It’s a year away, but planning for the Canada Winter Games is well underway in Prince George and Northern British Columbia.
On Feb. 13, 2015, B.C. will welcome 2,350 young athletes, 950 coaches and officials, up to 4,500 volunteers and thousands of visitors for the two-week competition.
“One of the magical things about the Canada Games is 800 communities from across Canada send kids to these games, so really it’s coast to coast,” said Canada Winter Games CEO Stu Ballantyne.
Jobs and Tourism Minister Shirley Bond says the games are a fantastic opportunity to showcase northern B.C.
“The countdown is on, and the hard work has begun, and we are busy recruiting volunteers and making sure we have our sponsorships in place. But it’s going to be a chance for us to show off some exceptional northern hospitality.”
The Canada Games are held every two years and alternate between summer and winter editions.
B.C. has hosted two Canada Summer Games — the first in New Westminster and Burnaby in 1973, and the second in Kamloops in 1993 — but this will be the province’s first winter edition.
Prince George will welcome athletes for the celebration of amateur sport, youth, culture and community in conjunction with the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation.
GALLERY: Prince George prepares to host the Canada Winter Games
The event is estimated to generate millions in economic spinoffs for Prince George and the province.
“We’re forecasting over $90 million for the local economy,” Ballantyne said.
Although the economic benefits are a bonus, for 18 days next year, the focus will be on sports.
Athletes, ranging in age from 12 to 35, compete in teams representing each of Canada’s 10 provinces and three territories.
Winter sports include alpine skiing, biathlon, cross country skiing, curling, figure skating, freestyle skiing, ice hockey, ringette, snowboarding and speed skating.
WATCH: The journey to the 2015 Canada Winter Games
Official venues
Ballantyne said event organizers are putting $20 million into facility upgrades and new venues for the games, bringing the total budget to $50 million.
Facilities include, an outdoor speed skating oval, multiple ski venues, new arenas and venues, a games village and more.
Tabor Mountain will get $500,000 in upgrades to host snowboarding, moguls, ski cross and aerials.
Former freestyle skier Ashleigh McIvor, who has competed on the mountain, said the course is better than some European venues.
Since many of the venues are outdoor, Ballantyne said event organizers will monitor weather conditions to make sure the outdoor venues are not too cold for competitors.
At this time of year, weather in Prince George can dip to -40 C.
Mascot challenge
Event organizers put a call out to students in Northern B.C. to help them choose a mascot. for the games They received hundreds of submissions from many communities. Some of ideas submitted were moose, Canada-flag wearing bears, maple syrup soaked pancakes and many more.
The submissions have been narrowed down to three finalists and voting for the official mascot begins on Saturday.
History of the Canada Games
The first Canada Games were held in Quebec City in 1967. Since then, the event has become the largest multi-sport competition for young athletes in the country.
The games celebrate Canada’s upcoming athletes, many of who go on to compete internationally in their sport of choice.
Hockey star Sydney Crosby competed for Nova Scotia in 2003, basketball great Steve Nash represented B.C. in 1993 and speed skater Catriona Le May Doan represented team Saskatchewan in 1983.
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