After having to cancel the 2020 Saskatchewan Summer, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Lloydminster will now host the event in 2024. (Sask Games Council/battlefordsNOW)

By battlefordsNOW Staff

Games back on

Lloydminster to host 2024 Sask Summer Games

Oct 28, 2021 | 5:44 PM

The City of Lloydminster will get another shot at hosting the Summer Games in Saskatchewan.

The Border City was announced as the host of the 2024 Games earlier today, with members of the previous host society for the 2020 games and representatives from the Saskatchewan Games Council in attendance.

Amber Holland, the chairperson of the Sask Games Council said it was an obvious choice, in part from the city’s ability to host events. After the 2020 Games were delayed and finally cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions and concerns, Lloydminster was given the first opportunity to make a case for hosting in the next cycle.

“The facilities are here and the people are here,” she said. “Their commitment to sport and youth is a perfect fit.”

The Servus Sports Centre, BioClean Aquatic Centre, Lakeland College and Lloydminster Comprehensive High School are just a few of the venues the city can utilize for the games, all of which are within less than 10 minutes driving distance of each other.

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This will be the second time Lloydminster has hosted the Saskatchewan Games, following the 2008 event that garnered the city an award for excellence for its promotional/marketing campaign from Tourism Saskatchewan. Lloydminster has also twice played host to the Alberta Games: the Winter Games in 1982 and the Summer Games in 1997.

Mayor Gerald Aalbers could barely contain his excitement during the announcement and media scrum afterwards. He praised the work of the 2020 Summer Games Host Society, chaired by Cindy Rekimowhich and Kevin Kush, for laying a great foundation.

“We’re going to build on that and we’ll have people back on [the host society] along with new people,” he said. “When you can combine those energies with our city’s energy, we will deliver a superior games.”

Wendy Plandowski and Aaron Rawlake, two longtime volunteers, organizers and coaches in the Lloydminster community, will co-chair the new host society. Rawlake told battlefordsNOW that it’s a thrill to announce that preparations are underway.

“It’s so nice coming out of the pandemic that’s so positive that will bring such excitement to Lloydminster and the region,” Rawlake said. “We can’t wait to officially get to work for the summer of 2024.”

Further details on the announcement and the impact on Lloydminster and surrounding areas will be on battlefordsNOW.

With files from Lloydminster Meridian Source.

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