On Wednesday, February 7, Kelowna Ultimate Players Society (KUPS) won the Tourism Kelowna Sport Hosting Excellence Award at the annual Community Sport Hero Awards, presented by PacificSport Okanagan and the City of Kelowna. I was proud to present the award on behalf of Tourism Kelowna, alongside Mayor Tom Dyas, to KUPS' General Manager, Sara Wikston, in recognition of the outstanding effort the club demonstrated in hosting the Canadian Ultimate Masters Championship and helping raise Kelowna's profile as a sport destination. 

Sport Hosting Award From left to right: Mayor Tom Dyas; Sara Wikston, General Manager, Kelowna Ultimate Players Society; and Sara Correa, Business Development, Sports & Events, Tourism Kelowna. Photo credit: Harry Burst, Marks of Distinction

KUPS bid and hosted the Canadian Ultimate Masters Championship in July 2023 at Mission Recreation Fields. The event, which took place over three days, saw 36 teams and 820 athletes from across the country compete against each other. Since its creation in the late '60s, Ultimate has gained worldwide recognition as a fast-paced, low-cost sport emphasizing sportsmanship through Spirit of the Game. The Canadian Ultimate Championships (CUC) Series is a series of provincial and national tournaments geared toward Ultimate teams. The CUC series takes place every summer, with teams from across the country competing to represent at the Canadian Ultimate Championships. 

Sporting events of this nature increase Kelowna's profile as a premier sporting destination and have a significant economic impact on our community. By recognizing individuals and clubs in their efforts to attract, bid, and secure events, Tourism Kelowna can further encourage others to think big and work with us to help enhance Kelowna’s sporting portfolio. 

If you have any questions about how Tourism Kelowna can support sporting events or our Major Event Strategy, please reach out to me at sara@tourismkelowna.com.