LAC LA BICHE - Lac La Biche County is looking for residents to be part of the Lac La Biche County Sport Tourism Working Group.
According to Staci Lattimer, manager of recreation and culture for Lac La Biche County, the group is being re-established to evolve and enhance Lac La Biche County’s capacity to attract and host major sporting events in a coordinated, planned approached. The County is hoping to have the group up and running in September.
“It was originally formed in 2021, but was during the pandemic, and lost momentum, so we are now ready to re-establish the working group by nomination process in hopes we attract some community champions who have a vision and expertise to help enhance sport tourism opportunities,” Lattimer explained.
Lac La Biche County officials are seeking individuals who are passionate about sport and community development, including those with experience and a vision.
This working group will be advocates for sport-tourism related initiatives and develop strategies, measurements of success, sustainability, and collaboration beyond the region. Individuals who are interested in being part of the sport tourism group can self-nominate or nominate others.
“This group will work with local businesses, tourism operators, partners and also review nominations and make recommendations for the Lac La Biche County Sports Hall of Fame each year,” she stated.
Over the past couple of years, Lac La Biche County has played host to several major sporting events, including the 2025 Alberta Wake Tour, the Spring Break Up boxing events, the 2024 World Archery Field Championships, along with the 2024 Francophone Games.
In addition to these events, annual events and tournaments hosted in the municipality each year include the Wow Pow volleyball tournament, Soccer Fest, various curling bonspiels and hockey tournaments, Pow Wow Days and Fish Derby, along with the Lac La Biche Ice Festival.
“Most of these events bring people to our community for at least a few nights and stay in our hotels, motels or campgrounds - depending on season - [and] eat at our local restaurants,” Lattimer said.
Sport tourism, according to Lattimer, is one of the fastest-growing industries in Canada, with approximately $7.4 billion in annual spending by international and domestic visitors as of 2019.
Lac La Biche County, she explained, has been diversifying its business opportunities from oil and gas for the past decade, and has made significant investments into state-of-the-art recreation facilities, infrastructure, and development strategies to attract residents, visitors, and businesses to the region.
Building community engagement, coordination, and sustainability of sport tourism in Lac La Biche County, Lattimer said, along with bidding on more major events in the coming years, could have major economic benefits for the municipality and local businesses.
“We have such wonderful recreation facilities and infrastructure in our county to support major events and tournaments and hope with a diverse group of passionate working group members, we will further enhance the community buy in and collaboration to plan, schedule and accommodate major events and festivals on a consistent basis,” she said.
