Tourism office launching bid to bring sports event to area

Waterloo Region Record

By Paige Desmond 

WATERLOO REGION — The Regional Sport Tourism Office wants local governments to fork over cash and support a bid to bring the 2021 Canada Summer Games here.

Sherry Doiron, regional tourism manager, pitched the idea to Waterloo council Monday night and explained the potential costs.

"Once a bid has been committed, gone through the process, been accepted and identified, it's the host society then that begins to raise revenues," she said.

To bid would cost $150,000, which Doiron said would likely be funded by the tourism office.

Operating costs are estimated at up to $33 million, but in the past the provincial and federal governments have provided some funding through grants, Doiron said. Additional money could be made through ticket sales and sponsorship.

Capital costs to build the necessary infrastructure required for the games are estimated at $3 million.

Doiron said the proposal is to bring together Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo and Guelph to make the bid.

"When we look at a regional bid it's unique in a sense because the four municipalities would be looking to collaborate together," Doiron said.

Doiron said the tourism office expected to receive more information from the Canada Games council on Wednesday in Toronto.

Coun. Mark Whaley questioned when a response about funding would be needed from cities.

"Do you require from all municipalities their hands up (now)," he asked.

Doiron said the sport tourism office has been speaking with the cities and local post-secondary institutions.

"We've been trying to do as much due diligence as we can," she said. No decisions have been made.

It's expected to take between six and eight months for a location to be chosen.

Coun. Melissa Durrell questioned whether there would be opportunities for new infrastructure if the games landed here.

"Often times when a city hosts there's a lot of build infrastructure that has to happen … is this the opportunity for us to build some new infrastructure?"

Doiron said the games committee generally would prefer not to be adding significant capital costs though usually building of some sport infrastructure occurs.

The event features more than a dozen sports and would bring 3,500 athletes to the region along with 6,000 volunteers. The Canada Summer Games are held every two years with a rotation between summer and winter games.

Benefits of hosting the Games could include legacy, showcasing local talent and economic benefits, Doiron said.

She said Newfoundland and Labrador was scheduled to host the 2021 games but felt that it wasn't ready so Ontario stepped in.

pdesmond@therecord.com , Twitter: @DesmondRecord