A Community Exhibition Day featuring Montreal 1976 memories, and to include a real gold medal, will be held from 1 pm to 7 pm
Kingston, August 12, 2026 – On Saturday, August 15, Kingstonians and visitors are invited to relive the Olympic sailing competition that was held in Kingston during the Montreal 1976 Games through a Community Exhibition Day set to take place at Portsmouth Olympic Harbour (53 Yonge St.) from 1 pm to 7 pm.
People who experienced the Montreal 1976 Games will share their memories, artifacts and photos, while those who weren’t there in 1976 will be able to know more about that international event, notably by talking with exhibitors.
Visitors who are able are asked to park in the south parking lot at Kingston Penitentiary. For those who are not, there may be limited parking at Portsmouth Olympic Harbour.
Unveiling of a new permanent storyboard at POH
A permanent storyboard of the Games installed on the walls of the Sailroom at Portsmouth Olympic Harbour, and created in collaboration with Tourism Kingston, will be unveiled. It will tell the story of what happened before and during the Games in Kingston, and take a look at the Olympic sailing competition’s legacy.
Visitors will be able to relive the 1976 Games through this new asset, supported that day by:
-a 60-minute vintage video about the Games in Kingston;
-pictures of the event;
-a 1976 replica torch and cauldron in a space where visitors can take pictures, courtesy of Montreal Olympic Park;
-as well as Canadian Sailing Hall of Fame plaques of inductees.
Come see a Montreal 1976 Olympic gold medal and other artifacts
Many guests will also attend the Community Exhibition Day to share their experiences and artifacts, including Tornado class gold medalist John Osborn, who sailed for Great Britain at the time. He moved to Ontario following the Games and will be on hand for the event.
Osborn’s participation will be a unique opportunity to see a Montreal 1976 Olympic gold medal, as Canada did not reach the top of the podium during those Games.
He will attend the Community Exhibition Day for most of the day on Saturday.
Also on-site Saturday:
-1976 Canadian Olympic sailing team member Michael de la Roche, who will attend from 1 pm to 2:30pm;
-Peter Higgins, who was an alternate on the Canadian sailing team at the Montreal 1976 Olympic Games in the Finn class. He will attend from 1 pm to 3 pm;
-CORK / Sail Kingston;
-Sail Canada;
-Marsha Gormley, widow of Bud Gormley, who was the mayor of the Olympic Village for the sailing competition in Kingston during the Montreal 1976 Games, which was based at Queen’s University. She will attend from 1 pm to 4 pm;
-and Gordon Grant, who was on a Race Committee windward mark boat.
Rediscover Portsmouth Olympic Harbour
The event will also be a great opportunity to rediscover Portsmouth Olympic Harbour.
In terms of sailing events, more than 275 young sailors and 40 coaches will take part in the last day of the Sail Canada Youth Fest and Youth Championships (Club 420). Depending on the weather, athletes are scheduled to get ready in the boat park from 8 am to 10 am, before launching and being ready for the first races of the day planned at 11 am. Sailors should be back on the shore starting at 2 pm.
Visitors will also be able to visit on the sailboat tall ship of St. Lawrence II, a boat built by Kingston Shipyards in 1953 that will be docked at Portsmouth Olympic Harbour on Friday and Saturday. The deck tour is free. More details at: https://tallshipexpeditions.com/about-the-ship.
At Portsmouth Olympic Harbour, kids will be able to make paper origami boats.
It will also be a great opportunity to discover or rediscover Kingston Penitentiary. Visitors coming to the Community Exhibition Day will be able to get tickets to visit the Kingston Penitentiary, located less than 500m away from Portsmouth Olympic Harbour, at a 20 % discount for that day, August 15.
All events are organized by Sail Canada and CORK / Sail Kingston, with the support of Tourism Kingston, the City of Kingston, Queen’s University, the Kingston Yacht Club, and the Portsmouth District Community Association.
About Sail Canada
Established in 1931, Sail Canada is the national governing body for the sport of sailing in the country. Sail Canada is a leading international sailing nation, proud of its world class athletes, lifelong participants and inclusive culture. The organization and its members are committed to excellence by developing and training its leaders, athletes, sailors, instructors, coaches and officials. With the valued support from our partners, the Provincial Sailing Associations and our member clubs, schools, organizations and stakeholders, sailing is promoted in all its forms. By setting standards and delivering programs from home pond to podium for Canadians of all ages and abilities, from dinghies to keelboats, cruising to navigation, windsurfing to powerboating and accessible sailing, Sail Canada sets sail for all, sail to win and sail for life.
A sport in the Olympic program since the first Games in 1896, except in 1904, the pursuit of success in these Games is what fuels the focus of Sail Canada as Canadian athletes have so far achieved nine Olympic and five Paralympic medals.
