Manitoba Allows Early Bar Openings for Team Canada’s Olympic Gold Medal Game

by Staff - February 20, 2026 168
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The Manitoba government is allowing bars and restaurants to open early Sunday morning so people can get together and cheer on Team Canada as they go for gold in Olympic men’s hockey, Premier Wab Kinew announced today.

“When Team Canada plays for gold, the whole country leans in,” said Kinew. “From Elkhorn to Winnipeg, Manitobans will be waking up early to cheer together. That’s why we’re allowing bars and restaurants to open early, so friends, families and neighbours can gather, share that energy and celebrate what unites us.”

Under Section 11(5) of Manitoba’s Liquor Regulation, the executive director for Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Authority of Manitoba (LGCA) may authorize extended hours of liquor service for events of community, provincial or national significance.

Licensed establishments applying for early opening must:

  • serve liquor no earlier than 5 a.m. and no earlier than one hour before the televised event starts;
  • ensure the premises were closed and vacated for at least one hour the previous night; and
  • open specifically for the purpose of televising the Olympic event.
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