LAKELAND - The communities of Bonnyville, Cold Lake and Glendon have been granted the opportunity to host the 25th Alberta Winter Games in 2026.
An announcement made in Edmonton on Monday morning revealed that the region was successful in its bid to host the games.
"The province’s top junior athletes will come together in the M.D. of Bonnyville, City of Cold Lake, Town of Bonnyville and Village of Glendon. Athletes aged 11 to 16 will qualify for the Games through zone playoffs for their specific sport and through selections held throughout the province. Previous Winter Games have seen athletes compete across a variety of sports, including ringette, hockey, skiing and speedskating," reads information from the Government of Alberta.
The Winter Games are seen as a way to "bolster local economies in rural Alberta." The 2020 Winter Games bringing in almost 10,000 visitors and providing an economic benefit of more than $2 million for the host city of Airdrie.
The Alberta Games planning committee can now begin planning and selecting exact dates for the Games, as well as which sports will be included. The provincial government will provide an $820,000 operating grant to the 2026 host society to help cover operating costs such as staffing, transportation, food, venues and promotions.
Grande Prairie is set to host the 2024 Alberta Winter Games beginning later this week and will include over 2,600 athletes, coaches, managers and officials.
