City Council to consider funding request for Lethbridge to host Alberta Winter Games
The Alberta Winter Games could be coming to Lethbridge.
In partnership with the Province of Alberta, the Lethbridge Sport Council is seeking approval of municipal funding from the City of Lethbridge’s Major Community Event Grant to host the 2028 Alberta Winter Games.
A proposal was presented to City Council’s Community Issues Committee (CIC) on Tuesday, with CIC members recommending that Council approve the funding request for $525,000 from the Major Community Event Grant. City Council will still need to approve the funding request before this proposal becomes official.
City administration has reviewed the 2028 Alberta Winter Games proposal and believes it is in alignment with the intent of the CC55 Major Community Event Hosting Policy. This event does not require a bid.
“Hosting the 2028 Alberta Winter Games would bring social and economic benefits to Lethbridge,” says Travis Grindle, Recreation Services Manager for the City. “We hope City Council recognizes the long-term value of this investment and the opportunity to showcase Lethbridge as a vibrant destination for sport, tourism and community pride.”
The proposed event would take place across four days in February 2028, featuring almost 2,000 youth athletes (aged 11 to 16), coaches and officials in 12 different sports. In its presentation, the Sport Council prepared a predictive Economic Impact Summary for hosting the 2028 Alberta Winter Games.
“This would be a premier multi-sport competition for Lethbridge,” says Susan Eymann, Executive Director of the Lethbridge Sport Council. “Hosting these games would strengthen youth sport development, bring together sport organizations, businesses, and community partners, create something our community can be proud of, and generate an estimated $4.5 million in local economic activity.”
The Lethbridge Sport Council would engage with a number of key community stakeholders including VisitLethbridge.com Arena, Excite Lethbridge, the Lethbridge Hurricanes, Servus Sport Centre, Lethbridge Lodging Association, Tourism Lethbridge, the University of Lethbridge and Lethbridge Polytechnic, as part of the planning process to ensure a successful event.
If approved, a Games Society would be established to operate as the legal entity for the coordination of the games. The proposed event operating expenditures could exceed $1.625 million, with an expected operating grant of $725,000 from the Province of Alberta.
If Council approves the municipal funding request, they will also be asked to have the City Manager be authorized to sign a funding agreement including such reasonable terms and conditions as required, as well as authorize the Mayor to prepare and distribute a letter of support from the City of Lethbridge.
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