Host Society Welcomes Chefs de Mission for Final Pre-Games Visit

The Grande Prairie 2010 Arctic Winter Games Host Society reaches another milestone this week, with the arrival of the Chefs de Mission for their final pre-Games visit to our region.

Representatives from the nine circumpolar regions that will participate in the Games arrive in Grande Prairie starting today.

Acting as liaisons between Games organizers and the athletes & cultural participants of their contingent, the 15 Chefs de Mission and Assistant Chefs de Mission will visit many of the venues which will host Games events.

During this final visit, particular attention will be paid to the care and comfort of participants. This means a number of venue tours, as well as a review of the plans for transportation, food services, health, and safety of over 2,000 participants during the Games.

The visit will include two full days of meetings as well as opportunities for the Chefs to meet many of the volunteer Directors, Assistant Directors and Chairs of the Host Society, who are responsible for much of the planning of these volunteer-driven Games.

The Chefs de Mission visited Grande Prairie at this time last year, and President Debbie Reid says this visit is our opportunity to show them the progress that’s been made in what felt like a very short year.

“Their last visit was really our chance to show them our plans, to outline the many things we hoped to put in place to make these Games a success. This visit is our time to shine, to show them how those plans have been implemented.” She says this visit will display our readiness to play host to the circumpolar North.

Media Interviews Available
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Montrose Cultural Centre, 11:45 am

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Games of the North

Family Volunteer Opportunities emphasized through National Family Week

The Grande Prairie 2010 Arctic Winter Games Host Society is celebrating National Family Week October 4-10, by encouraging FAMILY participation in this international celebration of sport and culture!

These youth-focused Games maintain their relevance with young people by reaching beyond the over 2,000 Northern participants and encouraging volunteerism with youth of the same age.

Volunteer opportunities are available for those as young as 12, with some tasks designated as Youth Positions.

At a time like National Family Week the focus of many parents shifts towards activities that involve and engage the whole family – an event like the 2010 Arctic Winter Games is a FANTASTIC opportunity to do just that!

Remember – kids are out of school the week of the Games, making it even easier for families to spend time together while supporting this unique international event.

There are also many opportunities for family involvement prior to the Games; with promotional displays, volunteer rallies, and the upcoming Santa Claus parade.

One of the things we notice at events like these is that ‘Games’ activities are quickly becoming ‘family’ activities, with whole families coming out to carry flags along a parade route, or mom staffing a promotional display for an afternoon while the kids hand out tattoos, and dad hangs out with Mascot Aluk for the day.

Families get a chance to spend some time together, work towards a common goal, and be a part of some exciting community events!

For more information, or to register YOUR FAMILY as Games volunteers:

- Phone 780-538-4777

- Visit the Games Office in Ernie’s Sports Plaza (Monday-Friday, 9:00am-5:00pm)

- Register Online

- Email the Volunteer Coordinator

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Games Venue Hosts Television Shoot

2010 Arctic Winter Games Sports Ambassador Ryan Blais welcomed a familiar face to his hometown this week.

Blais' Canadian National Freestyle Teammate Warren Shouldice was in Grande Prairie this week, filming a segment for Bravo! Canada. The series will feature sport footage put to music, with Shouldice representing Freestyle Skiing.

The 2010 Games in Grande Prairie will be the first Arctic Winter Games to feature Freestyle Skiing. Competition will take place at Nitehawk Recreation Area; Sports Ambassador Ryan Blais' hometown hill, and home to the Water Ramp which was used to shoot Shouldice's television segment.

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Cultural Program Takes Centre Stage

By now, most local residents are aware that the Arctic Winter Games are coming to Grande Prairie, but how many of us REALLY know what the Games’ are all about?

Of course, Sport is a huge part of the Arctic Winter Games, with young athletes competing in dozens of Indoor and Outdoor Sports, including several Arctic Sports and Dene Games. But sport is just one component of this international celebration of sport and culture.

The Arctic Winter Games foster athletic competition, social interaction and cultural exchange for over 2,000 participants from across the circumpolar North. In addition to their athletes, each contingent also brings cultural representatives & programs to share the food, fashion, visual, performing and photographic arts from their communities.

