Do I need a firearms licence to compete at the Canada Winter Games?

Yes. All athletes must be licensed under the Firearms Act, with either a Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL) or a Minor's Licence.

• You must give evidence of your licence to the Biathlon Canada Technical Representative by January 28, 2027.
• Without a licence you will not be permitted to train or compete on the biathlon venue.
• Athletes who do not hold a PAL or Minor's Licence are excluded from the Canada Games biathlon competition altogether (eligibility rule 4.1).
• Registration of every participant in the Canada Games electronic registration system is due 30 days before the Opening Ceremony (January 28, 2027), and the final roster status must be set 14 days before it (February 13, 2027).

Source: 2027 Canada Winter Games Biathlon Technical Package, sections 4.1, 7.1 and Appendix 4: https://biathlon.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/36-2027-Technical-Package-Biathlon-PUBLISHED.pdf