The IBU Regional Event and Biathlon Canada Western Canadian Championships, presented by Canadian Tire Prince George, along with the Odlum Brown B.C. Provincial Championships, will take place March 6–8, 2026, at the Caledonia Nordic Ski Club. In conjunction with the event, the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) is offering a $2,000 tuition credit to eligible competing athletes, continuing a program the university pioneered with Caledonia Nordic in 2023.
The combined event will draw 150 athletes from across Canada and the United States, representing the full spectrum of biathlon competition from developing youth competitors to national team athletes. International Biathlon Union (IBU) sanctioning places Prince George alongside a select group of venues capable of hosting continental-level biathlon events.
Admission is free. Community members are encouraged to come out and cheer athletes in person at Caledonia Nordic Ski Club. Competitions will also be live streamed on the Biathlon Canada YouTube channel at:
youtube.com/@biathloncanada4263
UNBC Extends $2,000 Tuition Credit to Competing Athletes
In a significant show of support for athlete development, UNBC is again offering a $2,000 tuition credit to eligible competing athletes continuing a program it introduced at the 2023 Nordiq Canada Selection Trials and Nordiq Cup, also hosted at Caledonia Nordic in Prince George. That program marked the first time in Nordiq Canada history that a post-secondary institution had offered a tuition credit to participating athletes.
The credit, valued at $1,000 per semester for an athlete’s first two consecutive semesters of undergraduate study at UNBC, is open to all competing athletes who wish to pursue a degree at the university. A UNBC student ambassador will be on site at the venue lodge throughout the event to answer questions, provide program information, and help athletes take advantage of the opportunity.
The tuition credit builds on a longstanding and deepening relationship between UNBC and CNSC. That partnership traces its roots to 2013 and the creation of the UNBC Otway Nordic Legacy Scholarship Fund, and has continued to grow, most recently with the launch of the UNBC Timberwolves varsity Nordic ski team in the 2024–25 season. UNBC Interim President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Bill Owen sees the program as a natural extension of that commitment.
“Events like this demonstrate how sport brings communities together while creating pathways for future students,” Owen said.” Building on a longstanding partnership with the Caledonia Nordic Ski Club, this tuition incentive reflects UNBC’s commitment to attracting outstanding student-athletes seeking an exceptional education in a supportive campus community.”
For Ali Cadell, head coach at both Caledonia Nordic and the UNBC Timberwolves, the on-site presence of a UNBC student ambassador reflects something distinctive about what Prince George offers.
“The connection between UNBC and Caledonia Nordic is one of the things that makes this venue genuinely unique in Canada,” said Cadell. “Having that academic partnership right here on site and having UNBC offer real financial support to the athletes who compete here, speaks to what Prince George can offer beyond the competition itself.”
A Full Development Pathway on an International Stage
The March 6–8 competition features athletes across the complete biathlon development pathway including U13/U15 competitors through Youth, Junior, Senior, and Masters categories. National-calibre competitors are expected, including members of the Biathlon Canada’s National Team, and NextGen athletes, alongside top provincial-team athletes from across Western Canada.
The event will feature international-calibre live streaming, an in-stadium video wall, and professional athlete and team services, delivering the full spectator and competitor experience that has made Caledonia Nordic one of Canada’s premier Nordic venues.
“Prince George continues to raise the bar as a premier sport event host in Canada,” said Kerry Dankers, executive director, Biathlon Canada. “Bringing three key Biathlon Canada events together in one city speaks to the strength of its venues, the expertise of its organizing committee, and the incredible community support behind every competition. When you combine world-class facilities with proven delivery at the national and international level, you create an environment where athletes can thrive and our sport can grow. As a result, Prince George is playing a key role on helping to shape the future of biathlon in Canada.”
A Community Moment
The event is presented by Canadian Tire Prince George, with support from the Government of British Columbia, the City of Prince George, the Regional District of Fraser Fort George, Tourism Prince George, and Northern Development Initiative Trust. It is expected to generate over $1 million in direct and indirect economic activity for the region.
Caledonia Nordic Ski Club has built one of the most decorated event-hosting résumés in Canadian Nordic sport, having previously hosted the 2024 Para Biathlon World Championships and World Cup Finals, the 2023 Nordiq Canada Selection Trials, the 2019 World Para Nordic Skiing Championships, the 2015 Canada Winter Games, and multiple Canadian National Championships.