As host to these unique Games, Grande Prairie will see this cultural exhibition and exchange first-hand, while also having the opportunity to share our Northern Alberta culture. The Games cultural program has many facets, including spectacular Opening & Closing Ceremonies.

Titled “A Hero’s Journey” the Opening & Closing ceremonies for the Games will link the teachings & traditions of the original people of the circumpolar world with the modern multicultural realities of today’s North. Ceremonies programs incorporate the philosophies of the modern ‘Virtues Project’ while keeping participants entertained through music, dancing, original character costumes, unique staging & multimedia elements.

We are currently seeking groups and individuals interested in performing during the Games Cultural Programs:
- Performers will be needed for Opening & Closing Ceremonies or a series of lunch-time performances
- Interested parties are asked to create a pieces that will WOW athletes & audiences
- Submissions should be 3 ½ minutes for Opening & Closing Ceremonies, 10-15 minutes for lunch performances

Submission guidelines and Application forms can be downloaded from the Games website by clicking HERE.

All performance applications must be in by September 30, 2009, so get your submission in to the Games Office today and ensure you're a part of this International Celebration of Sport and Culture!

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2010 Arctic Winter Games Hosts First Volunteer Rally

With only six months until the 2010 Arctic Winter Games in Grande Prairie, organizers are stepping up Volunteer recruitment.

The Host Society will hold their first of three Volunteer Rallies this Saturday as a part of the City of Grande Prairie’s Community Connections event at Montrose Cultural Centre.

Director of Volunteers & Protocol, Linda Craik says the annual city event is the perfect venue for bringing the Games message to the masses.

“People in the City of Grande Prairie and surrounding areas see this event as their best chance to see what kind of leisure activities and opportunities for community involvement exist for them in Grande Prairie. We’ll be there to show them the MANY opportunities available with the Games,” Craik says.

The Games are a huge event for our community, she says, and they simply CANNOT happen without volunteers. In fact, 2,500 volunteers are required to make the Games a reality for Grande Prairie.

Close to 600 people are already registered, and with preparations well underway she says there is no shortage of tasks to keep them busy.
“These people really exemplify the enthusiasm and dedication that will make these Games a success. They’re the folks that heard the Games were coming and immediately made a commitment to be a part of it.”

Craik says that core group has been a major force in promoting the Games throughout the region - encouraging others to be involved through promotional displays, on-site volunteer registration stations, and many, many community parades. Games President Debbie Reid agrees, saying it’s the people that make the difference.

“This is exactly the type of teamwork that will lead us to true success as we near the Games” Reid says.

For more information, or to register, visit the Games Volunteer Rally:
Saturday, September 12, 2009
10:00am-3:00pm at Montrose Cultural Centre
Event Details

2010 Arctic Winter Games Store Grand Opening Celebration

Just six months before the 2010 Arctic Winter Games come to Grande Prairie, organizers are encouraging area residents to start showing their support, with Arctic Winter Games merchandise!

Director of Administration for the Games, Mike Reid says although a limited selection of Games Gear was available previously, the Grand Opening Celebration commemorates several exciting changes - including a new look, extended hours, and new items for the Games Store.

Reid says like the Games themselves, the success of the merchandise program depends heavily on community involvement.

"The Games Crew has been all over the Peace Country, talking to people, showing what the Games Store has to offer and asking what people want to see - and a lot of those ideas have translated into what you see in the store today." Reid says a few of the new items include moisture wicking t-shirts, baby bibs, track suits, sweat pants, even portable flash drives and Aluk ‘action figures’. Aluk, a pachyrhinosaurus dinosaur discovered in the area, is the mascot for the upcoming Games.

Reid says that as the Games get closer and more people come on board, the demand for Games Gear grows. When those supporters can find Gameswear they really LIKE they’re more likely to wear it, advertising their involvement and encouraging others to get involved.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony held Friday, September 4 kicked off a weekend full of family activities at the Games Store, now open Thursdays and Fridays until 9:00 pm, Saturdays from 10:00 am-6:00 pm, and Sundays and holidays 12:00 pm-5:00 pm, in Ernie’s Sports Plaza.

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