(rdnewsNOW file photo)

By Ashley Lavallee-Koenig

2024 GOAL: 25,000 VISITORS

Alberta Sports Hall of Fame annual report highlights record visitor numbers

Jul 24, 2024 | 10:49 AM

The Alberta Sports Hall of Fame had a record number of 21,582 visitors in 2023, a 12 per cent increase from the previous year, which was also a record setter.

Executive director Tracey Kinsella said it was a “phenomenal year,” and attributed this feat to the increased number of programs and outreach initiatives the organization launched last year.

The organization ran two week-long summer camps that sold out to maximum capacity. It also found success in its Toddler Touchdown program, which attracted about 25 participants per week, and its Night at the Museum experience for teens.

As part of its education goals, it also launched an Adaptive Sports educational program.

“We really want to engage individuals to learn about all sports and try [them] out, so we have sitting volleyball for example, we showcase blind hockey, and we also showcase goal ball. That’s been a really interesting program for us,” Kinsella said.

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Community outreach was and continues to be a high priority for the museum as well. It attended multiple events across the province this year including the Innisfail Trade Show, Calgary and Medicine Hat Stampedes, the Canada Special Olympics, the Alberta Summer and Winter Games, and many more.

“We’re continuing to partner with our provincial sport organizations and our national sport organizations,” she said. “Those are critical partners for us, so when they have an event, we want to be there. Tourism Red Deer of course is our partner, and Tourism Calgary and Explore Edmonton, we’ve started those partnerships as well.”

The organization also saw increased success in its diversified funding efforts including bicycle, snowshoe, and boardroom rentals. Although snowshoe rentals declined due to low snowfall in the area last winter, it rented equipment to 159 customers and had 132 boardroom rentals, up from 99 the previous year.

“We are so much more than a museum and now we get the opportunity to say that,” said Kinsella.

This year, the museum aims to reach a new record of 25,000 visitors. To accomplish this, it will pursue goals related to enhancing the visitor experience, ideally through facility upgrades, Kinsella said, showcasing the stories behind its artifacts, and increasing community outreach and awareness.

She said this will include expanding a little bit deeper into the province.

“For example, taking a week each month where we’ll visit the corners of the province and do our education programming. It’s easy for us to get into central Alberta, but sometimes we don’t always hit the northern and southern and even eastern areas, so that’s an area of focus.”

So far this year, it has taught lessons in the classroom or through field trips to about 20 classes, adds Kinsella.

“Just come shoot some hoops, shoot some pucks, play some bubble hockey, learn about the history of sport and you’ll love that we really are more than a museum,” said Kinsella.

The Alberta Sports Hall of Fame boasts more than 17,000 artifacts and is the only provincial collection of its kind.

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