Nearly four months after the conclusion of the Estevan 2016 Saskatchewan Summer Games, the organizing committee received a special recognition on Tuesday.
Several committee members, along with representatives of the Saskatchewan Games Council, gathered at the Saskatchewan Legislature on Tuesday, where they were saluted by MLAs from across the province during question period.
Brenda Lyons, who co-chaired the publicity committee for the Games, said they spoke with Ken Cheveldayoff, the minister of parks, culture and sport, about the Games and the impact on the community.
“He had been in Estevan for the opening ceremonies, so he had a sense of familiarity with what had happened, but wanted to hear our successes and inputs,” Lyons told Lifestyles.
Since Cheveldayoff had been there for the opening ceremonies, and his daughter had been part of the torch relay, he recognized that thousands of volunteer hours went into making the Games happen.
Then they were escorted into the legislative assembly, where they were introduced by Cheveldayoff and recognized by Warren McCall, who is the critic for parks, culture and sport for the opposition New Democratic Party.
Then Estevan MLA Lori Carr thanked the committee, and explained the legacy of the Games.
Representatives from the Saskatchewan Games Council told the local committee that this was the first time a Games committee has been recognized in the Saskatchewan Legislature.
“We were very, very honoured that they thought of us and brought us in,” said Lyons.
One member of the committee had been recognized once already this month, as Sheila Guenther was saluted with other members of Saskatchewan’s Olympic and Paralympic delegation.
Guenther was an official in swimming for the Paralympic Games – the latest marquee swimming event that she has officiated.
Lyons believes the recognition at the Legislature was a great way to cap the committee’s efforts over the past few years, and it was a wonderful recognition.
“It’s good to know that other people recognize what we’ve done, and can celebrate the success, and keep that feeling of positive momentum going forward,” said Lyons. “We hope that other people can see that if you put your minds together, and if volunteers work hard for a common goal, you can create something very special.”
Since the closing ceremonies for the Games on July 30, the committee has been holding occasional meetings and pay lingering bills.
“We’re very, very close to being done, and then we’ll have a final meeting to discuss the financials, and if there’s a profit, what recommendation will be going forward,” said Lyons.
The committee said before the Games that they expect to have a surplus.
Since they were a committee of Estevan city council, it will be council that ultimately determines where the surplus revenues will be directed, but the committee will make recommendations.
Committee members have also been giving advice to the organizers of the 2018 Saskatchewan Winter Games in North Battleford. Lyons proudly announced that Nicole Clow, who was the manager of the Estevan Games, has been hired to do the same job in North Battleford.
“They recognized how hard she worked, and she can take some of the lessons learned here to North Battleford,” said Lyons.
