BACKGROUND & POLICY FRAMEWORK

Since 1980, when Camrose hosted the first Alberta Senior Games, Alberta 55 Plus and its predecessor organization have delivered provincial games programming for older adults across Alberta. Historically, these competitions were offered in alternating formats and, since 2007, have generally been organized as Summer Games in odd-numbered years and Winter Games in even-numbered years. The Winter Games are typically scheduled between January and April to support qualification for the Canada 55+ Games, which are ordinarily held in August of even-numbered years.

Recent experience has demonstrated that host communities are generally available for the Summer Games, including the expanded Alberta 55+ Provincial Games format hosted by Leduc in August 2025. By contrast, securing host communities for the Winter Games has become increasingly challenging because several winter activities require additional facilities, specialized venues, and expanded age or category groupings. In response, Alberta 55 Plus has established a policy framework that preserves the Summer and Winter Games as the primary provincial competitions while permitting the use of Stand-Alone Championships and Bonus Events where necessary to ensure continued program delivery. The provisions governing these arrangements are set out in Sections A.1 through A.4.

1. Alberta 55+ Provincial Games shall provide members with organized competitive opportunities in a range of approved activities, including events that may serve as qualifiers for the Canada 55+ Games. Host communities may be approved to conduct designated components of Alberta 55 Plus programming in accordance with this policy.
2. Alberta 55 Plus may approve non-qualifying Bonus Provincial Events in off-cycle years between the Summer and Winter Games in order to expand participation opportunities for members at the provincial level, subject to Section A.4.
3. Alberta 55 Plus affirms the Summer Games and Winter Games as the principal provincial competition formats. Stand-Alone Championships and Bonus Events shall operate as supplementary mechanisms to support delivery where required.
4. Stand-Alone Championships and Bonus Events are established to provide host communities with flexibility to deliver approved competitions that are not included within a Summer or Winter Games program during the normal competition cycle.
5. In this policy, “(Q)” after an event means it is a qualifier for the next Canada 55+ Games. The host of the upcoming national Games may also choose a limited number of additional events from the optional event list. Events that may be selected as optional national events are marked “q-opt.”
6. Where a host community cannot be secured for either the Summer Games or the Winter Games, Alberta 55 Plus may authorize approved events to be delivered as Stand-Alone Championships and/or Bonus Events. During a Canada 55+ Games cycle, designated Stand-Alone events may also serve as qualifying competitions.For the purposes of this policy, the term “open” shall be interpreted as follows: 
7. • a) “Open” may mean unlimited entry, whereby participants in swimming, cycling, and track and field may register directly for the Provincial Games without first advancing through zone qualification, while still registering through their zone activity directors.  
   • b) For the purposes of Sections A.3.2 and A.4.4, “open” also includes events for which participants may register directly with the host, subject to any registration forms, notice requirements, and approvals otherwise set out in this policy. 
   • c) In non-qualifying years, “open” may also refer to roster flexibility in slo-pitch and hockey, permitting a team to add players from other zones to complete its roster, provided prior approval is obtained from the president of the zone or zones in which those players reside.
8. Except as permitted under item 7(c) all team-event participants in Alberta 55 Plus competitions shall be drawn from the same zone.

A.1 Alberta 55 Plus Summer Provincial Games

 (Qualifiers for Canada 55+ Games)

1. Each Alberta 55 Plus Summer Provincial Games program shall include the compulsory events listed below, subject to the availability of suitable facilities. A “Q” indicates that the event is a qualifier for the Canada 55+ Games. Cycling, swimming, and track and field shall be designated as unlimited-entry events, meaning that zone qualification is not required; however, all competitors in these events must register through their zone activity directors.
   • Bocce
   • Bridge - Contract (q-opt)
   • Cornhole (q-opt)
   • Crafts
   • Cribbage (Q)
   • Cycling (q-opt)
   • Floor Shuffleboard (q-opt)
   • Golf (Q)
   • Military Whist
   • Photography
   • Pickleball 3.5 and 4.0 (Q)
   • Pool - 8 Ball (Q)
   • Slo-Pitch (Q)
   • Swimming (Q)
   • Track & Field (Q)

2. Subject to Board approval, host communities for the Summer Games may also consider the following options:

A.2 Alberta 55 Plus Winter Provincial Games

((Qualifiers for Canada 55+ Games)

