Toronto had a special visitor last week. The United Kingdom’s Prince Henry of Wales — better known as Prince Harry — was in town to announce that Toronto will host the Invictus Games in 2017.
The Invictus Games are similar to the Olympics or the Paralympics, except that the competitors are all soldiers–most of them wounded from combat.
Invictus is Latin for unconquerable. The Games will show that these “wounded warriors” have not been conquered by their physical and emotional wounds. The Games are designed to help soldiers cope with, and heal from, their health challenges.
In 2014, Prince Harry helped to start the first Invictus Games. They were held in London, England. This year, the Invictus Games are in Orlando Florida; they take place this week.
Next year, 2017, is a special year for Canada. It marks the country’s 150th anniversary. It also marks the 100th anniversary of an important battle in the First World War (WWI) that took place on Vimy Ridge, in France.
In 1917, Canadians fought the Germans there in a battle that was thought to be unwinnable. That victory by the Canadians helped to turn the tide of the war.
The Prince was joined on stage in Toronto by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who helped to kick off the 2017 Games, and the Premier of Ontario, Kathleen Wynn, as well as Team Canada–the competitors who will represent Canada in Orlando.
Not only will there be great sporting events next year, such as sledge hockey (see photo), but there will be many activities for Canadian students and others who want to know more about the country’s military history.
The 2017 Invictus Games will run from September 26 to 30. Team Canada competes this week (May 8-12) at the 2016 Invictus Games in Orlando, Florida.
Related links
The Invictus Games 2017 website (Toronto, Ontario)
The Invictus Games 2016 website (Orlando, Florida)
CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS
By Jonathan Tilly
Writing/Discussion Prompt
How may the qualities that veterans possess help them become great athletes?
In your opinion, which quality is most significant?
Reading Prompt: Responding to and Evaluating Texts
Do you think the Invictus Games will change the public’s awareness of veterans and the challenges that some veterans face when they return from war? Do you think it will succeed in “helping soldiers cope with, and heal from, their health challenges?”
Primary
Express personal opinions about ideas presented in texts (OME, Reading: 1.8).
Junior
Make judgements and draw conclusions about the ideas and information in texts and cite stated or implied evidence from the text to support their views (OME, Reading: 1.8).
Intermediate
Evaluate the effectiveness of both simple and complex texts based on evidence from the texts (OME, Reading: 1.8).
Language Feature: Nicknames
Prince Henry of Wales is better known as Prince Harry. In other words, his official name is Prince Henry of Wales but Prince Harry is his nickname. The terms below are nicknames. Try to figure out–ask someone or research it–what their official name is. In brackets, beside each one, is a hint to help you.
The Biebs (music)
The Tube (transit)
The Big Apple (American city)
POTUS (person)
Hogtown (Canadian city)
The Habs (sports)
