Sponsors show support for 2019 Western Canada Summer Games
The host committee for the 2019 Western Canada Summer Games in Swift Current has received sponsorship support from four businesses with operations in southwest Saskatchewan.
The cheque presentations to Friends of the Games Director Scott Cassidy took place in Swift Current, June 20.
SaskEnergy made a donation of $20,000 and the Crown corporation will also provide over $15,000 of in-kind support to the games. Crescent Point Energy, Stark & Marsh and Whitecap Resources each made a donation of $15,000 to the games.
Mike Rossiter, the southwest area general manager for SaskEnergy, said the company is proud to be a part of the games.
“We like to be involved in a lot of the community events,” he mentioned. “A lot of our staff work here and they have kids here. It’s a great community and we’re proud to be a part of it.”
According to Stark & Marsh Director of Operations Darcy Congdon it was an easy decision for the company to become a games sponsor.
“It’s another event that adds to Swift Current’s legacy,” he said. “We’ve had the two different world curling events, just the different things that happen in our community, and to be able to host these 2019 Summer Games is pretty exciting.”
The sponsorship fits in with the company's goal to be a community stakeholder in southwest Saskatchewan.
“Our tag is Homegrown Success,” he said. “So the successes that our community feels, our region feels, which is really who’s going to be impacted with these games, just reflects on our mission as an organization to see things be successful and to grow.”
Cassidy is tasked with fundraising and sponsorship in his role as Friends of the Games director.
“We’ve been at it for about a year now, talking to national and regional and provincial and now local partners on some interest in the games and supporting it financially and other ways, like value-in-kind and things like that,” he said.
There has been a positive response from organizations that have been approached about financial support and sponsorship.
“Everyone we’re talking to is saying ‘We want to be involved, we're just not sure at what level yet,'” he said. “I think it’s just a unique opportunity for Swift Current here to participate in games such as this.”
He noted that sponsorship support will be crucial to ensure the success of the 2019 Western Canada Summer Games.
“Obviously it takes money to make the world go round and this investment that they’re making in the community, in the youth, really helps these athletes and coaches and referees springboard to the next level,” he said. “These 16 sports are ones that are smaller in nature, something like kayaking or tennis or things like that, but this is their spot, this is their sort of peak. ... When we talk to businesses about that and then being involved with that they really seem to rally around those points and get involved.”
The money donated by the four businesses will be used directly to fund the games, whether it will be expenses related to the facilities for the different sports or to feed athletes during the games.
There are different ways to get involved with the games. Sponsorship packages are available, another option will be in-kind support, and there will be a need for volunteers.
“Every little thing matters to us,” he said. “We appreciate any support we can get. We’re open to talk to anybody in the community about ways they can partner with us.”
The 2019 Western Canada Summer Games will take place at venues in Swift Current and surrounding area from Aug. 9-18.
Over 1,700 athletes, coaches, officials and mission staff from Alberta, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Saskatchewan, and Yukon will attend the event. Athletes between the ages of 13 and 20 will compete in 16 different sports.
For more information about the 2019 Western Canada Summer Games, visit the website http://2019wcsg.ca