TASK GROUP REPORTS Submitted to: COUNCIL By: CANADA WINTER GAMES WORKING COMMITTEE DECEMBER 2015 (* REVISIONS TO APPENDIX JANUARY 2016) Table of Contents Table of Contents 1 Executive Summary ................................................................................................. 1 2 Purpose of the Canada Winter Games Working Committee ..................................... 2 3 Finance and Fundraising .......................................................................................... 4 3.1 Overview ................................................................................................................ 4 3.2 Proposed Budget ................................................................................................... 4 4 Venues and Athlete Care ......................................................................................... 6 4.1 Overview ................................................................................................................ 6 4.2 Sport Venues .......................................................................................................... 6 4.3 Athlete Comfort and Other Venues, Excluding Accommodations ........................ 8 4.4 Summary .............................................................................................................. 10 5 Visitor Services ..................................................................................................... 11 5.1 Overview .............................................................................................................. 11 5.2 Accommodations: Approach and Assessment .................................................... 11 5.3 Regular Tourism, Business and Other Service Needs .......................................... 17 5.4 Air Transportation................................................................................................ 21 5.5 Rental Vehicles..................................................................................................... 22 6 Volunteers ............................................................................................................ 25 7 Business Opportunities ......................................................................................... 27 7.1 Overview .............................................................................................................. 27 7.2 Issues, challenges and concerns .......................................................................... 29 7.3 Opportunities and benefits.................................................................................. 32 8 Benefits and Game Legacy..................................................................................... 33 9 Risk Assessment .................................................................................................... 35 9.1 Purpose ................................................................................................................ 35 9.2 Scope of the Risk Assessment.............................................................................. 35 9.3 Approach .............................................................................................................. 35 9.3.1 Participants ................................................................................................. 35 9.3.2 Techniques .................................................................................................. 35 9.4 Risk Statements ................................................................................................... 37 9.5 Summary .............................................................................................................. 38 Appendices Appendix A: Telephone Interview with Lynda Ehrlich, Staff for CWG 2007 Whitehorse Appendix B: Risk Assessment Table Appendix C: Supplemental Proposed Budget Information i - Page 1 - 1 Executive Summary The Canada Winter Games (CWG) Working Committee is pleased to present the findings of the Task Groups’ work over the past year. The information contained in this reports provides data on: • Finance and Fundraising • Business Opportunities • Venues and Athlete Care • Benefits and Game Legacy • Visitor Services • Risk Assessment • Volunteers Key points, in no particular order, from the CWG Working Committee include: 1. The proposed budget is $50.3 Million, including $36.3 Million in operational expenses and $14 Million in capital; 2. Yellowknife currently has the required facilities with the exception of a pool and a venue for alpine events; 3. The Ski Club requires the largest upgrade; 4. Yellowknife’s venues can accommodate the required athletes’ comfort care guidelines; 5. The Games are expected to be held during peak aurora season and during the winter road season for the diamond mines; both needing hotel rooms during peak period; 6. The Yellowknife Airport has the capacity to meet the Games standard; 7. The Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce does not support the Canada Winter Games bid; 8. While there is the potential for business opportunities, improved communication on these opportunities and proper mitigation measures to assist businesses should be in place prior to the Games. There is also a strong concern amongst the business community that the Games could result in an increased tax burden; and 9. There are some risks involved, specifically, the construction of an Athletes Village, Volunteer capacity and Hotel Room availability. In order for a city the size of Yellowknife to successfully host a Canada Winter Games all stakeholders must be on board and work together. Otherwise, the task may be too great for the host society alone. CANADA WINTER GAMES WORKING COMMITTEE: TASK GROUP REPORTS DECEMBER 2015 DM#446253 v.5 - Page 2 - 2 Purpose of the Canada Winter Games Working Committee The Canada Winter Games (CWG) Working Committee was established by Yellowknife City Council in February, 2015. The Committee has a mandate to review all pertinent information and reports generated from past Games; identify key strengths; areas of concerns and solutions; host community meetings to disseminate information and provide Council with a synopsis of the Committee’s findings. All volunteers were further appointed to the following Task Groups; Finance and Fundraising; Venues and Athlete Care, Visitor Services, Volunteers, Business Opportunities, Benefits and Game Legacy, and Risk Assessment. In addition to the Task Groups the Working Committee received guidance from an Executive Advisory Group to carry out the necessary research for the preparation of this Report. The Working Committee had eight tasks, specifically, to: 1. Carry out a review of the Canada Games Council requirements for the hosting of the Games; 2. Develop a detailed feasibility study on how the requirements will be addressed including financial, human and infrastructure resources; 3. Comply with Canada Games Council hosting requirements; 4. Through public consultation, seek input from the public and business sector regarding the concept of the City hosting the Games; 5. Carry out a cost benefit analysis of hosting the 2023 Games; 6. Provide the appropriate standing Committee of Council with the Minutes of each CWG Committee meeting, as available, to serve as its regular updates to City Council; 7. Provide the Municipal Services Committee with recommendations as appropriate; and 8. Present final report to City Council. The Working Committee represented a cross section of our community. The City is grateful for the time and efforts of the Working Committee members and their willingness to represent their group, agency, Order of Government or sector. The following appointments were made to the Working Committee: CANADA WINTER GAMES WORKING COMMITTEE: TASK GROUP REPORTS DECEMBER 2015 DM#446253 v.5 - Page 3 - Canada Games Working Committee Appointments: Organization Name City of Yellowknife - ex-officio Mayor Mark Heyck City Council-Two (2) Members Councillor (1) Rebecca Alty Councillor (2) GNWT - MACA Robert C. McLeod Minister of MACA GNWT - Yellowknife MLA Wendy Bisaro NWT Housing Corporation Jeff Anderson Vice President Finance/Infrastructure City of Yellowknife Dennis Kefalas, S.A.O. Sport, Recreation and Youth - MACA Ian Legaree, Director City of Yellowknife – Community Services Grant White, Director City of Yellowknife – Corporate Services Jeff Dalley, Director Six (6) Yellowknife Business Representatives 1) Cameron Buddo, BMO (large and small businesses) 2) Shane Clark, Sunrise Real Estate 3) Renee Comeau , Chamber of Commerce 4) Kathy Gray, Inukshuk Publishing 5) Kevin Hodgins, Stantec Architecture Ltd. 6) Leanne Tait, Tait Communications YK Hotel Association - Representative Joey Cruz, General Manager, Days Inn YK Education District No. 1 John Stephenson, Trustee YK Catholic School Board – Trustee John Dalton Yellowknives Dene First Nation Bobby Drygeese, Councillor City of Yellowknife Dave Hurley , Facilities Manager Sport North Doug Rentmeister, Executive Director NWT Tourism Cathie Bolstad , Executive Director CDÉTNO Antoine Gagnon, Executive Director CANADA WINTER GAMES WORKING COMMITTEE: TASK GROUP REPORTS DECEMBER 2015 DM#446253 v.5 - Page 4 - 3 Finance and Fundraising 3.1 Overview The Finance and Fundraising Task Group consisted of the following members: • Cameron Buddo • Bob Brooks • Jeff Dalley • Katherine Macdonald The Finance Task Group looked at information related to the financial impact and costs of hosting the Canada Winter Games. The task group researched past games and specifically