NEWS RELEASE
Council Approves Budget for 2011 Canada Winter Games
(Wednesday, December 13, 2006) - The Halifax Regional Municipality has been selected to compete with two other communities; the Highland Region and Hub Central Nova, for the 2011 Canada Winter Games. A staff report was presented to Council last evening asking for approval of the proposed budget for the Games, as well as endorsement for the bid to be submitted to the Canada Games Council.
After a brief presentation was made by the Bid Executive Steering Committee Co-Chairs Colleen Jones and Scott Ferguson, Council voted unanimously to approve the budget and advised staff to move forward with the bid. Much of the Council discussion focused on how the Canada Games have touched so many lives, and the fact that people can relate to them because of personal experience.
Councillors Mary Wile and Debbie Hum, both on the Executive Steering Committee stated the economic impacts these Games will have on the Halifax Regional Municipality are substantial. A previously conducted STEAM report indicated the combined total of visitor spending will be approximately $38 million, while expenditures will generate approximately $81 million in economic activity in the province, and $59.5 million in HRM.
Former Canada Games Athlete and World Champion Curler Colleen Jones stated, “The Canada Games are often the pinnacle moment in the development of Canada’s young athletes. The Games along with their legacies, continue to be the catalyst for the growth of sport and recreation across the country.”
Hosting the Games will include approximately 3500 athletes, coaches and managers; 450 technical officials; 400 media and broadcast professional; and 6,000 guests and VIPs during the tourism off season. While the primary reasons for hosting the Canada Games are to contribute to sport and athlete development across the Municipality, the Games are also about community development and pride. The Canada Games create economic, social and cultural benefits that impact participants, volunteers and spectators in particular; and more generally the host region and province.
“This is a very exciting opportunity for both the Halifax Regional Municipality and the Province of Nova Scotia.”, said Scott Ferguson, Executive Vice President of Trade Centre Limited. “ While Halifax Regional Municipality has a proven record of hosting large scale events, this is will be the Region’s first experience hosting a major multi-sport event since the original Canada Summer Games in 1969.” The Canada Games is the nation’s largest multi-sport event. Successful hosting of this event will contribute to the Region’s reputation as a globally competitive, creative community and a premiere events hosting destination in Canada.
If HRM is successful in hosting the 2011 Canada Winter Games, the new field house and other recommended facility improvements will be invaluable assets which will help support future Games. In addition, the Canada Winter Games would be a perfect precursor to the larger 2014 Commonwealth Games, as they would provide invaluable hands-on experience around games administration, management and volunteerism.
Bid submissions are due to the Canada Games Council on December 28, 2006. The successful bid community will be announced in mid February, 2007.
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Marion Currie
Project Manager
2011 Canada Winter Games
Halifax Regional Municipality
(902) 490-6735
