In St. John’s, the 2025 Canada Games feature 19 official sports, but a 20th unofficial sport is taking place all around the city. Pin trading has become a ubiquitous activity at various venues, the Athletes’ Village, on the streets, and even at a designated trading booth located at Memorial University.
Athletes, identifiable by their accreditation lanyards, engage in pin trading, collecting commemorative pins unique to the Canada Games through exchanges with other participants. Each of the 13 provincial and territorial teams arrives equipped with their own distinct pins, eager to trade with counterparts, organizers, or sponsors.
Pin trading, a longstanding tradition at the Canada Games, has evolved significantly over the years. The Pin People, responsible for designing and producing the event’s pins, operate a trading booth where participants can exchange pins. The practice, aimed at fostering connections and conversations among attendees, has seen a surge in popularity with over 240 different pins available at the current Games in St. John’s.
Aidan Godin, a passionate pin trader and member of the Canada Games Council, has amassed an impressive collection exceeding 10,000 pins. He even integrated pin culture into a significant personal moment by proposing to his wife using a custom pin. Additionally, a special pin honoring his service dog, Peggy, who is retiring after these Games, has been created.
Pin trading serves as a platform for Godin to raise awareness about the role and significance of service animals like Peggy. The practice also extends to notable figures at the Games, such as Canada Games Council Chair Catriona Le May Doan and St. John’s Mayor Danny Breen, who have their own custom pins available for trade.
Diana Matheson, a Canada Games Hall of Honour member, emphasizes the social aspect of pin trading, encouraging athletes to engage in the activity as a means to connect with peers from different regions. Matheson believes that pin trading facilitates interaction, helping athletes overcome shyness and forge new friendships.
Luke Enns, a kayaker from Team Manitoba, values the stories behind the pins he collects more than the pins themselves. For him, the essence of pin trading lies in the connections made with fellow athletes, highlighting the personal and meaningful exchanges that occur through this unique sporting tradition.