Fishbones Weekend

Middle (July 25) Fishbones Middle Long (July 26) Fishbones Long Sprint (July 27) Fishbones Knockout Sprint

Canadian Orienteering Championships

TCP Fundraiser (July 30) Team Canada Program Fundraiser Model Map (July 31) Model Map Sprint (July 31) Championship Sprint Long (Aug 1) COC Long Middle (Aug 2) COC Middle

Courses and Classes

While the same age-based competition classes will be used for most events, they will be distrbuted among the available courses as recommended in the Orienteering Canada Course and Class Guidelines. For Fishbones, we will follow the recommendations for Smaller Canada Cups while the Championship will follow those for Large Events. Additionally, there will be a set of non-competitive classes available.

Age-based Competition Classes (all races except FB KO Sprint)

There are age class championships for all age groups (2 year age groups for 20 and under, 10 year age groups for 35 to 75, 5 year age groups for 70 and over) at the festival. There is an F and M class for each age class.

For Fishbones and Other events:

• In the Fishbones spirit of Keeping it Simple, no medals will be awarded (a small token may be provided)

Non-Competitive Classes

For participants wanting a course outside their age class, there are recreational (non-competitive) options (and no medals).

• Open classes allow participants of any age to choose the course they wish to run on. You can choose a course appropriate to your orienteering skill-set and physical fitness.

  • Fishbones (middle/long): Open-1,2,3,4,5,6,7
  • Championships (middle): Open-1,2,3,4,5,6
  • Championships (long): Open-1,2,3,4,5,6,8,9
  • Championships (sprint): Open-1,2,3,4

• Special Case: All registrations for the Fishbones Knockout Sprint will be into the same Male/Female Qualifier and will proceed towards the M/F Finals from there. Everyone runs the same course at each stage, but each stage will have a different course.

Technical Difficulty and Recommended Winning Times

Since the terrain for orienteering courses, and the speed at which the terrain can be traversed, varies significantly from event to event, Orienteering Canada has uses Technical Difficuly (TD) and Recommended Winning Times (RWT) instead of using distance guidelines for setting courses.

Orienteering Canada defines five Technical Difficulty (TD) levels for orienteering courses. TD1, TD2, TD3 range from Beginner to Intermediate and typically target youth who are building their skills. TD5 targets the Expert and Elite participants which leaves TD4 aimed at Veteran racers.

Courses will be shorter on slower terrain (thicker forest, more hills) so that winning times remain relatively consistent for a given age class. For Middle events, courses are designed so that the RWTs are around 30 minutes (for elite classes on those courses), Long event RWTs fall closer to 60 minutes, while Sprints are typically designed to take about 15 minutes.

More information can be found in Orienteering Canada’s Course and Class Guidelines

Transgender and Non-Binary

The Orienteering Canada Board recently approved a Transgender and Non-Binary Inclusion policy. The gist of the policy is:

At both recreational and competitive levels, a Participant is able to participate in either their sex assigned at birth or the gender category in which they identify or choose in the case of a non-binary Participant.

This means a participant may declare their gender (Male, Female or Unspecified) during registration and enter classes appropriate for that declaration.
More information can be found at Orienteering Canada’s Transgender and Non-Binary Inclusion Policy

Mapping Notes

• Sandy Lake

  Championship Middle and Long

  
• Dalhousie University

  Championship Sprint

  

Embargoes

Embargo: Sandy Lake Park (Middle and Long)

Because this area encompasses a public park, access is permitted for limited recreational purposes (i.e. stay on marked trails). However, the possession or use of maps, and route choice testing during the term of the embargo is not allowed. Competitors are encouraged to just stay away.

Embargo: Dalhousie University (Sprint)

Because the event takes place in public areas people may need to access for legitimate reasons other than orienteering, access to the embargoed areas is permitted. However, the possession or use of maps, and route choice testing during the term of the embargo is not allowed.

All competitors must use only the routes specified by the organizers to reach the Event Arena on the day of the competition (to be advised in the final Bulletin).

Old Maps

Safety and Potential Hazards

General Safety Rules

• Observe all event specific rules, cautions and advice.
• You must carry a whistle. The emergency signal is three blasts.
• You must abandon your course if you hear a distress whistle and must help participants in need.
• Always return to registration at the end of the event and sign out!
• Stop immediately if you become injured. Running through the pain will only make your injury worse. Return to the start area and seek medical treatment for all injuries.
• If you are lost or hurt, stay still and blow the distress call (three whistle blows) until help arrives.
• In case of an overdue person, the organizers will initiate a search. You can help by following the directions of the organizers.

