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Cycling events were held at the Wapiti Nordic Centre during the 2018 Alberta Summer Games. Photo by Curtis Galbraith.
By Curtis Galbraith
Community

Local sports official says Grande Prairie area needs a sports tourism strategy

Jan 13, 2021 | 6:00 AM

The executive director at the Grande Prairie Regional Sport Connection says this area needs a sports tourism strategy.

Karna Germsheid talked about this idea during a presentation to City Council Monday.

She says sports tourism is a major economic driver in the north and a billion-dollar industry in Alberta.

“Without even knowing that there are things going on, businesses are acutely aware when there is a tournament in town. (It is) something that is very tangible and something that the community can really get behind. It helps with the healing, the recovery, not only economically but once we get the athletes and the organizations moving again, we’re going to see a lot of community pride again and a lot of local engagement.”

She adds this strategy would involve more than just attracting events.

“When you are looking at it from a tourism perspective, it matters what people are experiencing as soon so they come into town. So, the tourism strategy includes when we’re bidding for events, how are we bidding for events, who’s at the table, what type of partnerships we made before that. We consider which facilities are used, are we looking at regional municipalities or just our single municipality, and what is the best direction for this event.”

Germsheid says this strategy would also help local sports organizations put on successful events. Most organizations are run by volunteers and would have to at least break even, if not make some money for the group. Germsheid says this strategy could include ways for these organizations to form partnerships with sponsors and municipalities.

She adds this would be important to this area as other areas already have such a plan in place.

“As far as the city goes, they are the authoritative voice, right? They create the strategy and then all their partners throughout the region engage, meaning the Sport Connection, meaning the airport, meaning the school boards, but, I think, that they are the drivers of something that important for our region.”

Besides the presentation to City Council, Germsheid will also meet with County of Grande Prairie Council January 25.

by Curtis Galbraith