'Make a friend for life': Pin trading brings people together at Canada Summer Games

Barry Taman is at the Canada Summer Games for medals but not the kind handed out on podiums.

• 6 ways the Canada Summer Games will leave Winnipeg better off
• Therapy dogs help Canada Games athletes feel at home

Taman owns The Pin People, a souvenir-pin company in Regina, and he designed official pins for the Games.

"They're a social part of the Games. They bring everyone together," an enthusiastic Taman said. He said trading pins is a great way to strike up a conversation and meet new people.

"You make a friend for life."

Taman has been going to the Canada Games for seven years now and is the unofficial mayor of the pin-trading tent at The Forks, where traders can set up tables to show what they have to offer and pins are sold.

• Full coverage of the 2017 Canada Summer Games

There are more than 100 different pins available at the Canada Summer Games to collect, includinga pin for each of the 22 sports at the Games.

Tamansaid it's an easy way to meet everyone from athletes to sponsors to other sports fans.

The pins are available for sale at The Forks for $7each, or three for $20.

The pin trading centre is open every night from 4:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m.

"It's a great part of the Games,"Tamansaid.

Pin trading brings people together at Canada Summer Games

7 years ago

Duration 2:05

Barry Taman has been going to the Canada Games for seven years now and is the unofficial mayor of the pin-trading tent at The Forks, where traders can set up tables to show what they have to offer and pins are sold.