Dear Editor
Feb. 10, North Battleford hosted the selection committee for the 2018 Saskatchewan Winter Games. The stakes were high. This event will attract 2,000 athletes and more than 5,000 spectators over an entire week, provide the means for legacy projects and will inject an estimated $2 million into the local economy. Our bid committee was told by the Saskatchewan Games Council that the winning community would not only require top notch facilities, but would also need to demonstrate that the entire community was behind the effort to host the Games.
We were given five hours to showcase 11 facilities and the very best of what our community has to offer. As word spread, organizations and individuals came forward voluntarily to contribute and the tour was nothing short of inspirational. It was an incredible experience for everyone involved, including the selection committee. We made our point clear —We Want the Games.
Everyone involved did our community proud. The North Battleford 2018 Saskatchewan Winter Games Bid Committee thanks the following organizations and individuals who made the day a success:
• The team at Ultra Print, who donated dozens of hours of their graphic talents to produce the bid package, printed the bid package and printed hundreds of “We Want the Games” posters;
• The hundreds of citizens who came out to various tour locations to show the selection committee their support by cheering and waving posters;
• The Battlefords detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, who provided an escort to the tour bus to begin the day;
• WPD Ambulance and North Battleford Community Safety Officers, who were on site lending their support as a show of emergency services to the games;
• The Battleford Central School Drum Line under the direction of Barry Ursaki, who performed as the tour marched behind the RCMP to the tour bus;
• Sparky and the team at North Battleford Fire and Emergency Services, who energized the crowd at the Credit Union CUplex;
• Jason Moore of Blue Mountain Adventure Park, who hosted the tour at that facility;
• Doug Sylvester of the Blue Mountain Bullets Biathlon Club, who joined the team at Blue Mountain for a firearms demonstration on the biathlon range;
• Staff and students of Lawrence Elementary School, who cheered as the tour bus passed en route to the Civic Centre;
• Trent Cey and the North Stars Hockey Club, who hosted the tour in the Civic Centre;
• Jim Ramsey, who led the tour with his bagpipes into the Northland Power Curling Centre;
• The Shevchuk family, who greeted the tour in the Northland Power Curling Centre with a traditional Ukrainian bread and salt ceremony;
• Guests who spoke at the tour lunch, including Mayor Ian Hamilton of the City of North Battleford, Russ Brown of Destination Battlefords and the Battlefords Hotels Association (who have pledged no less than $10,000 for the games), Randy Fox of the Living Sky School Division, Ray Fox of North Battleford City Council and Jim Shevchuk who spoke on diversity in the community;
• Christa Lessard and Zoe Schultz, who spoke about their personal Saskatchewan Games experiences at lunch, joined the afternoon portion of the tour, and reminded the selection committee of the true legacy of the games — the pursuit of excellence and lasting memories for the athletes,
• Monique Puffalt of the Twin Rivers Curling Club, who provided a tour of that facility;
• Hit the Rocks café for providing an excellent meal to the guests involved;
• Aaron Albert and the Sakewew High School drum circle, who performed on the turf of the NationsWEST Field House;
• Rena Fauchon-Smockum and the John Paul II Collegiate cheer team, who performed a spectacular routine on the turf of the NationsWEST Field House;
• Sir Wins-A-Lot and the team at Gold Eagle Casino, who escorted the tour from the NationsWEST Field House to the Battlefords Co-op Aquatic Centre;
• The Water Doves Synchronized Swim Club, for performing a special routine in the Battlefords Co-op Aquatic Centre;
• The NBCHS Jazz Band for performing as the tour entered the school;
• NBCHS principal Bruce Friesen and the NBCHS Student Representative Council, who hosted the tour throughout the school. NBCHS will be the games village if the bid is successful;
• Dave Cashmore of Table Mountain Regional Park, who hosted the tour at that facility;
• The staff and students of St. Vital School, who cheered and greeted the tour when it arrived at the Battleford Arena, and also displayed a great show of badminton as the tour went through the field house;
• Jordan Schechtel of the Town of Battleford, who was with the tour all day and showcased the Battleford Arena and the Battle River Archery Club building;
• Jeff Arndt, who performed an original song in the foyer of the Battleford Arena;
• Cyndi Tymoruski, who hosted the tour at the Don Ross Arena;
• Skate Battlefords, who performed for the tour at the Don Ross Arena and shared sugar cookies with the selection committee;
• Annie Bajak, who hosted the tour at the North Battleford Bowlarena;
• Vic Stynsky and students of John Paul II Collegiate for demonstrating bowling games at the North Battleford Bowlarena;
• Battlefords Transit System for providing the transportation services for the day, and to Art Bastion , a fantastic driver who made sure the tour was transported comfortably and safely all day;
• Mike Hutchinson, Discovery Co-op, and Ironjet Media for displaying “We Want the Games” on their digital billboards throughout the city;
• And the rest of the community who proudly displayed posters and came out in show of support.
The North Battleford 2018 Saskatchewan Winter Games Bid Committee
City of North Battleford
Destination Battlefords
