Pin pals: The 'unofficial sport' of the Canada Games is breaking down barriers

ST. JOHN'S — thither ar 19 sports on the programme for the 2025 Canada Games, but the unofficial 20th feature is underway perfectly everyplace in the city.

Pin trading is happening at every venue, the Athletes' Village, on the streets, and even at a special trading booth set up on the campus of Memorial University.

When you see an athlete that's not on the field of play, they're wearing a lanyard with their accreditation. That lanyard carries something else very important on it – the various Canada Games-specific commemorative pins they've collected by trading with other athletes and Games attendees.

Each of the 13 provincial and territorial teams come to the host city armed with their own specific pins, looking to trade their items in exchange for pins from other teams, organizers, or sponsors.

WATCH | Pin trading, explained:

Pin trading is the unofficial sport of the Canada Games

The tradition has been part of the Canada Games for decades, although it had very humble beginnings.

Lewis Taman works with The Pin People, the company that designs and manufactures pins for the Canada Games and teams and operates a trading booth at the Games.

"So it's a bit of a monster we created," Taman laughed. "At first, we started off with some pins that the athletes could trade. The idea being if someone from Newfoundland wanted to talk to someone from Saskatchewan, now they've got a pin to trade and a way to start that conversation. 

Taman said the practice was so popular that today there are upwards of 240 different pins to collect at the Games in St. John's and a collector's guide is part of the official app of the Canada Games. This is the biggest Games yet for pin trading, but the idea still remains the same as it always has: to open up communication between everyone in attendance.

"Pins are a great way to communicate. I've been a teacher for a number of years...and I know that one of the things that a lot of youth struggle with is making connections, making friends, and building that sort of social confidence," Taman said.

"The pins are a way for people to do that. People of all ages, genders, all kinds of ways of life, it isn't about who you are, per se, it's more about, 'hey, you've got a pin to trade, and now we can have a conversation.'"

There are some very passionate pin traders at these Games, and that includes Aidan Godin of the Canada Games Council.

Godin, originally from Timmins, Ont., began collecting and trading pins before his first Canada Games in 2019 and has since amassed a staggering collection.

"Last year [I] broke 10,000 pins," Godin said. "Some people have photo frames going up their staircase, I have pins."

As if the total wasn't enough to confirm his pin trading bona fides, Godin also incorporated pin culture in a milestone event in his personal life.

"I had The Pin People make a custom closing ceremony pin, and I proposed to my wife with a pin," Godin said.

The 2025 Games also feature another custom pin Godin had created for St. John's, and this one also commemorates someone very close to him – his service dog, Peggy, a black Labrador Retriever.

Godin, who is hard of hearing, has had Peggy by his side for more than eight years, but these Games will be her last before retirement.

"Peggy turned 10 in June, [and at ages] 10 to 11 is when a service dog retires, so this would be her last Games. She attended the '22 Games, the '23 Games, and now the '25 Games is going to be her last Games," Godin said. "I wanted a special pin to commemorate that, for her legacy."

Pin trading also helps Godin strike up conversations about what type of support service dogs like Peggy provide.

"I love talking to people, so it's a great way to get the conversation started. I found that Peggy's pin, it's actually been a great way for me to tell people about service dogs, like what they do, how they help, how they support," Godin said. "So I've got to talk a lot about the Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides.

"That's where I got Peggy from and [I get] to actually explain the different programs they have and what the different things that the dogs can actually help with, so it's a good educational piece that way."

The Peggy pin isn't the only custom pin up for trade at these Games – Canada Games Council Chair Catriona Le May Doan and St. John's Mayor Danny Breen are among those that have their own pins.

Canada Games Hall of Honour member Diana Matheson said one of her favourite memories of the Games was collecting and trading pins. She still has a lanyard adorned with one pin from each province and territory and advises any athletes that are at their first Canada Games to get involved in the phenomenon.

"Collect pins and trade pins, they're the currency of the games," Matheson said. "Pick the ones you like, [but] don't try and get them all. That's overwhelming."

Matheson also believes that pin trading helps athletes come out of their shell and meet new friends from their province and across Canada.

"You can't be too shy. You just got to go up and talk to someone and say, 'hey, you want to trade a pin?'," Matheson said. "Just go for it, just dive in."

Luke Enns is a leader on and off the water for Team Manitoba at the Canada Games

Team Manitoba kayaker Luke Enns is at his third Canada Games and has collected his fair share of pins. He said what sticks with him is not the pins themselves, but where they came from and the story they tell.

"I think the most important thing is just to meet the athletes that you're trading pins with," Enns said. "That's the special part about it.

"It's not so much the pins, but who you're trading them with."

Add some “good” to your morning and evening.

Get up to speed on what's happening in sports. Delivered weekdays.

---

---