TAMRMS#: B06
6.2
REQUEST FOR DECISION
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Hosting Multi-Sport Games Alternatives
Presented by: Anna Royer, Manager, Funding & Special Events, Recreation & Parks
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RECOMMENDED MOTION(S)
recommendation
That Standing Committee of the Whole recommend that Council direct Administration to bid for the 2029 Special Olympics Alberta Summer Games and commit up to $400,000 within the Stabilization Reserve to be used as funding to plan and implement this event if the bid is successful.
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SUMMARY
This report is to provide Standing Committee of the Whole with alternative multi-sport games to pursue as a hosting opportunity for St. Albert. If the bid is accepted, Administration seeks Council approval for the funding required to plan and implement the event.
ALIGNMENT TO COUNCIL DIRECTION OR MANDATORY STATUTORY PROVISION
On December 10, 2024, Council passed the following motion:
AR-24-416
That Administration discontinue work on and refrain from submitting a bid for the 2027 Alberta 55 Plus Games.
That Administration research alternative events that may offer better alignment to Council and organizational priorities in hosting multi-sport games and return to Council with findings and opportunities before end of Q2 2025.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
Multi-sport games are a sport event tourism opportunity for the City of St. Albert. Sport tourism requires support and investment from the municipality and its business, sport, and cultural community. Benefits from these investments include raised community profile, strengthened community connections, and direct and indirect economic boost to tourism and allied sectors.
Through the 2023 budget deliberations, Council directed Administration to develop a bid for the 2027 Alberta 55 Plus Summer Games and return to Council prior to submission for final approval. On December 10, 2024, Administration provided an update on recent changes to the Alberta 55 Plus Games program to the Standing Committee of the Whole, resulting in Administration discontinuing their pursuit of that event. Standing Committee of the Whole further directed Administration to return in Q2 2025 with multi-sport games alternatives for consideration.
Administration has reviewed two upcoming multi-sport games opportunities, focusing on the financial commitment required by the host community, facilities required, volunteer and sponsorship opportunities, as well as potential community and sport partner involvement. Both of the opportunities outlined in Table 1 below would:
• provide broad community interest,
• involve St. Albert sport partners,
• boost economic vibrancy,
• provide a variety of exciting volunteer opportunities, and
• meet our objective of celebrating sport and culture through promoting community connectiveness.
Table 2, on page 3 of this report, provides a financial overview, including the revenue commitment required by the municipality to support hosting each of the multi-sport games. Estimates were developed based on information provided by the host municipality for the 2026 Alberta Summer Games and by the estimated budgets provided by the two provincial governing bodies.
St. Albert successfully hosted both an Alberta Games and Special Olympics Games in the past. Our community consistently delivers high-quality community events and regularly supports competitive league and tournament play across a variety of sport disciplines. When combined with our strong arts, culture, business community, and volunteer spirit, St. Albert is well-positioned to host either of the two identified multi-sport games.
While the above two events are comparable as far as facility requirements and event offerings, the scale of the Alberta Summer Games is significantly larger, and the financial commitment required by Council is greater. There is a high demand for staffing and volunteer resourcing while maximizing use of City facilities, and a significant amount of sponsorship dollars will be required from the community to support the Alberta Summer Games. Both events would strengthen community connections and contribute to building a reputation for event hosting.
Administrative Recommendation
Administration recommends the City of St. Albert submit a bid for the Special Olympics Alberta 2029 Summer Games. The provincial governing body has indicated that the successful host community will be announced by early 2026. A financial commitment of up to $400,000 is requested as part of the recommended motion with the Stabilization Reserve identified as the funding source.
STAKEHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS OR ENGAGEMENT
Previous engagement with the sport community and local businesses, conducted through a survey in 2022, highlighted general interest in and community support for hosting a multi-sport games event.
Administration has consulted with both provincial governing bodies of the forementioned games to discuss and understand the process and requirements associated with hosting a successful multi-sport games event. Both agencies expressed support for St. Albert in our pursuit of a multi-sport games opportunity and highly encouraged us to consider submitting a bid. Administration met with St. Albert Special Olympics representatives who additionally confirmed their support and enthusiasm for the possibility of hosting a provincial Special Olympics games.
IMPACTS OF RECOMMENDATION(S)
Financial:
If approved, $400,000 will be committed within the Stabilization Reserve for the 2029 Special Olympics Summer Games.
Compliance & Legal:
None at this time.
Program or Service:
Administration will continue to support sport partners actively seeking major single-sport hosting opportunities, including provincial or national events.
Administration will not prioritize private sporting events requiring municipal funding resources until after the games.
Organizational:
Administration will manage staff resources required to prepare a bid package with existing resources. If the bid is approved by Special Olympics Alberta, additional temporary staffing and operational resources would be required.
Risks:
None at this time.
ALIGNMENT TO PRIORITIES IN COUNCIL’S STRATEGIC PLAN
Initiative aligned with Strategic Plan:
Not Applicable
ALIGNMENT TO SERVICE DELIVERY
B.1 Community Events
B.1.2 Community Events Support
B.1.2.a Event Administration and Liaison
B.1.2.b Event Support
IMPACTS OF ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED
If Standing Committee of the Whole does not wish to support the recommendation, the following alternatives could be considered:
ALTERNATIVE 1: That Standing Committee of the Whole recommend that Council direct Administration to bid for the 2028 Alberta Summer Games, with up to $1,300,000 in funding committed to plan and implement this event from the Stabilization Reserve if the bid is successful.
Financial:
If approved, $1,300,000 will be committed within the Stabilization Reserve for the 2028 Alberta Summer Games.
Compliance & Legal:
None at this time.
Program or Service:
Administration will continue to support sport partners actively seeking major single-sport hosting opportunities, including provincial or national events.
Administration will not prioritize private sporting events requiring municipal funding resources until after the games.
Organizational:
If directed to prepare a bid package for the 2028 Alberta Summer Games, Administration will contract an outside agency within current budget to assist with the bid package (due to timelines and current workload).
Risks:
None at this time.
ALTERNATIVE 2: That Standing Committee of the Whole recommend that no further efforts in preparing a bid for a multi-sport games event be undertaken at this time.
Financial:
None at this time.
Compliance & Legal:
None at this time.
Program or Service:
Administration will continue to support sport partners actively seeking major single-sport hosting opportunities, including provincial or national events.
If deemed a priority, private sporting events requesting municipal funding will be reviewed on an ad hoc basis.
Organizational:
None at this time.
Risks:
None at this time.
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Report Date: May 13, 2025
Author(s): Anna Royer, Manager, Funding & Special Events
Department: Recreation & Parks
Department Director: Daniele Podlubny
Managing Director: Alex Dinu
Chief Administrative Officer: Bill Fletcher