55 Plus Games meeting has local officials hopeful of good news

Mayor Brian Schulz and County Reeve Bill Lee are holding out hope that a meeting next week with Tourism, Parks and Recreation Minister Cindy Ady will bear good news for the 2013 Alberta 55 Plus Summer Games.

Minister Ady will also be bringing with her the chair and executive director of the Alberta Sports Recreation, Parks and Wildlife Foundation. The meeting was scheduled through Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock MLA Ken Kowalski. It is to take place in Westlock at the Seniors’ Drop-In Centre on May 19 from 10-11 a.m. Kowalski, in his letter to the Town council, said to his understanding, a decision as to which bid to host the games will be made in June. The meeting in Westlock is to ensure the message that both communities want the games is heard loud and clear, Kowalski said in his letter.

“This will be our last kick at the can and our last opportunity to impress the decision-makers that our area is ready to host these games, and that the partners will work harmoniously and determinedly to put on the best Games ever,” he stated in the letter.

“We need to make the final positive impression. We have an excellent area submission.”

Lee said he is glad to see Barr-head and Westlock are still in the running to host the games, and that the situation is looking positive.

He said he is hoping for a good turnout at the meeting.

“The more we can show just how much our communities are behind our bid for the games, the better we can cinch this event.”

I think we have a good chance. I was so pleased when members of the selection committee visited Barrhead earlier this year, and we had people all over the place welcoming them and telling them we want the Games. The entire community came together for this, and if I was on the selection committee, that’s what I would want to see,” Lee said.

The other community that is also in the running to host the games still isn’t known to the local bid committee, Lee said. He likened this scenario to running a blind race. In comparison, it could be like running against an Olympic athlete, Lee said.

“You don’t know who the competition is, or how fast you have to run, but we’re going to run like crazy,” he said.

Schulz said the meeting should prove interesting, and that he’s excited for it to take place. He complimented Kowalski on his commitment to the endeavour to bring to Barrhead and Westlock the Summer Games.

“He has been on board with this since the very start,” Schulz said. “Bringing ministers to the area to talk about the games only enhances the prestige of the event. (Kowalski’s) help and the work of our bid committee are commendable. This will be a fantastic opportunity.”

With the level of firepower Kowalski is bringing with Minister Ady, it will greatly increase the chances the bid committee has of securing the games, he added, and Barrhead and Westlock only stand to benefit from bringing the games here.

He said the Games would be a great way to promote the two communities across the rest of the province. Furthermore, the economic spin off of bringing in the athletes will be great for local businesses. As a council, Schulz said he and his fellow councillors are trying to increase their promotion of the community, and with athletes bringing back word of Barrhead to their own respective municipalities, the Games could only be a boon.

Kowalski encouraged councillors to invite anyone wishing to attend the meeting, and to spread the word.

Schulz said the local bid committee is excited, and it will be putting together a group and taking a bus to Westlock to attend the meeting.

As the province’s premier multisport event for athletes aged 55 and over, Barrhead and Westlock can expect to host 1,100 athletes and 300 guests and spectators over four days in July, 2013 should the games be awarded.

A final announcement as to the successful bid is expected by the end of May.

The Alberta 55-Plus Games, formerly called the Alberta Seniors Games, are co-ordinated by the Alberta Sport, Recreation, Parks and Wildlife Foundation with support from the Alberta 55-plus group.

The games are a provincial initiative to encourage Albertans to be active, and are made possible with the assistance of dozens of corporate sponsors, a host committee and the Alberta government. For more information about the Alberta 55 Plus Summer Games, visit www.albertagames.com.