I’m sure there will be many times because of it.

“I can’t wait to see the young athletes come here to compete for the spot. Later on we can watch them here and then watch them on TV perhaps win a medal and then we can say we were art of that.”

Lhedili T’enneh First Nation chief Dolleen Logan said the continued improvements to the nordic facilities at Otway are an inspiration to the Indigenous community in the region and she says the Caledonia club’s involvement in hosting high-profile events like the Olympic trials could result in more of her nation’s members taking advantage of the ski trails, winter and summer, with the addition of a paved trail at Otway that opened this year.

“We have seen our members join the athletes and participate, utilizing the facilities, learning more about nordic skiing, biathlon and roller skiing,” said Logan. “It’s my hope to see increased participation from our nation’s athletes in these events and with the trials coming and everyone bringing our youth … will inspire them to come out here and try.

“Children need sports and as we all live in the North, it’s winter sports. With the Olympic trials here  I’ll definitely be bringing more of our youth out here. I know you will be looking for a lot of volunteers so I’ll be a wrangling our membership for volunteers.”

Canada now has Olympic berths for five women and four men. That could change, based on World Cup race results early in the season. Scott is hopeful at least five of each gender will get to go to Italy to ensure each has a backup athlete for the team relays.  

Six men and four women have been named to the senior team. The event could attract as many as 150 athletes.

“I think for athletes across Canada, any opportunity to race against the best in the country is one they will probably jump on,” said Scott.

Katherine Stewart-Jones of Ottawa is the only Canadian skier pre-qualified for the Olympic team. Scott said several of the athletes vying for Olympic berths who could do quite well in Italy.

“We’re knocking at the door, we have  some young men and young women right now who have medal potential in the sprint relay and the team relay, based on last year, they’re just on the cusp,” said Scott.

“Liliane Gagnon is ranked second in the world in under-23. Alison Mackie won two bronze medals at the world juniors last year, and we have some of our more veteran men, like Antoine Cyr and Olivier Léveillé. They’re seasoned racers and they’ve already been to the Olympics.”

The 50-year-old Scott, a native of Vegreville, Alta., now based in Canmore, is three months into her term as CEO of Nordiq Canada having retired from ski racing in 2006. She finished the 2005-06 season ranked second in the FIS world standings, celebrating a silver medal win that year with Sara Renner in the Olympic team sprint silver.