1. Because several Winter Games activities attract high participation and require significant facility capacity, host communities may determine that certain events cannot be accommodated within a single Winter Games program and should instead be delivered as Stand-Alone Championships under Section A.3. Examples include hockey, which contains multiple male and female age categories, bowling where lane availability may be limited, and pickleball where court availability may constrain participation. Alpine skiing has traditionally been delivered in the Calgary area because of facility availability; however, a Winter Games host community may include Alpine skiing and/or cross-country skiing in its bid where suitable facilities exist. The availability of Stand-Alone events is intended to improve the feasibility of securing Winter Games hosts by allowing communities to bid in a manner aligned with available facilities while maintaining the Winter Games as a core provincial competition stream. 
   • Arts
   • Bowling - 5 pin (Q)
   • Bridge - Duplicate (q-opt)
   • Creative Writing
   • Cross Country Skiing
   • Alpine Skiing
   • Darts
   • Euchre
   • Floor Curling
   • Hockey (Q)
   • Ice Curling (Q)
   • Pickleball 2.5 & 3.0 (Q)
   • Pool - Snooker
   • Sturling Curling
2. Subject to Board approval, host communities for Winter Games may also consider the following options:
   • Under the Culture category, a host community may also include crafts and photography if those activities were not offered as part of the Summer Games program
   • Optional events that may be added to the Winter Games are listed below. Standard registration and zone qualification procedures through zone activity directors shall apply unless the Provincial Board or Games Committee approves a modified process for events with lower participation. For some non-qualifying events with smaller entry numbers, zone qualification may be waived where appropriate.
   • • Badminton (q-opt)
     • Scrabble (q-opt)
     • Table Shuffleboard
     • Tennis (Q)
     • Stick Curling (q-opt)

A.3 Stand-Alone Provincial Championships

((Possible Qualifiers for Canada 55+ Games)

1. The activities identified in Sections A.1 and A.2 constitute the standard Summer and Winter Games event programs. If any of those events are not delivered within the regular Games cycle, they may be grouped together or hosted separately as Stand-Alone Championships. Communities bidding to host Stand-Alone Championships may also request approval to include additional Alberta 55 Plus activities as Bonus Events in accordance with Section A.4.
2. For non-qualifying Stand-Alone competitions, the host may require participants to register either directly with the host or through their zone activity directors. Zone activity directors shall determine whether a qualifier is required and, where applicable, shall forward registrations and fees to the host zone activity director. Medals shall be awarded to winners at approved provincial events.
   
3. Stand-Alone events that are not included in the Summer Games and/or Winter Games may, where designated by Alberta 55 Plus, serve as qualifiers for the next Canada 55+ Games.
4. If any of the following events are not held as part of the Summer Games or Winter Games, a host committee may submit a bid to the Provincial Board to deliver one or more of them as a Stand-Alone Championship or as a Bonus Event under Section A.4. Other Alberta 55 Plus activities not listed below may also be considered for Stand-Alone or Bonus delivery, subject to Board approval.
   • Bowling (Q)
   • Curling (Q)
   • Stick Curling
   • Sturling Curling
   • Golf (Q)
   • Hockey (Q)
   • Pickleball (Q)
   • Skiing - Cross Country / Alpine
   • Culture (Arts, Photography, Crafts, Creative Writing)

A.4   Alberta 55 Plus “Bonus” Provincial Events 

(Non-Qualifiers for Canada 55+ Games)

1. To expand member participation at the provincial level, Alberta 55 Plus has established the Bonus Event category. Bonus Events are intended to supplement, and not replace, the regular Summer and Winter Games. Depending on the event and anticipated participation, organizers may use zone activity directors in the registration process or may permit direct registration with the host.
   
2. Bonus Events should ordinarily be offered in off-cycle years between Summer Games and Winter Games qualifying competitions.
   
3. Host communities may propose one or more events from the full list of Alberta 55 Plus activities. Such bids must be approved by the Board before the events may be designated as Provincial Events and before provincial medals may be awarded.
   
4. Participants in Bonus Events must be Alberta 55 Plus members. Registration may be submitted directly to the host or through zone activity directors. Where direct registration is used, the prescribed event registration forms shall be completed and copied to the relevant activity directors. Bonus Events do not qualify participants for the Canada 55+ Games. For events with larger anticipated entry numbers, zones may conduct qualifying rounds before forwarding entries and fees to the provincial organizers.
   
5. For both Stand-Alone Championships and Bonus Events, hosts may request reasonable modifications to event delivery. Opening and closing ceremonies may be optional, banquets may be replaced by lunches, and the standard Alberta 55 Plus registration fee may be adjusted to reflect the cost structure of the event. Alberta 55 Plus recognizes that flexibility in delivery supports the successful operation of supplementary provincial competitions.
   
6. Zones are encouraged to organize local or regional “Fun Competitions” for their members and neighboring zones throughout the year. These activities are not provincial competitions, do not require Board approval, and do not award provincial medals.

A.5 Guidelines For Conducting Provincial Games

1. The Alberta 55+ Summer Provincial Games shall be held in odd-numbered years and are generally scheduled during the third week of August. The Alberta 55+ Winter Games shall normally be held between January and April of even-numbered years.
   
2. The bid process and evaluation criteria shall be administered separately for each provincial competition category: Summer Provincial Games, Winter Provincial Games, Stand-Alone Championships, and Bonus Provincial Events.
   
3. A community intending to submit a bid to host a provincial competition shall provide a letter of intent to the President of Alberta 55 Plus and shall submit a completed bid by the deadline established by Alberta 55 Plus.
   

4. Any Stand-Alone event not included in the Summer Provincial Games or Winter Provincial Games program shall remain open for bid, subject to Board approval.

