Quispamsis is getting set to host hundreds of athletes as the East Coast Games kicks off its 10th anniversary edition from June 19 to 21, 2026. The event is the largest annual multi-sport gathering in Atlantic Canada, bringing roughly 2,750 competitors to venues across Saint John, Rothesay, and right here in Quispamsis.
Swimming events will be held at the Qplex on Randy Jones Way. The LEED Gold certified facility, which opened in 2011, offers an NHL-sized ice surface, an indoor walking track, and the outdoor 97.3 The Wave Pool. Lacrosse action is set for multiple venues including the Quispamsis Memorial Arena, while Centennial Ball Field and Meenan’s Cove Ball Field will welcome softball teams.
The 2026 edition features 20 sports in total and marks 10 times the games have actually run since launching in 2015. After cancellations in 2020 and 2021, the event came back in 2022 and has kept growing each year. Organizers say the weekend pours about $1 million into the local economy through hotel stays, restaurant visits, and shopping by visiting families.
Among this year’s athletes is Rothesay’s own Paul Gautier, a masters competitor fresh off winning the 2025 Olga Kotelko Award as Canada’s top field athlete in masters athletics. He’s entered in five throwing events. The games welcome participants ranging from eight years old right up to masters categories, with the focus squarely on community-level competition.
The East Coast Games was founded by Bill MacMackin and the late Dave McPherson, who wanted to create a showcase reminiscent of the 1985 Canada Summer Games hosted in Saint John. MacMackin, now co-chair, was recognized nationally as Sport Event Volunteer of the Year in 2017 for his work with the games.
