January 1 was a busy day for the GAA community in Canada, it was the day we laced up our runners, clipped on our step counters and got out walking to raise funds for ICAN through our Walk for Wellness fundraiser. Canada GAA members across the world took part in the fundraising walk, from the busy streets of New York, the sandy desert of Phoenix and the crispy cold villages in Tyrone as well as across Canada. A whopping $3500 was raised for ICAN and marked the start of a wonderful partnership between Canada GAA and ICAN.
The next couple of weeks saw clubs start indoor training with some teams hosting indoor leagues, Na Fianna Katarowki hosted a mini tournament with Ottawa Gaels, Peterborough and Eire Og Ottawa in attendance for the first competitive games of 2023. Well done to all for igniting the rivalries so early in the new year! In the Western Division, Calgary and Edmonton kicked off their indoor training with eyes firmly set on the first instalment of the Battle of Alberta next month, both clubs putting a big emphasis on recruitment of new players. In the Eastern Division the Montreal Shamrocks Super League started with some very competitive games on display, things heating up each week with all the teams putting in great efforts on the field.
In the far West, we saw the formation of the newest GAA club to the Vancouver Division;
Vancouver Wolfe Tones Hurling Club, a sign of the huge growth seen in Vancouver in recent years. This new club are sure to make the Vancouver hurling scene highly competitive and spicy!
We also welcomed a new youth club in the Western Division; Edmonton Wolfe Tones Og, sure to make the battle of Alberta competitive to players of all ages! Well done to all in Edmonton for getting the youth program off the ground for all the Og in the city!
Over in the East, it was time to party! St Vincent’s and St Pats put on their fancy suits and dresses and celebrated their Alumni and Awards nights, both clubs had plenty of reasons to celebrate a big 2022; St Pats marking 10 years of their Ladies football team and St Vincent’s just wanted an excuse to display the great penalty shootout of CNC 2022!