Alberta will be represented by 45 Alberta-based athletes at the 2026 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in Italy, as Team Canada prepares to compete on the world stage in Milano and Cortina.
The athletes come from communities across the province and will compete in events ranging from alpine skiing and curling to hockey, luge and para Nordic skiing. The Olympic Games run from Feb. 6 to 22, followed by the Paralympic Games from March 6 to 15.
Marc Kennedy, a member of Team Canada’s men’s curling team, said provincial support has played a major role in helping him reach the Olympic stage.
“I am so honoured and proud to represent my hometown of St. Albert and the province of Alberta at the Olympic Games in Cortina, Italy,” Kennedy said. “I am forever grateful for the support that Podium Alberta has provided me throughout my curling career.”
The province’s government says programs aimed at high-performance sport help reduce financial barriers for elite athletes while they train and compete internationally.
“Alberta is home to some of Canada’s most committed and high-achieving athletes, and we are thrilled to see them take their talents and commitment to the 2026 Winter Games,” said Andrew Boitchenko, Alberta’s Minister of Tourism and Sport. “Their hard work, resilience and passion inspire us all.”
Through the Podium Alberta grant program, the province distributes $750,000 annually to eligible high-performance athletes. In 2025, the program supported 240 athletes across 40 sports, helping cover costs tied to training, coaching, equipment and competition. From 2022 to 2025, 38 athletes now headed to the 2026 Games received support through the program.
Beyond direct athlete funding, the province has also invested in training infrastructure used by national-level competitors. The province has committed $27.1 million to expand and modernize the Canmore Nordic Centre, a facility known for its high-performance trails, biathlon range and consistent winter conditions. The centre regularly hosts international competition and serves as a training base for Olympic and Paralympic athletes.
Mark Arendz, who will compete for Team Canada in para Nordic skiing, said those investments have been critical to maintaining long-term performance.
“It is a privilege to be named to my fifth Paralympic Winter Games team, which speaks to the consistency of my training,” Arendz said. “The majority of that training occurs in Alberta through investments like the Canmore Nordic Centre and support for individual athletes through Podium Alberta.”
In total, 84 Albertans competed at the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing, including 77 Olympians and seven Paralympians. The 2026 Winter Games will also mark the first time Team Canada fields more women than men across Olympic winter sport events.
Albertans will be able to follow and cheer on Team Canada throughout the Games, with medal-round events broadcast live and select restaurants, bars and pubs permitted extended liquor service during Olympic competition, subject to provincial guidelines.
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