Dawson Creek wins award for 2025 Para Cup hosting duties

DAWSON CREEK, B.C. — The City of Dawson Creek has taken home a Prestige Award honouring Canadian sporting tourism.

Last fall, the city hosted the 2025 Para Cup, an international para ice hockey invitational staged between the top four countries in the sport: Canada, China, Czechia and the United States.

On Wednesday, March 11th, the city’s hosting won the Prestige Award for international sport event with a budget of less than $2 million at an awards banquet in Mississauga, Ontario presented by Sport Tourism Canada.

According to a press release, Mayor Darcy Dober celebrated the victory, calling the award “a tremendous honour for our community.”

“Hosting the Para Cup showed what’s possible when a community comes together,” said Dober in the release.

“Our partnerships across the region, the dedication of our volunteers, host committee and the Ovintiv Events Centre team, as well as our strong relationship with Hockey Canada, all played a role in making this event such a success.”

The event was the last international para ice hockey tournament featuring the top four teams before the 2026 Paralympic Winter Games in Italy, which will conclude on Sunday, March 15th.

The Para Cup received two nominations for Prestige Awards – it was also in the running for sport legacy event of the year.