The final countdown has begun for the Alberta Winter Games.
The Lakeland region is hosting the games February 13 – 16, and organizers are busy coordinating the logistics and assembling the volunteers they need to make things run. Games manager Violet Lapointe says they could still use some volunteer help.
“It’s definitely very busy,” she said. “We’re really trying to push the last-minute volunteer signup. All of our focus is on the final planning and making sure we have enough volunteers where we need to have them.”
There has been the predictable last-minute response, she said, and there’s room for more. “We definitely would like to see a little bit more,” she said. “We’ll take what we can get and we’ll work with what we have.”
Just as community groups and young athletes support 55 Plus games, Lapointe said there is a good response from older adults looking to help out with youth events like the Alberta Winter Games.
“I actually quite love those conversations,” Lapointe said. “Some of them have stayed in the sports that they were in and gone to be coaches and moved on. And some just have this really great tie to it from a long time ago, and they just still have a lifelong passion for that sport or that activity. It’s pretty neat.”
The opportunity to host the Games is a great opportunity for the region to show off.
“It’s opened so many doors to us to showcasing our facilities, our natural resources, and of course, the people in our community,” Lapointe said.
“When we talk about long term effects of this, not only do we have this great economic boost happening and all our hotels and restaurants and stores will be visited, but we have people that think, ‘maybe I
would like to volunteer, I’d like to come back and relocate to Bonnyville if there’s a job opportunity, I did like it up there.’
“It just branches off into many directions that have some great long-lasting impacts. And even just the memories of this event for people in the community, I hope it’s something that has such a positive, lasting impact on people,” she said.
Lapointe encourages everyone in the Lakeland to take part by volunteering or coming out to cheer on the competitors.
“If people have a moment to come out and volunteer or even see the games, come support your community, come support the athletes,” she said. “We want to welcome all the athletes and coaches and chaperones and visitors that are coming to the area. We’re excited to see everyone and we hope the community comes out and joins us.”
And if you have some volunteer time offer?
“Call now,” she said.
Information on Games events, schedules, venues, and volunteer opportunities is at 2026awg.com. Call (780) 201-4900 for more information or to volunteer.