Hazards

Vegetation

Full leg covering is recommended for all races in wooded areas and open fields due to the possibility of encountering:

Poison Ivy: Contact with poison ivy oil can cause skin irritation and blistering that will often last for 10 days or more. If you have made contact with poison ivy, handle clothing carefully and immediately wash down clothing and skin with soap and water. More details at this Health Canada site .

Wildlife

Ticks: Black-legged ticks (deer ticks) which are found most often in long grasses may carry Lyme Disease and may infect you after burrowing into your skin. Always do a thorough tick check after every event. For more information see these provicial public health pages: New Brunswick , Nova Scotia

See also: Orienteering Canada’s General Guidelines for Personal Safety in Orienteering

Sass Peepre National Junior and Family Training Camp 2026

We are excited to be hosting a 3 day, 3 night national junior training camp next year at a great sleep-in facility close to the Canadian Orienteering Festival site. To make the most of this opportunity, in addition to the usual training for juniors, we will once again be offering intermediate-to-advanced training for family members as well.

About the camp

WHAT: The Sass Peepre National Junior Training Camp brings together young orienteers across the country for technical training, games, and social activities, aiming to cultivate camaraderie among participants and sustain their interest in the sport. The camp will include large group activities, time to socialize and technical sessions where participants will be divided into small groups for training targeted at their skill level. 

WHO: The camp is for juniors ages 10 – 20 of all orienteering abilities. Non-Canadian juniors are welcome. 

Once again this year, we will also open up the training to family members – either parents alone, or younger children accompanied by a parent. There will be separate groups/coaches for adult training sessions. Have you been orienteering for a couple years but still don’t feel totally comfortable with tricky legs off trail? Are you comfortable orienteering in the woods but would like to learn some advanced techniques?

WHERE: The camp will be located at the Broadleaf Ranch , just outside Moncton and on nearby orienteering maps.

WHEN: The camp will be from 5pm Monday, July 27th, until noon, Thursday July 30, 2026. Accommodation and food included. 

REGISTRATION: Registration is now available on Uplifter/2Mev Register Now

Logistics and cost:

Accommodation: Broadleaf Ranch has dorm style accommodation for 63 participants and coaches (with mattresses included but BYO sheets/sleeping bag).* We encourage juniors to take advantage of the dorm accommodations as part of the camp experience. However, we also welcome juniors who prefer to arrange their own accommodations. We encourage families arranging their own accommodation to check out the options available at Broadleaf Ranch itself (tenting, serviced RV sites and Glamping close to the dorms, as well as one 5 bedroom lodge 2km from the dorms). You can also stay off site. Families (participating in training or not) are welcome to stay on site, space permitting. 

* Some of the beds will be in the bedrooms of the 3 cabins we are renting for kitchen facilities.

Supervision: We will be counting on all the juniors to demonstrate their maturity and respect, and will provide age-appropriate supervision for participants aged 10-17. Kids 9 and under must have an accompanying parent overnight and during training. Kids 11 and under must have a supervising adult (a parent or other designated adult) on-site overnight (see adult accommodation options below). Parents of juniors aged 12-17 need not stay on-site, but we ask that they, or an emergency contact, be available to pick up their child within an hour if needed.

Costs

(including meals and accommodation) for the full 3 days

• Participating juniors 20 and under: $120 for first junior, $80 for any subsequent junior in a family. (Subsidized price)
• Adults receiving training: $175
• Accompanying family member aged 12 and over (not receiving training): $125 (discounts will be offered for full time volunteers – see below!)
• Accompanying family member 11 and under (not receiving training): $100

Participants arranging their own accommodation (either at Broadleaf Ranch or off-site) will get a $30 discount each.

Volunteers

Sass Peepre is entirely volunteer run. If you are able to coach, cook or volunteer in some other way please let us know! Contact Amanda and Timothy and they can provide a discount code to use when you register.

Interested?

If you’d like to get in touch to talk about volunteering, get more information, or join our email list to get notifications, including when the registration form goes live, please email us to let us know at SassPeepre@gmail.com.

Thank you!
Amanda Edmunds (Coordinator) and Timothy Edmunds (Head Coach)

Orienteering Canada Learning Summit

Orienteering Canada will host the Orienteering Canada Learning Summit on July 26-28, 2026 in conjunction with the Canadian Orienteering Festival.

The Orienteering Canada Learning Summit is an opportunity to bring together coaches, officials, organizers, athletes, and club volunteers for several days of learning and connection during the 2026 Canadian Orienteering Festival. Through coaching development, officiating education, and hands-on exploration of tools like Livelox, the Summit aims to strengthen skills, spark new ideas, and support the continued growth of orienteering across Canada. Whether you are new to these roles or bringing years of experience, the Learning Summit is a chance to share knowledge, build confidence, and invest in the future of the sport.

