Public input being sought on 2023 Canada Winter Games bid for P.E.I.

More than a dozen Islanders from various backgrounds and communities are working to build Prince Edward Island’s case for hosting the 2023 Canada Winter Games.

The 16-member bid committee is made up of volunteers with expertise in sport, business, culture, volunteerism, event coordination and marketing.

Committee members will ask Islanders over the next few weeks for their vision of the games as the committee works to create the province’s conceptual plan for hosting the 2023 Canada Winter Games.

“These individuals are committed to developing a plan to host a games that conforms to Canada Games standards, celebrates Canada and Prince Edward Island and assures that the games are the best they possibly can be,” committee co-chairs Wayne Carew and Brian McFeely said. “We are indebted to all members for giving so freely of their time and expertise.”

The bid must include a vision for the 2023 games that provides an overall feel for the games including: how the Island will welcome visitors; what will they experience; the legacy of these games; how they will build upon the history of this national event and how the Island will celebrate the province and Canada’s national culture.

To create a vision that represents the views of all Islanders, five public sessions will be held on the following days:

Feb. 20 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Rodd Charlottetown Hotel   

Feb. 22 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Credit Union Place in Summerside

Feb. 27 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Lanes Riverhouse Inn and Cottages in Montague

March 1 from 6:30 to - 8:30 p.m at the Mill River Resort

March 6 (Francophone session) 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Centre Belle-Alliance in Summerside

The Canada Games is the largest multi-sport event in the country. In addition to the approximately 4,000 elite Canadian athletes that would compete, the event would bring thousands of family members, members of the media and officials to Prince Edward Island.

P.E.I. last hosted the Canada Summer Games in 2009, where they attracted 15,000 visitors and generated an estimated $81.5 million in economic activity.

While the Island is not bidding against another province to host the 2023 Canada Winter Games, a bid must be submitted which clearly outlines hosting plans and demonstrates the provinces ability to meet or surpass the minimum requirements as established in the Canada Games Council.

Prince Edward Island’s completed bid for the 2023 Canada Winter Games, which will be submitted this summer to the Canada Games bid evaluation committee, will include proposed measures to meet the standard required of the games.

If all standards are met, the official awarding of the 2023 Canada Winter Games will take place in the fall of 2018.

The committee includes: Brian McFeely (co-chair), Wayne Carew (co-chair), Blair Dunn, Dave MacNeill, John Morrison, Joey Dumville, Kateri Coade, Melissa Hilton, Gordie Whitlock, Deborah MacMurdo, Karolyn Godfrey, Heather Howatt, Tanya Gallant, Paul Power, Jonathon Ross and David MacAdam.