5. Bonus Provincial Events should be scheduled in off-cycle years between the Alberta 55+ Summer and Winter Provincial Games. Depending on expected participation, zone qualification may be waived, and registrations and fees may be sent directly to the host community, provided zone activity directors are notified. For events with higher anticipated participation, the host may require zone activity directors to be involved in promotion and registration.
   

6. Vacancies in the provincial Summer and Winter Games shall be filled by the Games Committee from zone participants. Vacancies for the Canada 55+ Games shall be filled by the Canada Games Committee from provincial and/or zone competitors. Vacancies in Stand-Alone Championships and Bonus Events shall be filled by the host committee.
   

7. The bid process shall include the following steps, in conjunction with the Hosting Guidelines Brochure:
   

B.1 PARTICIPATION IN ALBERTA 55 PLUS ACTIVITIES

Alberta 55 Plus is committed to encouraging older adults to remain active and engaged through participation in association-sponsored activities. This section sets out the participation rules that apply to Alberta 55 Plus programming, including the Alberta 55+ Summer Provincial Games, Alberta 55+ Winter Provincial Games, Stand-Alone Provincial Championships, and Bonus Provincial Events.

1. All participants in zone-sponsored activities shall hold current membership for the applicable membership period and shall be members of the zone in which they are competing. All participants in provincial competitions must also hold current Alberta 55 Plus membership.
2. Members may participate in multiple summer- and winter-related activities at the zone and provincial levels, subject to scheduling constraints and the eligibility rules set out in this policy. Where a member attains first place in more than one qualifying event, that member shall notify the provincial coordinator within one week of the most recent qualifying event which activity they intend to enter at the national level. The runner-up in the other qualifying event shall then be offered the opportunity to advance.
3. Participation in more than one activity at the zone and provincial levels shall only be permitted where scheduling allows.
4. For provincial competitions in which events are held at one location during the same period, members may participate in only one competitive event category. Members may, however, register and compete in more than one event within that category where the applicable rules permit. For example, a participant may compete in singles and doubles or mixed doubles in tennis, badminton, and similar activities. In track and field and swimming, participants may compete in up to four events within that competition, in addition to relays. In bowling, a member may compete in both team and singles play if scheduling permits.
5. Members who participate in the Alberta 55+ Summer Provincial Games and Alberta 55+ Winter Provincial Games may also participate in Stand-Alone Provincial Championships and Bonus Provincial Events, subject to eligibility and scheduling requirements.
6. Members who register at the zone level in cycling, swimming, and track and field shall have unlimited-entry status for the Alberta Provincial Games, meaning that no zone qualification is required. These events are designated as direct-entry events to encourage broader participation at the provincial level.
7. The age category in which a participant competes shall be determined by the participant’s age as of December 31 of the year of the competition. Members may compete in a lower age grouping, but not in a higher age grouping. Where skill levels apply, members shall compete at the appropriate skill level. Members may compete in a higher skill level in events such as pickleball, but not in a lower skill level. Members who qualify for the Canada 55+ Games shall compete nationally in the same age category used during the provincial qualification process.

C.1 : ALBERTA 55 PLUS PROVINCIAL GAMES AND CANADA 55+ GAMES

This section explains the relationship between Alberta 55 Plus provincial competitions and the Canada 55+ Games qualification process. Since the first Canada 55+ Games  held in Regina in 1996, participating provinces have organized qualifying competitions to determine representation at the national level. Alberta accordingly conducts the Alberta 55+ Summer Provincial Games in odd-numbered years and seeks to complete most winter-related qualifying activities by the end of April in even-numbered years. The Canada 55+ Games are normally held in the latter part of August in even-numbered years. This section clarifies how qualifying and non-qualifying events are administered within that framework.

1. Alberta 55 Plus includes several additional activities in zone and provincial competitions beyond the mandatory and optional events recognized at the Canada 55+ Games. These activities are classified at the Alberta zone and provincial levels as non-qualifying events.
2. The age bracket in which a member competes shall be determined as of December 31 of the year of the provincial competition in that event. If a member qualifies to advance to the national competition, that member shall compete in the same age category in which they qualified.
3. The activity director from each zone shall forward zone winners and other eligible qualifiers to the provincial coordinator in accordance with established registration procedures.
4. Because of the close relationship between the Alberta 55+ Provincial Games and the Canada 55+ Games, changes to the mandatory event list at the national level may result in corresponding changes to Alberta’s provincial event list in future cycles. In addition, the optional events selected by the national host may be added to the Alberta 55+ Provincial Games program and may vary from cycle to cycle.
5. A list of Canada 55+ Games events, current as of 2026 is set out below.

• Mandatory List of Events

• Bowling

• Cribbage

• Curling

• Darts

• Golf

• Hockey

• Pickleball

• Pool (8 ball)

• Slo-Pitch

• Swimming

• Tennis

• Track & Field

• Optional List of Events

• Badminton

• Cycling

• Horseshoes

• Bridge

• Floor Shuffleboard

• Scrabble

• Cornhole

• Stick Curling

• Disc Golf

• Soccer

• Host (Choice)