Williams Lake‘s Kai Pare to lead Team BC into Closing Ceremony at 2025 Canada Games
August 24, 2025
Wrestler Kai Pare has been named Team BC’s flag bearer for the Closing Ceremony of the 2025 Canada Summer Games after winning a pair of gold medals in St. John’s.
The Williams Lake native was a standout during B.C.’s dominant wrestling run at the 2025 Canada Games that saw them claim 20 medals, including nine gold, eight silver, and three bronze medals in St. John’s. She helped the women claim gold in the team event without conceding a single point to an opponent before taking home individual gold in Women’s 59 kg.
“It’s such an honour to even be nominated—that the coaches and the people around me thought that I was good enough to be nominated,” said Pare.
While winning two gold medals was a proud achievement for Pare, she highlights the uniqueness of the Canada Games experience and the relationships that it helps to build as two of her favourite parts of the last week.
“When we got here, all the girls from B.C. were from separate teams so we weren’t that close, but we all got super close,” said Pare. “Even with wrestlers from other provinces and B.C. athletes from other sports, we all got really close.”
For coach Gurjot Kooner, Pare’s dominance combined with her commitment to teamwork made it an easy decision to nominate her.
“Kai’s ability to lift those around her while performing at the highest level makes her the perfect choice to represent Team BC as flag bearer,” said Kooner. “She is a great representative thanks to her leadership, resilience, and unmatched dedication.
“Beyond her athletic achievements, she inspires her teammates with her leadership, humility, and commitment to the sport. She led our team chants and always found ways to lift the team up.”
Prior to attending the Canada Games, Pare won gold in the Cadet women’s division at the 2025 Canadian Wrestling Championships and was the 2024 U17 National Champion, among other provincial and national accolades.
The Closing Ceremony for the 2025 Canada Games will take place at 7:00 p.m. NDT (2:30 p.m. PT) at the Mary Brown’s Centre in St. John’s and will be broadcast live on candagames.tv and CBC Gem.
