(Photo courtesy the Western Hockey League)

By rdnewsNOW Staff

$43,900 for Powwow, $10,000 for WHL Cup

City approves sponsorships for Powwow and 2021 WHL Cup

Sep 14, 2021 | 10:44 AM

Two major events planned for Red Deer have now had their sponsorship requests approved by city council.

The Red Deer International Powwow 2021 will receive $43,900 in support. The event will take place Oct. 22-24, and is expected to host 6,000 to 7,500 attendees over three days, and was developed as an educational experience and to honour Indigenous children of the past and the youth of today.

“It is our honour to support the Powwow event as an opportunity to teach our community about Indigenous culture, arts and language, and to provide greater education and support for Truth and Reconciliation in our community,” said Mayor Tara Veer, in a press release.

$10,000 has also been approved for the City to sponsor the 2021 WHL Cup, taking place in Red Deer Oct. 19-24. The event represents the four Western Provincial Hockey Associations in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia, and features the highest-rated players in the U16 age category. The event will see 400 players, officials, personnel and scouts from across Western Canada come to Red Deer, in addition to 500-1,000 spectators.

Veer says they are excited to once again be able to welcome major WHL events back to the community.

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“While we are currently facing a rise in COVID-19 cases, vaccinations and other safety measures offer the opportunity for Red Deerians to safely celebrate and participate in community life.”

Funding for the sponsorship requests comes from previously approved Event Hosting & Outgoing Sponsorship funding. In 2020, council approved $425,000 for sponsorship and event-hosting requests; $325,000 for sponsorships and $100,000 to fulfill and activate sponsorship opportunities.

To date, the funds used from this budget have included $30,000 for the 2021 Pickleball Canada National Championship, $50,000 for the 2021 Canadian Finals Rodeo, and $25,000 for the Men’s AAA National Championship in August 2023.

In April 2021, the Red Deer Major Event Strategy and Destination Development Framework vision was approved by council. It sets a goal to see Red Deer as the top major event destination among mid-sized Canadian cities by 2030, and is designed to strengthen the community’s readiness to attract and host new major events. Tourism Red Deer and the City are now working on a business plan to further the process.