ST JOHN'S - The Canada Games reloaded on Sunday as the second wave of athletes arrived in St. John's ready and eager to add to their team's medal haul and the excitement building across the host city.

The first week set a high bar with some show-stopping moments from the pool to the hardwood as athletes and Games organisers displayed remarkable focus and determination in the face of disruptions caused by wildfires.

Team Ontario swimmer Isabella Cooper got the competition off to an explosive start destroying the Canada Games record in the 1,500 metres freestyle on way to claiming the first medal in the pool on opening night.

The first week closed on Saturday with a stunning upset, Alberta shocking Team Ontario 72-69 in the men's basketball final to bring their run of four consecutive gold to a screeching halt.

The second week will launch on a historic note when Newfoundland and Labrador and British Columbia meet in the Canada Games first women's baseball contest.

The two teams will have the Games's spotlight to themselves when they step out onto St. Pats Ball Park on Monday with no other sports in action.

It seems only right that the milestone moment happens in St. John is with Jaida Lee, who helped pave the way for women's baseball at the Canada Games by pitching for Newfoundland and Labrador's men's team three years ago in Niagara.

 Her jersey, and the ball she threw for her first pitch, sit in the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.

"I like to think I had some part in pushing that, but it's just really cool to see the progression that's happening for women's sports in general," Lee told the CBC. "You see it in a bunch of different sports, but baseball seems to be a little bit behind right now.

"But that's a really good ... step forward for women's baseball, especially in Canada."

The Games will be back firing on all cylinders on Tuesday with the athletic competition getting underway at Fortis Canada Games Complex while artistic swimming moves from the Winter to the Summer Games program.

Artistic swimming and diving take over The Works Aquarena from the swimmers who lit up the pool during Week One.   

Some of Canada's top young amateur golfers will tee it up at the Bally Haly Golf and Country Club while volleyball moves from the beach to indoors and cycling fans turn their attention from the road races to mountain biking at Pippy Park.

Men's softball and box lacrosse and women's soccer all swing into action on Tuesday.

Wrestling gets underway on Thursday where the territories will be looking to make a podium break through.

It was at the wrestling venue at the 2022 Games where Eekeeluak Avalak won Nunavut's one and only Canada Games gold medal and the territory will be pinning some of their hopes for a return to podium in St. John's.

The Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Yukon all have yet to put an athlete on the podium.

Week Two begins with Quebec and Ontario locked in a seesaw battle for top spot in the medal standings.

Quebec leads the Games table with 103 total medals, one more than Ontario.

But Ontario starts the week with the most gold 37, two more than Quebec with British Columbia in third on 27.

Newfoundland and Labrador are one of six provinces or territories still looking for a first gold.

Gavin Baggs gave the hosts reason to get excited on the opening night of the swimming taking silver in the 400m freestyle men's para but the hosts have had little to celebrate since Thomas Pelley adding silver in the Special Olympics 100m freestyle and a bronze in the 50m free.

Team Quebec swimmer Oliver Blanchard had a productive Games winning four individual gold; the 400, 800 and 1,500m in the pool and the 3,000m open water swim.

Of Quebec's 35 gold medals almost half (15) came from swimming and 11 from canoe and kayak.

Most of Team Ontario's table topping total were also mined from the pool with 20 gold.

Alyssa Smyth contributed nearly a quarter of that total getting to the top of the podium in five individual events.

British Columbia also got a five-gold medal performance from Ken Stroud in the pool but had a big day on Saturday from their teams with wins in men's baseball, women's softball and women's box lacrosse.

Team Nova Scotia ruled on the water their canoe/kayak athletes capturing 14 of their 19 gold along with winning three of four gold on offer in sailing.