Important sponsorship partnerships announced as Games draw closer
Organizers of the Western Canada Summer Games celebrated an additional trio of sponsorship partnerships with the start of the Games now just days away.
This past week Richardson Pioneer ceremonially presented their Signature Partnership contribution of $75,000 in support of the Highland Coulee Trails mountain bike course.
“Giving back to the communities that we do business with is a very real part of our company culture. Richardson Pioneer is dedicated to being a positive presence in our communities, in our industry and in the world around us,” explained BJ Krywulak, Director of Operations for Richardson Pioneer in Swift Current.
“We are particularly excited to be part of creating the Highland Coulee Trails project which has been designed to host the Mountain Bike and Eliminator cycling events at the Games and ultimately a lasting legacy for the community of Swift Current.”
Krywulak said the legacy component to their partnership was key to their involvement.
“It feels like the best fit for the demographic that our company deals with. It’s good community involvement. It’s the kind of thing the company does fund wellness, health, etc.”
There will be two days of competition at the Highland Coulee Trails.
The Mountain Bike events begin on the afternoon of Monday, August 12 with the Cross Country Eliminator heat races at 1 p.m., and the finals at 2:30 p.m.
The athletes wrap up the cycling competition on Tuesday, August 13, with the male Cross Country Mountain Bike race starting at 9 a.m., and the female race starting at 9:05 a.m.
The Pioneer Co-op jumped on board as a partner with the Western Canada Summer Games through an $18,000 contribution which will see them help feed the Games volunteers as well as providing fuel for transportation of the athletes.
“We are a part of the community. We want to be involved in this. This is a huge event for specifically Swift Current, but Saskatchewan and Pioneer Coop. We had an opportunity to look after feeding our volunteers, of which there’s many. And we want to be a part of this type of event so we went for it,” noted Daryl Frederickson, Food Manager at the Pioneer Co-op.
As part of their commitment they will be feeding approximately 180 volunteers each day during the Games, which gives them a chance to highlight their Coop Gold food product line.
“Everything we’re providing is Co-op Gold. For lunch we’re creating sandwiches, wraps, etc. from our Deli Department. We’ll be making them fresh every day. I don’t believe anyone will be disappointed by the quality of food that we create,” Frederickson said.
As a major player in the Southwest for gas, diesel, and farm agro products, they also found the petroleum support a good fit.
The third celebrated partnership was Burns & Mcdonnell contributing $15,000 to serve as one of the presenting partners of one night during the Firelight Festival. Athletes and community members are invited to attend nights of musical entertainment, food trucks and other activities on August 10, 12, 14 and 16.
“The Western Canada Games is a big thing for Swift Current coming up here. We understood that and we were just glad to have the opportunity to participate in that,” said Dewey Cook, a Senior Construction Manager with Burns & Mcdonnell.
The Festival kickoff night on August 10 is fittingly Energy Night.
“Especially Energy Night, we’re here building an energy plant, so it just made sense that that should be our night. So we stepped up and made the donation,” Cook said.
As a 17 year employee of the company, he has frequently seen Burns & Mcdonnell support the communities where they are working.
“We’ve always been about giving back. We’ve been doing that every since we’ve been here for the last two-and-a-half-years,” he said. “This is a great town. Being in Swift Current and the people’s energy here is just unbelievable towards helping people.”
“The guys that came up from the States with me, probably about a dozen of us at one time or another, they’re not used to working so close to a community like this. We’re usually out in the middle of nowhere. So by the time we get back in town everything’s closed. So here though it’s like, hey, they’re here for us, and we’re here for them. Its been a great deal.”
Scott Cassidy, Director of Friends of the Games, noted that the culmination of the fundraising component of the Games helps fulfill the vision they have long held for the Games.
“It’s a team of people,” Cassidy admits. “It is a vision. And it is a vision created by our board over the last two and a half years. It’s a vision that the City saw when they went and pitched for the project four or five years ago. And it’s all coming together here now.”
And with the Opening Ceremonies quickly approaching on August 9, it is rewarding to see the fulfillment of the networking which has occurred over the past number of years.
“The picture’s painted. And the connections we’ve made with our investment partners such as Richardson Pioneer. We’re all on the same page. And I think we’re excited for the youth coming, the culture, everything to celebrate Southwest Saskatchewan.”