The official mascot of the 2023 Canada Winter Games has been revealed as PEI prepares to welcome the nation in 2023.
Wowkwis is the mascot for the Games. Named after the Mi’kmaq First Nations peoples’ word for “red fox,” Wowkwis celebrates the rich history of the province.
The mascot name and design was inspired by 9-year-old Myla Doucette from Gulf Shore Consolidated School in North Rustico. Myla was the winner of a provincewide design competition that took place last spring. The competition tasked children aged five to 12 with creating a mascot that reflects PEI’s creativity, culture and passion for sport.
Myla and her classmates were the first to meet the official mascot in a surprise school visit Thursday. Myla’s winning design was selected from over 1,200 entries from 45 schools across the Island. Her design showcases the local art and culture of the Abegweit Mi’kmaq First Nations peoples by uniquely integrating quillwork that Wowkwis will wear, crafted by local Island artist Noella Moore.
