When Estevan was awarded the 2016 Saskatchewan Summer Games on November 26, 2013, they had 971 days to prepare before the opening ceremonies on July 24, 2016.
Now there are 100 days until the ceremonies.
The milestone isn’t lost on Brenda Lyons and her husband Brian Smith, who are part of the Games committee. Lyons is involved with the event’s publicity, while Smith co-chairs the committee alongside Brian Senchuk.
They recognize that the committee has accomplished a lot, but they still have a lot of work remaining.
“It’s been a good journey,” said Lyons.
They have raised $2.9 million through monetary and work-in-kind donations and grants, but they need to raise more to eclipse their budgeted expense.
The new Chamney Running Track at Panteluk Athletic Field has been open for nearly 10 months. It was billed as a centrepiece of the event’s legacy for the Estevan area.
“Every time you see someone on the track, you think ‘Wow, that was a primary driver’ (of going for the Games),” said Lyons.
The committee has held countless meetings, hosted events and dedicated many hours to make the Games in Estevan a success.
Now, with 100 days to go, they need to make sure their facilities are up to snuff, raise some additional money, find enough volunteers and finalize details on the other events happening that week.
Mission orientation will happen at the end of April. Representatives from each of the nine sporting districts in the province, the various sports involved in the Games, and the Saskatchewan Games Council will come to Estevan to tour all the facilities.
“We’re going to tour them around all our venues and tell them what we’ve done, and what we intend on doing before the Games come,” said Smith. “They’re going to say this venue meets our requirements, or no, we’d like to see you do this instead.”
Then they’ll sign off on all the venues, giving the Games committee an idea of the work that remains.
The mission staff will tour Estevan Comprehensive School (ECS), which will serve as the Games Village, and see where the athletes and coaches will eat and sleep.
“This is a big deal for us. We hope to pass,” Smith said, drawing laughter.
ECS will be ready, they said. Showers that haven’t been working for a while will be fixed, and temporary showers will be brought in. Entertainment has been lined up, and the menu is planned. A temporary clinic will be set up for illnesses and minor injuries.
A lot of the work, such as removing desks and bringing beds into the classrooms, will happen once school is finished in June.
Smith and Lyons believe they are on schedule for facility preparation. There isn’t much they need to do at most sites, other than some cosmetic work, and a few additions for some of the facilities, such as bleachers for the pool and new targets for the archery range that are being purchased through a partnership between the local archery club and the Games committee.
The biggest task for facilities will be refurbishing the tennis courts at ECS. They have talked to one firm about completing the project, and the committee is optimistic work can begin after the May long weekend.
“He usually waits until then, because you’re almost guaranteed it’s not going to freeze overnight,” said Smith. “We want to get started as quick as we can.”
Tasks will include grinding down asphalt, patching cracks, filling in low spots, painting the courts and applying a cover court.
Smith is confident the courts will need just a couple of weeks to complete.
The Games will utilize the two exterior courts at ECS and the two tennis courts at the Estevan Leisure Centre.
As for events and fundraisers, a grand opening of the track and field facility will happen on Thursday, May 12. A test event will follow, with Grades 6 to 9 students participating in a competition.
“I think it will be great to have the kids out,” said Lyons.
A couple of fundraisers for the Games will take place on May 14. The first is the annual Coal Country Run-Walk at Woodlawn Regional Park, which has been a fundraiser for the Games in recent years. The other will be the Savour the Southeast at Affinity Place, which will offer food and beverage samples to patrons, and a cabaret in the evening.
A concert, Rockin’ The Games, will be on June 18 at Affinity Place. The bands have yet to be announced.
The Games committee is also looking for volunteers. They have around 250 already signed up, but they estimate it will take 1,500 to 2,000 volunteers to make the Games happen.
A lot of people have expressed an interest.
“I think what we’re trying to tell people right now is that, even if you don’t know your schedule for that week of the Games, but you know that you want to be involved, we’re encouraging people to put their name into the database, so that we have them there, and then information will flow so much easier come summer time,” said Lyons.
A family volunteer program has been launched that will allow parents to work with children between the ages of eight and 12.
“It can inspire families to work together and instill the spirit of volunteerism in kids,” said Lyons.
Youth between the ages of 13 and 18 can volunteer on their own with parental permission.
A torch relay will occur prior to the opening ceremonies, and will culminate with the caldron being lit during the opening ceremonies. There will also be numerous cultural events happening in the city throughout the week.
The opening ceremonies will be at Affinity Place at 7 p.m. on July 24, and will feature the parade of athletes, speeches and a concert by the Johner Boys.
Half of the sports will take place from July 25 to 27, and the other half will run from July 28 to 30. Closing ceremonies will be on July 30.
“We’re hoping to sell out the opening ceremonies,” said Smith. “Tickets are available online for people to purchase. It usually sells out.”
The Games are expected to attract 1,800 of Saskatchewan’s finest young athletes to Estevan. There will also be thousands of coaches, officials, parents, family members and others in Estevan for the competition. Smith, Lyons and the rest of the Games committee are looking forward to it.
