A local man will lead the charge for the 2019 Canada Winter Games.

Scott Robinson was named chief executive officer for the Games during a press conference last week. Robinson was selected from 33 applicants. He will step into his new role this August.

“The opportunity I have been given here is something that I accept with great pride and passion and certainly I am very humbled,” said Robinson. “I feel very honoured and it’s a huge opportunity for not just Red Deer but for Alberta.”

Robinson joins the Games team following 23 years with Hockey Alberta, including 10 years as executive director of the Hockey Alberta Foundation. A Red Deer resident for more than two decades, Robinson was actively involved with the Red Deer Bid Committee as well as the Transition Team that was working with the Canada Winter Games Council and the City of Red Deer to transition from a Bid Committee to a Host Society.

“It’s a slow planning process. Over the next six months to a year we are really going to be in the planning stages and moving things along that way,” he said. “This is really our Calgary ’88 and our Vancouver 2010 – it’s going to be the biggest thing our community has seen and it’s going to touch everyone we hope – certainly that is our goal.

“Our vision is to really make these Games truly a regional, provincial and national event to engage not just Red Deerians but also Central Alberta and the province. Our vision is to make it significant in terms of the emerging City that we are and emerging region and to make sure that not only do the athletes have the best possible experience but that we elevate the Games to another level.”

Also during the press conference, it was announced Ron and Cari MacLean were also selected as honouray board chairs of the Games.

“Eighteen months ago as honourary chairs of the Bid Committee, this couple led a change that I believe tipped the scales to bring the 2019 Games to Red Deer,” said Lyn Radford, chair of the 2019 Canada Winter Games.

Cari, who was on hand for the announcement, said both her and Ron are excited to continue to be part of the Games.

“I’m thrilled and ecstatic to be back home in Red Deer. Red Deer was ready to host the Games and Ron and I are ready to do whatever we can to work with the board and hopefully create Games that are spectacular, full of defining moments not only for our nation of Canada, our province of Alberta, the community of Red Deer and surrounding regions, but for every single person that is going to be participating in those Games. We are committed to do whatever this community needs us to do,” said Cari.

It was also announced that former MLA Mary Anne Jablonski has also joined the board.

efawcett@reddeerexpress.com