There is no fee to attend the Livelox session, but we do need you to register in advance to help us plan. There is a $40 fee for each of the Clinics.

Full details and a link to register can be found at orienteering.ca/posts/2026learningsummit .

Travel and Accommodations

Travel time from airports

Driving distances

Access to events outside the cities without a car will be difficult. There is no public transit. The following are estimated driving time and distance between events at different locations.

Accommodation

There are many Hotel, Motel, and independent accommodations within 50km of the event locations. We expect to finalize and list a small selection for which we have obtained special rates. Camping accommodations should be booked early, as they are difficult to secure during the summer. These are within 60km of the event locations.

• Fishbones Weekend Accommodations

  Fishbones Weekend Accommodations (Moncton)

• Chamionship Weekend Accommodations

  Chamionship Weekend Accommodations (Halifax)

Tourism and Attractions

Discover Halifax

Discover Halifax—a city where warm hospitality, coastal beauty, and vibrant culture come together to create unforgettable events. Between races, you can stroll along the scenic waterfront boardwalk, explore historic sites, and enjoy the lively atmosphere of this walkable seaside destination. In Halifax, every step offers a new opportunity to connect, experience, and be inspired. Show your race bib at participating local businesses and save!

Join a Full Moon Paddle the night of Wednesday July 29th!

The tour launches out of Peggy’s Cove, a 40 minute drive from Halifax. The cost is $60 per person. Group size is about 12 people, so if you are interested, call in advance to secure your spot. Please contact East Coast Outfitters directly at 902-852-2567. If weather is bad, they may cancel and/or suggest an alternative date, such as the day before or day after. You will not be charged if they cancel.
https://www.eastcoastoutfitters.com/sea-kayak-tours-halifax-nova-scotia/seakayaktourpackages
(Thanks to Jenny Kuenz for this find!)

Banquet and Silent Auction

The banquet for 2026 Canadian Orienteering Festival participants and their guests will be held at the University of Kings College on Saturday, August 1st, following the Long event. Awards for the Canadian Orienteering Championship Sprint and Long events will be presented at the banquet. In conjunction with the banquet, will be the ever-popular TCP Silent Auction, to raise funds for the Team Canada Program. We hope you will join us!

Tickets must be purchased in advance. Prices are $40 for those 11 and older, and $30 for youth under the age of 11.

Additional tickets are available through our stand-alone store if you have already registered for your races.

Merchandise

Logo Beach Towel

Experience the perfect blend of comfort and style with this custom logoed towel. Made from a soft velour and terry cotton blend, it promises a plush, absorbent feel every time you dry off. Generously sized at 24 by 48 inches, this towel offers ample coverage, making it ideal for a variety of outdoor activities.

This towel is perfect for drying off after a race, maintaining modesty while changing out of your sweaty gear, or stretching out comfortably in the arena, at the beach, or poolside as you enjoy your Maritime adventures. Its generous size and soft, absorbent fabric make it an essential companion for active and relaxing moments alike.

Order now! Due to production timelines, the Towel will only be available for sale until June 10!

Volunteer Opportunities

Help us in making the 2026 Canadian Orienteering Festival an unforgettable experience!

Volunteers are the backbone (or Fishbone) of this event, bringing passion, expertise and enthusiasm to every aspect. Your support in lead and day-to-day volunteer roles is essential to ensuring a seamless experience for all participants.

If you have skills in any of the areas we are trying to fill, we’d love to hear from you. Please fill out the form below to communicate your interest and availability:

COF2026 Volunteer Recruiting Google Form

Thank you for your interest and continued support!
2026 Canadian Orienteering Festival Organizing Committee

Event Team

No orienteering event can happen without a dedicated group of volunteers to pull it all together. Here is the team bringing you this great festival of orienteering.

Land Acknowledgement

The land on which our activities occur is the the traditional unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq and Wolastoqiyik Peoples. This territory is covered by the “Treaties of Peace and Friendship” which Mi’kmaq, Wolastoqiyik and Peskotomuhkati Peoples first signed with the British Crown in 1725. The treaties did not deal with surrender of lands and resources but in fact recognized Mi’kmaq and Wolastoqiyik title and established the rules for what was to be an ongoing relationship between nations.

These Indigenous nations have inhabited and cared for these lands for millennia, and their way of life, culture and presence have nurtured and continue to nurture these lands today. We honour these lands and their Indigenous stewards, past and present. We thank them for their stewardship of the land and pledge to be respectful and grateful for the bounty of this land on which we all live, work and play.