Meet Canada Games mascot Gusty and the Witless Bay student who created him
Gusty the codfish will help cheer on more than 4,000 athletes in St. John's next year
The team behind the 2025 Canada Summer Games in St. John's officially Gusty the codfish — sou'wester and all — Wednesday at the school of the mascot's 10-year-old creator.
Gusty the codfish came from the imagination of Michael Tobin, who entered a mascot design contest for students, held by the Canada Games Host Society. Michael's design, picked from more than 300 entries, was unveiled in March, with Gusty making their public debut this week.
Gusty was chosen as a gender-neutral name to pay homage to Newfoundland and Labrador's windy weather while the design highlights cod fishing's in the province, according to the Canada Games website.
Gusty uses they/them pronouns and was designed with a rainbow streak down its body alongside a sou'wester hat, raincoat and rubber boots.
"Codfish is a part of Newfoundland, and I usually go out cod fishing in the summer," Michael told CBC News.
"It feels really cool. And it has lots of colours, so I like that.… It's something that I made, and it's real now in real life."
More than 4,000 athletes will compete Aug. 8-25, 2025, in what is the largest multisport event for amateur athletes in the country.
Michael, who was part of the team that welcomed Gusty in front of the students at St. Bernard's Elementary, said he was excited when Gusty arrived to thunderous applause and cheers. His parents, Nancy and Paul Tobin, shared his enthusiasm.
"It's really exciting to see it come to life and see his reaction," said Nancy Tobin. "I think it came out really well. It really represents, I think, Newfoundland and what we're going to bring to the Canada Games."
Paul Tobin said he's proud of his son.
"Him and my daughter actually helped him with it, so two of them together, it's just like a lot of work. So beyond proud as a parent," he said.
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With files from Jessica Singer
