Winter Games CEO Wants Everyone to Think Bigger
Thursday, December 22, 2011 @ 11:53 AM
Prince George, B.C.- As the City of Prince George prepares to host the 25th edition of the Canada Winter Games, the Host Society says one of the challenges will be for Prince George and the region to “think bigger.”
CEO Stuart Ballantyne says his team will be working hard to make sure everyone in the region has a full understanding of the scope of the project as he says everyone needs to ‘ think bigger’, “It’s not a situation where they’re not thinking big, they just need to ensure that they think big. In order for us to get the full benefit of having the rest of the Nation realize that this is a great place , it’s our time to shine, it’s our time to ensure that we promote all the way to Newfoundland and Labrador, that this is a great and viable part of the country and also to educate people about this part of the country so they will come and do business here , maybe come and visit, maybe come to live here or go to school.”
There have already been some discussions with other communities throughout the north to ensure they maximize their own opportunities by being part of the Games. “We will find a way for all of them to be able to play (be part of the Games) no matter what size of community it is” says Ballantyne.
With just over eleven hundred days before the Games begin, Ballantyne says the Host Society has developed a vision statement:
“Together we will write a Northern story of Spirit and Passion inspiring unique and magical experiences for all Canadians”
“This is our vision statement we will work to build the games from” says Ballantyne, “We will be writing a Northern story.”
The first group of athletes, their coaches and their family members will arrive on the 12th of February, the opening ceremonies will be on the 13th, and the first competition will start on the 14th of February. It is Day 9 of the Games that will be a logistical challenge as that is the “transition” day. “That is the day we have to get each and every athlete from the first group out of town and move the second group into town.” It will be the busiest day the Prince George Airport has ever seen.
The role to be played by the Airport is critical. Ballantyne says it is YXS which will give every visitor their first, and last impression of Prince George, so it is very important that everything go smoothly.
Ballantyne says the capital upgrades will start in the new year, and the sooner the projects are complete the better it will be for athletes who want to train and for sporting groups to host events that will test the new sites.
There will be a Games torch, and there will be a rally. Ballentyne says the torch will travel throughout the north of B.C. but that doesn’t mean people will “run” with it, “It could travel by snowmobile, dog sled, or even a logging truck, but there’s a lot of different ways we can move it that celebrates the north”
While the Games are funded primarily with dollars from the Federal, Provincial and Municipal Governments, there is a lot of money to be raised through corporate and public donations as well.
There will be dollars raised through ticket sales and the sale of merchandise, but it’s Todd Doherty who is responsible for getting those corporate donations. He says he’s into the pre-planning stage so far, but doesn’t anticipate any problems “Right now the corporate response that we’ve had so far to date has been phenomenal.” He says corporations have been positive “What a great opportunity for our region to say, ‘we did this’ and we’ve put on the largest sporting event, so I don’t anticipate any issues.”
Ballantyne says a full report will be created after the Games so everyone knows they got great value for their dollars “In essence we have been handed the baton for these Games, we run with it and we hand it over. The idea is that we hand it over in better shape than we got it.”
Comments
And that ladies and gentlemen, is how you can speak a lot without saying anything at all.
Don’t forget to bring your fat wallet. We must make this a very profitable exercise for a lucky few business owners.
This will be the one of the greatest things ever to happen in PG and it’s our chance to show Canada that PG is a great place to be!!
It’s too bad we’ve got such a large group that likes to sit back and complain and do nothing to help change anything. You want a chance to change PG?? Here it is. Get involved or get out of the way. The Games are coming whether you like it or not!
and your going to pay for it whether you like it or not
Its not that they are complaining about it. Its just that they feel if its not in their neighbourhood than its not important so they would like it shut down.
Some people are very small minded. They can only think of themselves. While Leaders in the community, trys to do what is best for all people.
I have no doubt the Games are coming. I also don’t have any doubt that the beneficiaries will be primarily the local hotels and restaurants and maybe the big box stores.
I do seriously doubt that the Games will cause anyone to want to live here, as Mr. Ballantyne claims it might.
Give it a rest, He Spoke.
X2 ^
Perhaps the outcome of the Halifax games requires us to “think bigger”.
http://www.canadagames.ca/content/News/Home.asp?ItemID=125435
From the above link:
The Halifax 2011 Canada Games have broken another record. The February event generated more than $130 million in economic activity in NOVA SCOTIA, created more than 1,100 jobs, and $40 million in wages and salaries.
More than 11,500 people visited Halifax for the Games.
