Olympic bid a fantastic opportunity

Calgary can redefine itself, writes R. Scott Hutcheson

As we move closer to a Nov. 13 plebiscite — where Calgarians will be asked: are you for or are you against Calgary hosting the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games? — it is important to understand what we are voting for.

Quite simply, this is the best opportunity we have in front of us from an economic and cultural standpoint.

Hosting the 2026 Games in Calgary would inject $4.4 billion into the local economy and present the greatest opportunity to nation-build, and create a great community for the future.

It means real growth at a time when we continue to feel the pinch of low oil prices and an inability to build pipelines to get that oil to market.

This means real jobs at a time when Calgary has the highest unemployment rate in the country. The Olympics would generate more than $1 billion in wages for Calgarians. That’s money in the pockets of those who really need it. That’s money for people to spend in restaurants, in bars, in coffee shops — money for local businesses and their workers.

Construction companies and their employees would benefit from the growth. With close to a billion dollars earmarked to renovate and revitalize 11 event venues and build two new ones, including a much-needed field house, the positive impacts are far-reaching.

There are those who say: “We should spend the $4.4 billion elsewhere,” or “The City has better things to spend its money on than a Winter Games.”

That’s fine. But here’s the catch.

For all these benefits to happen, the Games must come here. If they don’t, there is no pot of money to divvy up, no jobs, no wages, no growth. If Calgary does not host the 2026 Games, the billions stay away and that would be a shame.

But beyond the economic benefits, Calgarians have an opportunity to use the power of the Games to build a legacy for generations to come. Venue modernization and a new field house means our children and their children will have a chance to skate at the Olympic Oval, snowboard down the half-pipe at Canada Olympic Park, race down the slopes at Nakiska, sit in the seats at a rejuvenated McMahon Stadium, and play and train year-round in an indoor field house. We would also build 2,850 affordable housing units — for athletes’ housing initially but which convert to serve our undersupply of affordable housing.

With a committed $700 million from the government of Alberta and an expected contribution north of $1 billion from the federal government, we can do all of this without putting the burden solely on the Calgary taxpayer. If the City of Calgary were to do this on its own, the minimum cost would be $600 million. The Games allow all Albertans and all Canadians to share the affordable housing investment. Because the benefits go far beyond a legacy for Calgarians.

Hosting an Olympic Games has proven to boost and enhance a city’s reputation far beyond its borders.

Let’s think globally here. Vancouver did when it hosted the 2010 Winter Games. It was like Calgary in the late 1990s and early 2000s: saddled with high unemployment, head offices leaving the downtown — things were not great. After the 2010 Games, Vancouver leveraged its global profile, attracted tech companies to the city and reinvigorated the local economy.

Calgary has the opportunity to do the same with the 2026 Games.

Yet beyond the economics, the Games can also serve as a catalyst for us to imagine, define and create Calgary’s future together. We should ask the question: what kind of city do we want to be and what do we want people to say about our city?

Finally, to those who say: “Now is not the time,” “Let someone else host the Games,” “This is not good for Calgary,” I say: “If not the Games, then what?” “What is your plan?” ‘‘What should we be doing ?”

This is the best opportunity we have in front of us.

Calgary, you decide on Nov. 13.

For all these benefits to happen, the Games must come here. If they don’t, there is no pot of money to divvy up, no jobs, no wages, no growth.