It’s hard to believe that the 2019 Canada Winter Games are just around the corner. It’s hard to imagine all of the positive impacts this will have on our City, including economic growth and just putting Red Deer on the map.
There’s been many great additions to our City that will be used for years to come like the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre and the many enhancements around the community in preparation for the Games.
We’re seeing more and more signs of just how close the Games really are. This past weekend, our City welcomed around 250 athletes with Team Alberta, who were here to prepare for the Games. Over the weekend, in the Arts Centre on Red Deer College campus, Calgary’s artistic gymnast Elijah Thompson was named as Team Alberta’s torchbearer. Medicine Hat Boxer Janick Lacroix and Calgary Speed Skater Hee Won Son will carry the Team Alberta banner at the opening ceremonies.
Also, the official torchbearers for the Games were announced. Some of those names include Craig Curtis, Barb Miller, Mayor Tara Veer, Red Deer County Mayor Jim Wood, Wilton ‘Willie’ Littlechild, Don Moore and Gary W. Harris, among others.
Canada Games officials also opened the time capsule from the Grande Prairie Games, which were back in 1995. A Metis sash, a torch, flags and pins were just some of the items pulled out of a time capsule.
This was certainly an exciting reminder that the Games really are almost here.
On Monday, Red Deer College unveiled the BMO Financial Group Wellness Studio acknowledging a $300,000 donation from BMO during a special event at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre, which, as mentioned, is a key location for many of the Games’ events. The funds support RDC’s ‘Shaping Our Future’ campaign.
Just yesterday, Hall of Honour inductees were unveiled, with 2019 Games spokespeople present along with Canada Games Council and a special guest.
The Games takes place Feb. 15th to March 3rd and will feature more than 150 events in 19 sports and a major arts and cultural festival. The Games will also welcome up to 3,600 athletes, managers and coaches and more than 100,000 spectators.
