Grande Prairie could host the 2022 Arctic Winter Games

An official bid to host the 2022 Arctic Winter Games hasn’t been submitted to the province but the City of Grande Prairie is eyeballing the idea.
 
Mayor Bill Given says the city has inquired with the Grande Prairie Sports Council’s bid review committee.
 
“To get a good sense of the capacity of our community to host the event that is being considered. It wouldn’t make any sense for city council to say ‘yes, we want to submit a bid’ for an event, only to find out that there is another event being held at the exact same time. Or, there is not enough volunteers or hotel capacity to handle the event.”
 
A city committee has received a letter from the Sports Council that says they could host the games but further steps should be taken to make sure.
 
Given says it is a huge investment of time and energy meaning they would need to measure volunteer enthusiasm following the most recent Alberta Summer Games held in the region this year.
 
“With that in mind, council is moving cautiously and recognizing that many of our community volunteers went through a very large event.”
 
Federal funding is provided in some capacity for the event but the city would have to provide some sort of support. The hope is that the community would come on board to support the event.
 
“There is a tremendous economic impact from visitors to our community. I believe the 2010 Arctic Winter Games was measured at about six or $7 million of economic return into Grande Prairie.”
 
Given says the city will feel out a regional approach to the event and administrative staff will be attending a workshop to better understand submitting a bid as well.