The City of North Battleford is seeking a chair to help the community land the 2016 Saskatchewan Summer Games.
The call for a bid chair is out in the community as the bid process commences for the 2016 Games.
North Battleford has submitted a letter of interest regarding hosting the games. According to a report from Facilities Manager Bill Samborski, the City is one of seven communities to do so, the others being Swift Current, Estevan, Weyburn, Humboldt, Melville and Melfort.
The next step, according to Samborski's report, is to identify a bid committee chair who is willing to take on that role and recruit a bid committee of eight to 10 community volunteers.
The committee would engage local sport groups, school boards and support services to put together the bid package. That bid submission is due Oct. 1.
The 2016 games would be a major endeavour for the city. The event can expect to attract approximately 2,000 athletes, 5,000 spectators, 200 VIPS and media, 100 mission staff and up to 1,700 volunteers needed.
Operating costs are estimated at $1 million with Sask. Games providing a hosting grant of $413,000. The economic and tourism benefit, based on recent studies, is estimated at $1 million.
Councillor Greg Lightfoot cited those numbers and particularly noted the potential $1 million economic benefit, but he also noted "it's a huge, huge undertaking."
Councillor Ryan Bater agreed and cited the importance of having the right chairperson for the job of leading the bid committee.
"We want to be careful about throwing a name out because we want to make sure that person is both interested and up to the task," said Bater. He suggested working with their own staff on an informal basis to come up with identifying "key people in the community" who might be willing to take it on.
He also hoped for a formal committee to come together soon as well and cited the importance of those individuals.
"We can appoint a chair of a committee, but the strength is within the numbers," said Bater.
