By Nathan Kanter

Winter Games receives large financial commitment

May 25, 2017 | 4:00 PM

The 2018 Saskatchewan Winter Games are one step closer to becoming a reality.

The three parties involved in the organization of the games – the city of North Battleford, the North Battleford games committee, and the Saskatchewan Games Council – officially signed a tri-party agreement, signalling a formal commitment to the games.

With thousands of athletes, coaches, managers and mission staff expected next February from all over the province, North Battleford mayor Ryan Bater began the morning by reminding everyone of how big of a deal this event was.

“I think the numbers were about 7,000 people are going to be here and if you consider that the combined population of Battleford and North Battleford is about 19,000, I think that’s a 35 per cent increase in our population in one week, which is a huge undertaking,” Bater said. “We’re going to pull this off and we’re going to host the province next February.”

The purpose of the signing is simply to ensure everyone involved knows their responsibilities and roles.

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“It’s really details on the partnership and how we can work together,” consultant with the Saskatchewan Games Council Lorne Lasuita said.

The financial committment from the council is $670,000. 

Lasuita has been involved with many of the past games and said he was impressed with the efforts he has seen from those involved in the planning for 2018.

“They’re on par with the rest of the communities I’ve worked with and certainly in the area of fundraising, they’ve really started to step up to the plate to encourage corporations to donate,” Lasuita said. “From the organizational end, they’re certainly exceeding probably where we would be in some other communities.”

The need for fundraising is huge according to games committee co-chair Rob Rongve. He estimates the entire budget at close to $2 million.

“We are looking for at least half a million [in fundraising], preferably more,” Rongve said. “It’s a big budget that we’re running. The more money we can get from the local community to do all the extras that we want to add on to make sure that this is a memorable games.”

Rongve and co-chair David Schell attended the 2016 Saskatchewan Summer Games in Estevan, and said they plan to use elements of those games in 2018 and implement some of their own. North Battleford has hosted two games in the past. In 1984 the city hosted the Summer Games, while in 1974 it hosted the first ever Winter Games.

Bater added that there are three major things to be excited for.

“Number one, it’s going to generate a lot of economic benefit for the community,” he said. “Number two, it is going to shine a light on our community…and third it is going to demonstrate our place in terms of being a hot spot for excellence in sport.

“My hope would be that leading up to the games and after the games, we see an increase in participation in sport in the Battlefords, which is already very strong.”

nathan.kanter@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @NathanKanter11