As we inch closer to the Opening Ceremony, the unique look and feel of the 2025 Canada Games in St. John’s becomes clearer with each passing milestone.

The medals the athletes will compete for, the first signage they will see when they step off the plane, and some of the hottest items at our official merchandise store are just some of the pieces designed by local artists with the hope of expressing the beauty of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Here are the inspirations of the artists selected by the Host Society to help showcase our province this August.

Heather Coughlan

My main inspiration for the medal design was to create an image that celebrates a blend of our beautiful province and the incredible athletes who have come so far and accomplished so much. One of Newfoundland and Labrador's most recognizable icons is the iceberg, the idea of the 'tip of the iceberg' being what you see of every athlete at any competition came naturally from there.

I have always been a big fan of the Games and often dreamed of competing when I was in my teens. I remember the 1977 Games being such a huge event and we would watch the athletes coming and going from the events and it was so exciting. Art is my passion and when I saw the post looking for artists to design the medals, I instantly dove in with that same feeling of excitement. The idea that these amazing athletes from across the country are going home wearing a piece of my artwork with such tremendous pride is honestly overwhelming.

Kayla Williams

My design is rooted in the idea of balance between past and future—how Indigenous people carry the teachings, strength, and knowledge of our ancestors as we move through the modern world. The linocut block design on the left is a nod to traditional Inuit printmaking, representing where we come from. As the piece transitions into full colour, it reflects movement, sport, and growth—how we are thriving and shaping what’s ahead.

The flying goose represents my home of Goose Bay and our deep connection to the land. The northern lights swirling through the design reference an old story I grew up hearing: that if you whistle at them, they’ll come down and play ball with your head. And woven throughout the piece are all 19 sports featured in the 2025 Canada Games.

One very personal detail is the central runner, who has a prosthetic leg. I included this to honour my uncle, who is a swim coach in Labrador and lives with a prosthetic. I wanted to celebrate the resilience and representation of all bodies in sport—especially in rural communities where role models like him make such a powerful impact.

I got involved because I believe in using art to make people feel seen. The Canada Games bring youth from across the country together, and it felt important to show that Indigenous stories and strength belong at the heart of that celebration.

It’s a huge honour to have my artwork permanently installed at the St. John’s airport for the 2025 Canada Games. As a mixed Inuk artist from Labrador, it means a lot to represent my home, my culture, and my family in a public space where people from all over will pass through.

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Jeanien Cooper

My artwork is a reflection of my identity. Raised in North West River, Labrador, a small, semi-remote subarctic settlement on Nitassinan, the traditional territories of the Innu First Nation, a few kilometers outside the contemporary geopolitical boundaries of Nunatsiavut, the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Settlement area.

Inspired by my time with family, my Dad and Grandmother in particular, and community engaging in traditional physicality and movement, my vision for the Canada Games artwork, is a compilation of creations combined from my “life on the land” series which include tracking, hunting, fishing, trapping, gathering wood, harvesting water, berries, medicines, preparing, stretching, fleshing, drying, scraping hides, etc.

Having my artwork displayed/featured as a part of the Games provides me an opportunity to share the meaning embedded in traditional physical activity and games, beyond recreation and entertainment. It also demonstrates how Indigenous communities nurture holistic health and wellbeing through connection to land, place, community and culture with an emphasis on traditional physical activities, games and, movement on and with the land.

Melissa Francis

My designs for the 2025 Canada Games were inspired by a deep connection to both my Indigenous heritage and my Newfoundland upbringing. Two of the four pieces incorporate elements of my Mi’kmaq culture - I'm part of the Qalipu First Nation on my father’s side, from Ktaqmkuk (Newfoundland). The remaining two reflect my love for the vibrant, coastal beauty of this province I call home.

Each piece is a blend of bright, bold colours drawn from childhood memories - saltbox houses, fishing stages, wildflowers, lighthouses, and endless ocean views - paired with traditional Mi’kmaq regalia colours, sacred medicine symbolism, Indigenous hieroglyphics, and the intricate patterns of beadwork. Through these designs, I wanted viewers to feel the rich cultural tapestry that shapes who I am.

Having my work featured as a key part of the 2025 Canada Games in St. John’s means so much to me, both personally and professionally. As someone who has been working to establish themselves in the city’s competitive art scene for the past few years, this opportunity is a huge milestone. St. John’s has such a rich and vibrant arts community, and to be chosen to contribute to an event of this scale - one that brings together people from across the province, the country, and the world - is truly an honour.

Katie Hardy‍

I came across the call for artists and was immediately excited by the chance to contribute to such a meaningful and vibrant event here in St. John’s. I wanted to reflect elements of Newfoundland that hold personal significance for me, and the red buoy felt like the perfect symbol. It’s a classic image in Newfoundland and Labrador culture, representing resilience and staying afloat through rough waters. My poppy even had a buoy swing at his cabin (like a tire swing, but with a buoy) that I was completely obsessed with as a kid. That memory, paired with the spirit of perseverance and strength shown by Canada Games athletes, made the connection feel natural and genuine.

It's exciting to see St. John’s and the province as a whole represented in this way, and I can’t wait to see the athletes wearing the merch!