Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games - Day 1

On the opening day of Toronto's 2015 the Pan Am Games, His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, conducted an interview with CBC News Network Morning Show Host Heather Hiscox. He announced that he was opening the Games and will be attending sporting events to cheer on Team Canada.

The Pan Am Torch made its way into the Rogers Stadium

The Governor General had the great honour of officially opening the Games: "Tonight, I solemly declare the 17th Pan Americain Games open."

The Cirque du Soleil show "From Dream to Reality" entertained the athletes and the crowd.

More than 700 athletes will be representing our nation from July 10 to 26.

The Canadian Olympic Committee named Olympic bronze medalist Mark Oldershaw as the flag bearer to lead Team Canada’s largest ever Pan American Games delegation into the Opening Ceremonies.

In the evening, Their Excellencies attended the Opening Ceremonies of the 17th Pan Am Games.

Their Excellencies then had the opportunity to meet volunteers who are suppporting members of the Canadian Olympic Committee during the Games.

Joined by Canadian Olympic Committee executive members, government representatives and Team Canada’s chef de mission, Their Excellencies participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the official opening of the first-ever Canada House at the Pan Am Games, which will be home to Team Canada and their families during the Games.

The Toronto Global Forum is a non-profit organization fostering dialogue on national and global issues. It is held under the auspices of the International Economic Forum of the Americas, which organizes annual summits that bring together heads of State, central bank governors, ministers and global economic decision makers. The Forum also offers opportunities for business meetings aimed at promoting partnerships among major Canadian and international corporations.

The Governor General then attended the Toronto Global Forum: Pan American Edition. He had a sit-down interview with Janet de Silva, President and CEO of the Toronto Region Board of Trade, on innovation, skills development and competitiveness in the automotive sector.

The Governor General then delivered an address on innovating in the 21st century and on collaborating across borders at the LatAm Startups Conference 2.0. The Conference connects the Canadian and Latin American start-up ecosystems for a day of speakers, panels and workshops. Investors, start-ups and public policy officials from across the region were in Toronto, looking for ways to partner with Canada in the years ahead.

The Opening Ceremonies concluded with the lighting of the Pan Am cauldron to launch the Games.