The three municipalities that hosted the Alberta Winter Games last year sent a letter of intention to bid on the 2015 Western Canada Summer Games. If successful, Bonnyville, Cold Lake, and the MD of Bonnyville will welcome thousands of visitors and athletes to the Lakeland.
The City of Cold Lake opted out of joining the MD and Town of Bonnyville in a bid for the 2013 Alberta Seniors Summer Games, but came on board to support the 2015 bid.
“I was glad to see the City come on side for the Westerns,” said Bonnyville Mayor Ernie Isley. The three communities bidding together with 4 Wing would give the region a better shot at winning, he said.
Cold Lake council felt the 2013 Games bid was too close to the 2010 Winter Games. The 2015 Games would give volunteers a couple more years of breathing time, said Mayor Craig Copeland. By 2015, hopefully something positive would happen for the City financially, he added.
The three municipalities plan to ask 4 Wing to come on board, without which a bid would have little chance of succeeding because of the facilities available at J.J. Parr, according to Copeland.
The winning bid will go to a host community or region in Alberta. Airdrie also filed a letter of intent to bid for the 2015 Games.
