Significant steps are about to be taken in the preparations for the 2015 Canada Winter Games.
Today through Saturday, technical delegates from the National Sporting Organization will be in Prince George for a conference that will bring them in contact with local sport leaders. The purpose of the conference is to ensure that all Canada Games standards are met when it comes to field of play requirements. Delegates will review the current venue plans for each sport, as well as the roles and responsibilities of the sport leaders. Detailed planning for each event will also be on the to-do list.
Some of the NSO delegates will have traveled from as far away as Ottawa and will be in Prince George for the first time.
Local sport leaders -- all of whom will serve in volunteer capacities -- are: Pierre Beaudry (biathlon); Dave Milne (freestyle skiing); Tom Muirhead (gymnastics); Aline Strasdin (judo); Vonda Hofferd (curling); Brian Crandell (ringette); Ariadne Hiller (short track speed skating); Dee-Ann Stickel (long track speed skating); Dan Adamson (squash); Nancy Harris (wheelchair basketball); Michael Wells (alpine skiing); Dawn Procter (archery); Lisa Davison (badminton); Alec Hartney (men's hockey); Dawn Bursey (women's hockey); Lynn Barager (synchronized swimming); Jim Burbee (cross-country skiing); Renee Hampole (figure skating); Bill Laing (snowboarding); Tyler Clemments (table tennis); and Steven Storch (target shooting).
"We are thrilled to have such a strong group of sport leaders put their names forward from the community," said Lisa Shaw-MacLaren, manager of sport and venue preparation for the Games. "These individuals have a very strong background in the respective sports and we look forward to working with all of them."
A second conference is scheduled for August of 2014.
The 2015 Canada Winter Games will be the largest multi-sport and cultural event ever held in Prince George and northern B.C. The economic impact of the Games has been estimated at $70 million to $90 million. Athletes from all 10 provinces and three territories will be in attendance and some of them will be future Canadian Olympians.
