The 2018 Power Smart Manitoba Winter Games will not be held here, in Virden, in 2018, as had been planned.
The decision to pull out as the host community came just one week before Virden, and three other municipalities were to sign the agreement to host the games.
Virden’s 2018 Manitoba Games executive committee made this decision Monday evening, Dec. 12. Tuesday morning volunteers were notified by email of the decision.
Tara Cowan, the chair of the committee, said she was “a little stressed and upset” by the decision.
“We didn’t have the people to run it,” said Cowan. “At this time we were short, probably 100 people, in the planning stages. Once game time came we would need 1,000 people to run the games.”
Cowan emphasized the decision was based on volunteer needs rather than finances.
After coverage by a local radio station, in October, things started to look up for a while.
“Volunteers were slowly, but surely joining,” said Cowan, “but, also leaving at the same time; resigning after realizing the time it takes.”
Virden winter games executive met with Sport Manitoba on Monday night (Dec. 12) to confirm the decision.
“They took the news, and from here on out, they are prepared to find another community to host [the 2018 Winter Games],” said Cowan.
But there is no immediate back-up plan, according to Patrick Kirby, Senior Manager of Games with Sport Manitoba.
Kirby acknowledged the huge challenge the games present to a host community.
“Someone takes on a position with all good intentions. Especially, when you have a 24-month commitment before the games, it does take a special volunteer to do that.”
The first glitch in the process came with the delay of the anticipated June announcement declaring Virden and area as hosts.
By this fall, it became evident that the executive committee was struggling to find volunteers to step forward and commit to roles of leadership.
The executive itself was supposed to be a group of six. With a co-chair resigning, Tara Cowan continued as chair of the executive committee, with only three other members - Town of Virden Councillor Tina Williams, Murray Wright and Bill Hayward.
Kirby said the provincial executive had not given up on Virden.
“Even though Virden was behind, we were still confident, if they got the people in place, with all the data and literature we’ve got, that is going to help, moving forward.”
He pointed to competing interests that communities have to consider such as upgrades to facilities, a capital campaign, or other events, which, in the cycle of the games may mean the timing is just not right.
He noted that Virden has several large capital projects on the go such as a Skate Park and a Splash Park, along with recent work on the baseball park.
“It comes down to timing.”
Kirby sounded optimistic that the Games can be saved.
“With the current games model that we started in 2010, we have a lot of good stuff that we can share with any host society.”
The provincial executive is prepared to be flexible, he said.
“We’ve had a few other communities that were interested.”
Virden’s mayor, Jeff McConnell said the Town of Virden was not involved in the decision, but was prepared to accept the decision.
“If they are not able to attract the people needed, then it’s best to confirm that to Sport Manitoba now, as opposed to later, when it is much more difficult for us, and for Sport Manitoba to change things,” said McConnell.
The mayor said the difficulty finding enough help for the games was not a reflection on volunteerism in the community.
“We have a lot of volunteers already committed to other projects, events and community organizations.”
