Alberta Summer Games in the Peace

It’s Day 3 of the 2010 Alberta Summer Games here in Peace River and the surrounding region. What a huge undertaking for this area, with around 3000 young athletes (apparently more than were at the Olympics in Vancouver) competing in 15 sports, accompanied by coaches, technical participants and families, and supported by 2000 volunteers.

Since we couldn’t handle that number of events and visitors all at once, there are two shifts, so it’s a full week of competition and celebration. As an Ambassador, I’ve already helped out at the opening ceremonies, done a breakfast clean-up, and still have three days at basketball and the closing ceremonies ahead. Many people have taken the week or days off work to volunteer and there seems to be a new pool of volunteers being created—good news for future events.

Yesterday I went out to Wilderness Park, near Grimshaw, to see the canoe polo, and was impressed with how the pond there had been transformed into a beautiful venue for the event. Today they move to the river for the kayak slalom and wildwater. In the same area, the new mountain bike track on Misery Mountain will see action.

Rugby is in Berwyn, boys’ baseball in Grimshaw, boys’ and girls’ softball in Manning, and inline hockey in Falher. In Peace River the track events will be on the brand-new rubberized track at Glenmary, the swimming events are at the pool, and beach volleyball at Peace High and TA Norris. In the next shift, we’ll see football at the Glenmary field, lacrosse in Nampa, soccer at three venues in Peace River, and water polo at the Peace River pool.

And if sports wasn’t enough, the cultural program at Riverfront Park and Athabasca Hall includes much to do and watch (scroll down on the Games website to download the poster)—an art display, craft items for sale, interactive art, and lots of entertainment. As well, the museum is hosting two nights of poetry and prose (Wednesday and Saturday) and Java Domainne offers three nights of cabaret entertainment (Thursday-Saturday at 7:00). So much to do and see!

By Sunday night, the excitement will be over, the volunteers and Games staff will get some well-deserved rest, and we’ll settle back into the usual summer activities, savouring our favourite Games memories.