(L-R) Catriona Le May Doan, Vice Chair - Canada Games Council, Scott Robinson, CEO - 2019 Canada Winter Games & Lyn Radford, Board Chair - 2019 Canada Winter Games Host Society.

By Sheldon Spackman

Gold Medal Performance

2019 Canada Winter Games leave long-lasting impact, organizers say

Sep 16, 2019 | 1:45 PM

Officials with the 2019 Canada Winter Games Host Society are lauding the success and economic impact of the event on Red Deer and the province this year.

Following the release of a report by the Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance (CSTA), Games officials announced on Monday that the two-week event resulted in $110.3 million of economic activity in Alberta, including $92.4 million in Red Deer, and $19.6 million in visitor spending.

From February 15 until March 2, 2019, over 3,600 participants, 4,600 volunteers and 26,000 visitors enjoyed 19 sports and 10 nights of cultural entertainment as part of Canada’s largest multi-sport and cultural event for youth-the 2019 Canada Winter Games.

“I am pleased to share that the 2019 Games were an economic, cultural and social success that has left a lasting legacy in Red Deer and central Alberta,” said Lyn Radford, Board Chair, 2019 Canada Winter Games Host Society. “When we set out to host the nation in 2011, our goals and targets were ambitious, but thanks to the support of our community, funding parties, sponsors, volunteers, staff and participants, we were able to deliver the best Canada Games our region could host.”

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The 2019 Canada Winter Games Host Society invested $14.5 million across five capital projects, including the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre, Gary W. Harris Celebration Plaza, Canyon Ski Resort, Great Chief Park and River Bend Golf and Recreation Area, in addition to other facility and equipment investments for sport and cultural facilities.

Following the Games, over $500,000 in sport equipment and assets were distributed to over 40 local and provincial sport organizations and not-for-profits.

With over 4,600 volunteers involved in the Games, officials say Red Deer and central Alberta is left with a strong, trained volunteer base for future events. This combination of first-class facilities and trained volunteers, is said to position Red Deer as an event hosting destination nationally.

“The 2019 Canada Winter Games continues to have a lasting influence on Red Deer through new and modernized amenities made possible through partnerships with the Host Society and other community builders,” Mayor Tara Veer said in a release. “The Games reminded us that we can accomplish far more together than we can apart. The Games were a catalyst for community building, and we were honoured to welcome our fellow Canadians to the Red Deer we are and are becoming.”

Officials say the 2019 Games also enhanced the Canada Games movement by delivering a life-shaping Games experience for all participants.

Satisfaction was high with spectators and athletes, with 96 per cent of spectators and 95 per cent of athletes indicating they were satisfied or very satisfied with their experience and the Games. Of surveyed Red Deerians, 93 per cent felt the Games represented the community and culture.

“Planning a multi-sport event of this stature takes an incredible amount of preparation and cooperation and Red Deer 2019 delivered on their athlete and legacy-centered vision from the very beginning,” adds Evan Johnston, Chair of the Canada Games Council.

“From new infrastructure like the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre, to a national torch relay, an improved transfer of knowledge for the Canada Games movement and an exceptional legacy of volunteerism, the Host Society and the community of Red Deer set the bar high for future Games and created a life-shaping experience for athletes and all involved.”

The Host Society sourced 56 per cent of its goods and services through local businesses, with 391 businesses working with the Games. A further 23 per cent of the Host Society’s purchases were made with Alberta-based businesses.

In total, goods were sourced from over 700 businesses at a value of $34 million.

“It is important going forward that we dissect in an accurate way, the economic impact of national, international and provincial events,” points out Rick More, Red Deer Chamber of Commerce CEO. “The data obtained from a very large cross section of attendees, gives us an extremely valuable picture of the economic impact of the Canada Winter Games. The capital projects and visitor spending numbers are enormous and came at an important time during a stagnant economy.

“This is a gold medal for the organizing committee and for Red Deer,” concluded More.

Officials say the 2019 Games Host Society is finalizing its Games budget and is confident that the 2019 Games will be in a positive financial position at the end of the 2020 fiscal year

The next Canada Winter Games will be held in 2023 in Prince Edward Island.