Today, Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries Lisa MacLeod was joined by MPP Norm Miller, Mayor Karin Terziano, and Fran Coleman, chair of the Huntsville 2019 Ontario 55+ Winter Games Organizing Committee, to announce the recipients of legacy funding from the Games.
MPP Norm Miller kicked off the announcement with thanks to Games chair Fran Coleman, the organizing committee, volunteers, sponsors and former council members who made the Games a success
The Games were hosted by the Town of Huntsville, along with a $235,000 commitment from the province.
An $82,076 legacy fund from the Games is being invested back into the Huntsville community via local organizations that promote senior-focused activities.
Minister MacLeod noted that when it’s safe to do so, “sport hosting will be critical to our economic recovery of our province… This event in particular is a good example of how targeted investment from the provincial government can support an entire community with a great economic impact.”
Mayor Karin Terziano added that the Games “provided a great benefit to our community. It happens in our slower winter months, it happens mid-week…and it also provides an opportunity for our 55-plus athletes to showcase their sports.” She thanked the ministry for selecting Huntsville as host, as well as Coleman, the Games organizing committee, and the event’s volunteers.
Councillor Jonathan Wiebe, who chaired the Games in 2012, said, “I am very pleased that the Huntsville 2019 Ontario 55+ Winter Games have dedicated this legacy funding for reinvestment back into the local community.”
Eight organizations will receive the funding:
- Town of Huntsville’s Community Services Senior Programs: $41,576
- Sewing Team: $2,500
- Huntsville Pickleball Group: $2,000
- Arrowhead Nordic Ski Club: $3,500
- Huntsville Curling Club: $10,000
- Muskoka Seniors: $10,000
- Huntsville/Lake of Bays Chamber of Commerce: $10,000
- Club 55 Huntsville Seniors: $2,500
Chair Fran Coleman said that, “Games like this give an opportunity to some of our province’s most remarkable 55-plus participants to be able to participate, to remain active, and increase their health and well-being. They also display the Ontario spirit through the work and dedication of many volunteers, community organizations who come together, local businesses, host municipalities that came together to make the Games a success. We are so fortunate to live in a community when the call goes out people rally to support our cause.”
The Huntsville 2019 Ontario 55+ Winter Games were held in March 2019. More than 800 participants from Muskoka and Haliburton competed in the Games—which are intended to promote healthy, active aging—in 10 different sports and activities: badminton, 10-pin bowling, curling, duplicate bridge, alpine skiing, Nordic skiing, ice hockey, prediction skating, table tennis and volleyball.
In addition to the support from the province, athlete registration fees contributed $143,440, the Town of Huntsville contributed $60,000, and sponsorships and in-kind donations contributed over $48,000. The District of Muskoka, The Town of Gravenhurst, The Town of Bracebridge, and Township of Lake of Bays also made contributions. The economic impact of the Games was an estimated $1.5 million.
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It was a pleasure to be a volunteer for this event. So happy to see many worthwhile projects getting a cash infusion.
Thank you to the many volunteers that contributed to the success of the games.
What a great Community effort by many volunteers and the GOC chairs.
Celebrating a legacy to the community by many.