The provincial government made the first installment of its financial commitment to the 2015 Canada Winter Games on Monday.
Community,Sport and Cultural Development Minister Ida Chong announced $1 million in operational funding for the 2015 host society. Prince George will host the 2015 Canada Winter Games - a two-week, multi-sport event expected to draw 3,700 top national athletes and generate $70-90 million in local economic activity.
"Certainly our government and caucus believe in the power of sport" Chong said. "It does galvanize a community; it does unite a community. It promotes excellence, it promotes active, healthy participation."
Chong said the provincial government is still in discussions with the federal government on the final operational funding for the games.
"Right now they haven't finished negotiating with the [2013] Canada Summer Games in Quebec," Chong said. "Once they are done that, we'll be in there."
The games bid committee and host society expect a $16 million total contribution from the federal and provincial governments to the operational budget. The operational budget for the games is pegged at approximately $30 million.
In addition, both governments were anticipated to provide $3 million each to the city to assist with the $17.4 million in capital projects needed for the games. Chong said it will be up to the community to determine what capital upgrades must be done, and to fund them.
In March, the City of Prince George loaned the Canada Winter Games 2015 Host Society $100,000 to cover initial startup costs.
Host society chairperson Anthony Everett said the $1 million is a good start for the society.
"This is an important milestone for us," Everett said. "For this year we are quiet comfortable with the initial [provincial] funding. It'll probably be critical, coming next year, to get the remainder. We have a tight four-year deadline."
The initial funding will cover the costs of "getting the doors open," he said.
"The first order of business is hiring a CEO, and we're doing that," Everett said.
As of Monday a shortlist of four to five candidates has been set, he said. And interviews are expected to take place over the following month.
"These people are the top in Canada, and you might even say some are the top in the world," Everett said. "We are very hopeful we will have someone named by August."
Other objectives for this year include finding an office location and building the operational framework.
"Your host society is ready, willing and able to pull off these games," Everet said.