The Games also leave behind a $200,000 surplus, to be added to the Games Legacy Fund, which will have a value of $1.5 million.
The event brought FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TAX REVENUES OF $10.5 MILLION, and an additional $10 MILLION IN TAXES TO THE PROVINCE. About $1.9 million in taxes was created in municipalities throughout the province, including $1.2 MILLION IN HRM.
“The 2011 Games have set the bar for putting on a world-class event while engaging the community and balancing the budget,” said Premier Darrell Dexter. “The legacy of these Games will continue to benefit Nova Scotians for years to come.”
As part of the Games’ legacy, the HOST SOCIETY WILL GIVE THREE REFRIGERATION UNITS TO THE HALIFAX REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY TO HELP THE CANADA GAMES OVAL BECOME PERMANENT ON THE HALIFAX COMMON. In exchange, HRM will ensure dedicated training time for high-performance athletes on the 400-metre oval, and has committed to hosting annual Canada Games Days to commemorate the 2011 Games.
“The success of the Halifax 2011 Canada Games helped produce the largest economic impact in the history of the Canada Games,” said Canada Games council chair Tom Quinn. “The infrastructure and the financial surplus will have a tremendous impact on the community and will creating lasting legacies for generations to come.”
The Games helped boost the number of room nights sold in Nova Scotia by 16 per cent in February 2011 compared to 2010.
The Host Society exceeded its sponsorship target of $8.2 million and its ticket sales target of $1 million.
Attendance at sporting events was strong, with sold-out events at almost all Games venues. More than 400,000 people streamed Games action live on http://www.bellaliant.net.
An estimated 50,000 people attended free concerts in Celebration Square at Grand Parade.
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Notice where the taxes went.
People have been flocking to Halifax since the games. The motorways are jambed with moving vans.
The population of Whitehorse has nearly doubled since they held the games in 2007. ;-)
http://www.halifax.ca/snow
In the interest of thinking BIG ….
The service standards for Halifax Regional Municipality are:
– ROADS: 12 hours for main roads and bus routes, 24 hours for residential and rural streets
– SIDEWALKS: 12 hours on main arterials, 18 hours for school and bus routes, 36 hours for residential and rural streets.
*During a storm, plows will pass Priority 1 streets every 3 hours.”
*During a storm, snow clearing equipment will start âcut-throughsâ for residential street access after 10cm.
A true winter city after my own heart. ;-)
Nobody in their right mind ‘wants’ to live here.
What was Whitehorse’s catch phrase for their game’s…”writing a southern story” ??
The tradition continues. PG went to Turin and almost got a Kenyan cross country skier to train here. PG did land a skater for Olympic training after offering free ice time and no doubt accommodation’s.
As for all the people who flocked here after the Olympics they are still reminiscing about the visiting the crime and pot hole capital of Canada.
Legacy to come. Another increase in taxes to pay for a city hall photo-op.
I also don’t like the idea while we are in debt -BUT- I feel we need to make the best of it. So you old foggies out there, enough, get your heads out of the sand ;)and get some excerise when it comes, if you need assistance with your wheelchairs let us know. If anything else will help you get out, as it will be on heck of a party. Don’t you remember when you were young? Is it not the jobs of the old ones to teach the younguns?
Think Big Debt.
Halifax is not only a much larger city, it is a capital city. It has much more ability to capture discretionary spending than PG.
guesswhat, I get plenty of Exercise cutting and splitting Wood, we don’t live in Apartments , some off us enjoy a Rural Lifestyle with plenty of clean Air and Work.No Games here just back to basics
Guesswhat…why on earth would you think that just because someone is against something they must be an old fogey. Talk about getting your head out of the sand. Try taking your own advise.
“Winter Games CEO Wants Everyone to Think Bigger”
Like in Bigger homeowner taxes?
But hey we are #1. In crime that is.
Cheers
We were thinking bigger when we said New Arena!
“some off us enjoy a Rural Lifestyle with plenty of clean Air and Work.”
But have no problem burning wood and most likely your garbage giving that clean air a nice blue hue.
“No Games here just back to basics”
You saw down those trees with a handsaw? Most likey an oil spewing air polluting 2 stroke power saw!
How long does it take you to get to town on your horse and buggy Outwest?
It’s just a tough crowd, guesswhat.
As for me, I also say we make the best of it.
So let’s see how many local people can be included in this national event which is driven by a federal government program for a national community of athletes who need a home base every four years to participate in an event which celebrates their sports and their successes.
As far as a âpartyâ goes, the social event(s) associated with the primary sporting functions, that is really the component I am VERY concerned about.
