2010 Winter Games

There hasn't been a lot of hoopla since this area won the games bid over a year ago. There's been a few pictures in the paper about donors but no real calls to action and this event is going to come at us faster than we think. The date is February 4 to 7th and an estimated 3,000 athletes aged 13 to 17 will descend on the Lakeland region of Northeastern Alberta looking to compete and have fun. Most will bring parents along with them and its up to us as citizens to help them enjoy their visit. There's still lots to do to make that happen and you can be a part of it. You can volunteer, sponsor, help build, be an ambassador or what ever your heart desires. Organizers will need almost as many volunteers as there are participants so don't worry about not having something to do.  If you are interested, stop in at the Bonnyville Town Hall and put your name on the list. If you want more information, contact Lorri Goudie at the games office in the H E Bourgoin school.
Overall games chairman, Phil Kushnir told me that their initial goal was to raise $1.5 million in cash or kind. They have about $800,000 of that in place but will need a little push to get over the top. A new committee has been formed in Bonnyville to canvas the business community and along with efforts in Cold Lake the combined totals should reach the target shortly. What might it take to become a sponsor? Kushnir told me that Husky Energy just donated $10,000 worth of fuel to the event. That will take carry of keeping the transportation buses running. ATCO is bringing all their staff together to provide registration as a team building opportunity. You just have to get creative and think about what you might have that may be of value to the games.
Remember, these games are more about regionality, not just for each individual town, village or city. Events will take place in the two main centres of Bonnyville and Cold Lake but this shouldn't stop anyone from planning other events around the games to provide additional things for visitors to do.

Keep checking back for more updates on a regular basis.