It began as a vision of Estevan hosting the rest of the province four years in the future, and a year later those dreams became reality.
The city's selection as host to the 2016 Saskatchewan Summer Games is the Estevan Mercury's top story of 2013.
Brian Senchuk and Brian Smith, now the Games co-chairs, first announced their desire to chase the 2016 Games last year as part of the Woodlawn Athletic Field revitalization effort.
They held a public meeting in April to make sure all the relevant power hitters in the city were on board, and to begin building the organizational machine that would put the bid package together.
The effort pushed forward full steam after that, as roles on the committee and sub-committees were filled and Estevan's case began to take shape.
The main committee included city council reps Greg Hoffort and Kevin Smith, City leisure services director Nathan Jesse, secretary Nathan Puffalt, Josh LeBlanc and Brian Smith in athletic services, St. Joseph's Hospital Foundation executive director Becky Conly, Joe Lingelbach and Lindsay Clark in charge of sports venues, Leanne Boehm in medical services, Sheila Guenther in charge of volunteers, Steve McLellan and Jeff Walters in information and technology, Art Beselt in logistics, Curtis Hack in food services, Brenda Lyons and Blaire Ulrich in marketing and promotions, Michel Cyrenne in ceremonies and protocol, and Amber Andersen in charge of cultural events.
In July, the bid committee commissioned a full engineering study to provide an estimate of the cost to build a new track facility at ECS.
The South East Cornerstone School Division in August committed $225,000 to the new track over a five-year period. Not long after that, the City of Estevan threw its support behind the bid, agreeing to commit $336,000 to the track over five years, which represents one-third of the costs. The City also agreed to cover any deficit and commit its facilities for the Games.
The bid package was completed in September and then carefully checked over before being submitted to the Saskatchewan Games Council at the end of the month.
About 10 days later, word came back that Estevan was a finalist for the Games, alongside Swift Current, Melfort and Humboldt, and would be getting a visit from the selection committee on Nov. 7 to view the facilities.
The bid committee put out the call to the public to show their support on the day of the visit, stressing that the enthusiasm shown to the selection committee in person could make the difference.
Come the day of the visit, the selection committee was treated to a raucous welcome on the grounds of Estevan Comprehensive School, as the school's band and cheerleaders put on a show upon their arrival.
Inside, there was a pep rally before the group embarked on their tour of the school, which would serve as the athletes village.
The selection committee saw many other facilities, including the Pleasantdale softball grounds, the Saskatchewan Energy Training Institute for lunch, the outdoor archery grounds, the TS&M Woodlawn Golf Club, Boundary Dam, the RM of Estevan Aquatic Centre and Affinity Place.
Less than three weeks after the visit, the committee got the good news: Estevan would play host to Saskatchewan's athletes in 2016.
"My first thought was, 'holy (expletive), here we go,'" Senchuk laughed.
At a press conference, selection committee chairman Larry Lafrentz said the site visit was indeed the difference between Estevan and fellow contender Swift Current.
"Estevan has wonderful facilities, and the energy that was shown to us as we came to this community, (those) were the things that really set it apart in the bid process," he said.
"Swift Current had a track that we saw, it was there, we could touch it, it's never been used yet, and that put them ahead in some regards," Lafrentz said. "(But) one of the big factors for the Games is leaving a legacy In this day and age, to keep clubs and keep kids involved in those sports, we have to have those facilities available. It'll be a wonderful legacy and that was part of our decision as well, because we know it'll serve not just Estevan, but it'll serve the surrounding community and schools."
Estevan will host the Games for the first time in 36 years.
