Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Montreal 1976 Olympic Games

August 13, 2026

Over 280 sailors from across the country will gather in Kingston this week for the Sail Canada Youth Fest and Youth Championships (Club 420) as part of CORK International. The sailors will be competing in an Olympic atmosphere with many activities planned for the 50th anniversary of the Montreal 1976 Games, including the sailing competition in Kingston.

Passing the Torch. James Richardson: The Kingston sailing native who now lives in San Diego lit the flame at Portsmouth Olympic Harbour at the 1976 Opening Ceremonies m passes the torch to Will Keilty, the young Optimist sailor from Kingston who recently recorded the best-ever Canadian performance at the Optimist World Championship with a 7th position overall back in June, after being the first Canadian to win a gold medal at the Optimist North American Championship in May.

Tuesday, August 11: Torch parade in Kingston

The Montreal 1976 torch (replica) returned to Kingston on Tuesday, August 11. The occasion featured a commemorative parade that will include Canadian sailors who competed at the 1976 Games, other Olympians from Kingston as well as others.

Wednesday, August 12: Movie night outside of Portsmouth
The Portsmouth District Community Association hosted a free outdoor movie screening under the stars at Portsmouth Olympic Harbour, Wednesday, August 12, beginning at 8:30 p.m. This year’s feature film will be Cool Runnings (1993), the story of Jamaica’s underdog Olympic bobsled team at the Calgary 1988 Games, starring John Candy.

Thursday, August 13: Heritage Tour about the Montreal 1976 Games in Kingston

This edition of “Heritage Hour” in Kingston will be dedicated to the sailing events of the 1976 Montreal Games in Kingston. It will be held at Memorial Hall, on the second floor of City Hall, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. The presentation will include 1976 participants as athletes or in other capacities. “Heritage Hour” is an opportunity to discover Kingston’s rich history and to hear from speakers from across the community who will discuss the city’s past and living heritage. No registration is required, and everyone is welcome.

Friday, August 14: The Olympians’ Regatta
Featuring Canadian Olympians from multiple generations, the Olympian Regatta will showcase a remarkable depth of talent, experience, and competitive spirit. Medalists and non-medalists alike will take to the water for a friendly but spirited competition, creating an event that celebrates not only sailing excellence but also the friendships and connections forged through the sport. Olympians interested to be part of The Olympians’ Regatta can contact Patrick Godbout at patrick@sailing.ca.

Friday, August 14: Sail Canada 2026 Celebration of Sailing: Kingston 1976 Games Legacy
Sail Canada hosts the “Celebration of Sailing” event will be in Kingston, Ontario, on August 14, starting at 5pm at the Kingston Yacht Club. Reconnect with the Canadian Sailing Community and get your tickets now, as they are limited in number. The deadline to get tickets is August 1. Get yours now: https://members.sailcanada.org/2026celebrationofsailing.

Saturday, August 15: Community Exhibition at Portsmouth
A Community Exhibition will be held in the Portsmouth Olympic Harbour “Sailroom” on Saturday, August 15, from 1pm to 7pm.

These events are organized by Sail Canada and CORK / Sail Kingston, with the support of Tourism Kingston, the City of Kingston, Queen’s University, the Kingston Yacht Club, and the Portsmouth District Community Association.

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