Canada Games Council – (March 7th, 2016) Ottawa, ON –Today the 2015 Canada Winter Games won big at the CSTA (Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance) Prestige Awards. The multi-sport event was named Event of the Year and also captured the Sustainable Event of the Year Award.
2015 Canada Winter Games Host Society Chair Anthony Everett was on hand to accept the awards on behalf of the Host Society.

Event of the Year
The Games were the largest multi-sport and cultural event to ever be held in northern BC and generated an economic impact of $123 million. While developing Canada’s next generation of national, international and Olympic champions, the 2015 Games changed the community of Prince George forever for the better. The many legacies that stemmed from hosting the Games include infrastructural enhancements, exposure for the region, increased tourist visitations and investment in youth.

“We are thrilled that the 2015 Canada Winter Games have been named Event of the Year by the CSTA”, says Tom Quinn, Canada Games Council Chairman. “The 2015 Games were a magical event and were tremendously well-received by the community. Everyone who was involved with these Games should certainly feel a sense of pride.”

The other two finalists in this category were the 2015 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships and the 103rd Grey Cup Festival.

Sustainable Event of the Year
The 2015 Games addressed core environmental impacts such as reducing the amount of diverting waste from the landfill, being energy efficient, reducing greenhouse emission and using sustainable wood products just to name a few. The Games set a shining example of environmental stewardship, social inclusion and responsibility, economic development and generating long-term environmental, social and economic benefits.

“In every step of the planning process, we knew sustainability was a pillar of our Games,” says Anthony Everett, 2015 Canada Winter Games Host Society Chair. “We met all ISO and CSA standards and this was very important not only to the organizing committee, but also to the community at large.”
The other two finalists in the category were the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan Am Games.

The CSTA’s PRESTIGE Awards celebrate the people, place, and events that make the Canadian sport tourism industry so dynamic. These awards are presented annually in six categories to individuals, companies and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to the success of the sport tourism industry.

The PRESTIGE Awards were presented at a gala luncheon event today in Ottawa at the Westin Hotel.

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About the Canada Games
Held once every two years, alternating between winter and summer, the Canada Games represent the highest level of national competition for up and coming Canadian athletes. The Games have been hosted in every province at least once since their inception in Quebec City during Canada’s Centennial in 1967. The Games are proud of their contribution to Canada’s sport development system in addition to their lasting legacy of sport facilities, community pride and national unity.
The organization of the Canada Games is made possible thanks to the contribution and support of the Government of Canada, provincial/territorial governments, host municipalities and the Canada Games Council.

For more Information Contact:
Joel Allard
Communications Coordinator
Canada Games Council
Tel: (613) 526 2320 Ext: 2708
E-mail: jallard@canadagames.ca