In 1930, Hamilton became the first host of the British Empire Games, a name that seems anachronistic to us today but at the time signaled a widespread desire to celebrate the ties of nations sharing common values and perspectives.
In fact, it was a Canadian journalist, M.M. ‘Bobby’ Robinson, who was the instigator and driving force behind the games. Canada secured 54 medals at the Hamilton 1930 British Empire Games. However, its biggest haul was delivered at the Victoria 1994 Commonwealth Games with 128 medals. The Edinburgh 1986 Commonwealth Games produced Canada’s biggest tally of gold medals with 51 in total.
One year after the Hamilton 1930 British Empire Games, the Commonwealth of Nations was formed. Canada is one of six countries that have attended all editions of the Commonwealth Games since its inception in 1930.