As the NWT government mulls whether to make a formal bid to host the 2035 Canada Winter Games, Yellowknife is set to explore being a host community.
According to the city, an exploratory committee would be responsible for reviewing the requirements to host the games and gauging public opinion on whether Yellowknife should be one of the host communities.
The committee – which would include representatives from the city, Yellowknives Dene First Nation, Tłı̨chǫ and NWT governments, local businesses and education districts – would ultimately develop a report and recommendation for city council.
“We are not making any commitments on behalf of the city at this juncture, but we are committing to do due diligence,” city manager Stephen Van Dine explained during a Monday meeting at City Hall.
Later on Monday night, councillors unanimously voted in favour of having city staff work on a terms of reference for an exploratory committee.
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Still, some councillors voiced reservations.
Time, costs and other considerations
Tom McLennan said he did not want work on the committee’s terms of reference to interfere with priorities such as infill and advocating for the transfer of land from the NWT government.
Describing himself as supportive in theory, McLennan gave a message to city staff about the Canada Winter Games committee’s terms of reference: “If you’re spending time doing that instead of those other things, then feel free to come forward and let’s stop the extra work.”
Garett Cochrane said hosting the Canada Games is important to consider as it is “a huge event.” He noted that Whitehorse hosted the games in 2007.
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“I’m very much open to the idea of, if Whitehorse can do it, certainly we can do it as well,” he said.
If an exploratory committee is formed, Cochrane said he hopes it considers the organizational capacity of a host society compared to government, and if Yellowknife will “have the bandwidth” to host the games following the city’s centennial in 2034.
Ryan Fequet raised questions about the timeframe for the committee to complete its work. He also questioned how much funding the city would be responsible for finding, saying that had “been the kicker” in past discussions about hosting sporting events.
Fequet said he ultimately supported having an exploratory committee.
The territory has said the cost of hosting the games is expected to exceed $32 million, though federal funding could offset some costs. The GNWT said hosting the games could also result in financial benefits for the territory and new infrastructure that could be repurposed.
Games ‘very interested in coming north’
Mayor Ben Hendriksen said while he had given “a pretty hard no” to Yellowknife hosting the 2026 Arctic Winter Games, he was supportive of an exploratory committee regarding the 2035 Canada Winter Games given the longer time frame.
Gary Brennan, deputy minister of the NWT’s Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, told councillors members of the Canada Games Council are currently updating their assessment of facilities in Yellowknife, Behchokọ̀ and Hay River.
“I know the Canada Games Council are very interested in coming north,” he said.
“They see it as something that they need to do and are looking for a way to make it happen.”
He said that could include the NWT hosting with another jurisdiction if needed, such as Yukon or Nunavut.
