The host committee for the 2016 Saskatchewan Summer Games has some plans that will leave their own unique stamp on the event.
Estevan is hosting the Games in two years and one sub-committee has plans to make them more environmentally friendly.
"We're modelling it after the Vancouver Olympics. We're developing a strategic environmental action plan which will highlight a number of initiatives, which will help the Games be as green as possible," said committee member Nathan Puffalt.
Among the ideas being thrown around are a carpool campaign, bike rentals in strategic areas to get from one event to another, a composting program, recycling, and ensuring anything they buy does not negatively impact the environment.
"We'll be looking into the options of organic and sustainable food for the concessions, reusable utensils and containers, water for visitors, having water refilling stations around. We could save over 100,000 water bottles over the course of those two weeks if we do something like that," said Puffalt.
The committee won't be able to eliminate all negative effects on the environment, but they have a plan to deal with that.
"We want to offset the CO2 emissions we can't control. We're looking for a partner to donate money to an environmental program to offset it. It could be a local company.
"It's very exciting. It's the first time an event of this scale in Saskatchewan will be completely carbon neutral."
He added that spectators will have the option to offset their carbon footprint as well.
"When visitors come to the Games and register at one of the venues with their tickets, they'll be given the option to, A, donate $5 to plant a sapling, then B, they'll be able to offset their carbon footprint to get to the Games, if they've come from all the way up in Meadow Lake. For someone to do that, that's maybe a $5 donation as well. That will be added to the whole offsetting of the Games."
Puffalt, the former manager of the Woodlawn Regional Park, said it's a cause that is meaningful to him.
"You see everything going on in the world nowadays and there's just no excuse not to be looking out for the environment anymore. Whether you believe it or not, and 99 per cent of scientists are in agreement with it, we need to look at alternative options for using sustainable resources. Our No. 1 philosophy is making sure everything we do, from having paperless meetings to offsetting our carbon emissions, is done to help the environment.
"We're not at the Vancouver Olympics level where we can dictate the type of venues that are built or where they operate, but we're going to find ways to (make them more green). It's a win-win for the venue if they don't even have to do the work for it."