PG is not exactly a partying kind of town. This used to be a bit of a partying community when I got here in the early 1970s. In my opinion, it has ended up being a community of recluses over the last two to three decades. No more Oktoberfest, no more Snowgolf, no more Mardi Gras, no more Children’s Festival, no more Santa Claus parade, no more Summerfest and, of course, fewer and fewer places to go out for a ânight out on the townâ. I might be missing a few.
The City needs to wake everyone up from what has turned into a 30 year sleep. I, for one, do not think we can go from zero to 100k/h in one year and then crash into a wall after we reached the full speed with nothing after it. This is not our event. This is Canadaâs event. I think the best legacy which can come from this event is not a building which will soon be forgotten, but a community which has been jolted out of a deep sleep.
I think we need to start in early 2012 to begin âengagingâ the community in a meaningful way, not just a web site, some brochures, some media releases, but real mini events which will continue to February 2013 and grow into February 2014 and then we will be ready for the real thing February 2015.
Then? No crashing into a wall and resting on our laurels, but keeping a core group who will then take on the next challenge of having at least an annual regional winter event of sports and culture and partying as we celebrate the nearing end of winter and the arrival of spring.
I was born in a city which has one of the largest Carnivals in the world. It is not world class such as the Rio Carnival or Munichâs Oktoberfest, but more along the lines of the New Orleans Mardis Gras. It is regional and for a city of 1 million, it is relatively large since it draws over 1 million additional people into the City. The organizing committee – Cologne Carnival Celebration Committee – was founded in 1823. That is what I call sustainability. It is an annual event. As a âbusinessâ it generates about 460 million Euros per year.
Here are some links for those who are into links.
â¢The economic case http://www.koelnerkarneval.de/colognecarnivalstudy.html
â¢Main festival square http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cfhvuk-5Qak&feature=related
â¢Parade day http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rmUC6BF-ec&feature=related
So I support this event 150%. But let us leave a real âlegacyâ!
Let us reawaken or create a Prince George spirit!
Let us understand what thinking big actually means!
Let others participate! by understanding what they think “thinking big” means to them.
You could fit right in on the Canada Games committee gus.
You make some good points, however as I’m sure you’ve noticed, things have changed in the past 30 years. People have more options for entertaining themselves at home. Technology (Xboxes, Smart phones, internet, etc.) has taken the wind out of all those local events of the past that no longer exist.
So, good luck getting people to look up from their iPhones long enough to wake up from their ‘sleep’.
iPhones ….. look at them as the modern version of the cigarette lighter …. the concert audiences wave lit mini screens back and forth above their heads these days when nostalgia hits them at a perfromance or during the appropriate scenes during such cult movies as the Rocky Horror Picture Show ….
Social networking …. time we put the life back into it before we all become anonymous and forget who we really are. :-)
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“Together we will write a Northern story of Spirit and Passion inspiring unique and magical experiences for all Canadiansâ ……. on their collective iPhones …. LOL
gus – “It’s just a tough crowd, guesswhat” LOL LOL
realitycheck – naw, not as many as you think. Once the kids are involved maybe they will get involved. LOL
Things have changed – for the old people. :) We too have a rural lifestyle with wood etc.
Give the youth a chance and see what they come up with. I hope the committees will engage the youth with what they would like to see and even just even give the highschool students, college and university students something to do of their own. Because of the Technology nowadays they have the ability to blow you out of the water.
I may be old but I ain’t dead yet! LOL
Good coaching Gus, Prince George needs more people like you. It only takes a spark to start a great fire and a few sharp people can make a big difference. Mr. Ballantyne makes a good point to “think big” because the winter games coming to Prince George is big and I believe as suggested by Gus that Mr. Ballantyne’s committee needs to start in the new year 2012 to build excitement among the citizens of Prince George; Gus has given some good ideas. The Canada Winter Games in 2015 will be good for Prince George, giving us some much needed exposure. When you muse on these games one needs to think outside of the box because it is easy to be short sighted and miss out on the long range potential that these games may bring. For example > Someone could observe Prince George through these games and see something to invest in that those living day to day in Prince George have missed! Also at the very minimum these games will bring some new money to our fine
city.
Well put Gus. I remember Oktoberfest with fond memories. However, 2 beer and I’m in fear of losing my truck and my drivers license, thus, we are becoming recluses. Nothing to do with video games, its just the cops.
If you think winter games are going to cost too much, just wait untill we start hauling in snow from Alberta for the ski hills.
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