Canmore town council votes to support Calgary's bid for 2026 Winter Olympics
Councillors voted 6-1 in favour of the bid
The Town of Canmore has hitched its wagon to Calgary's bid to host the 2026 Winter Olympic Games.
Town council voted Tuesday night to support the bid, on the condition that enough funding is in place to cover the operational costs of the Games in the town.
It also included an amendment that police and security costs be covered.
Councillors voted 6-1 in favour of the bid, with Coun. Joanna McCallum the sole vote against.
Mayor John Borrowman said the pitch to turn the athletes' village into affordable housing — which is in short supply in the mountain town — was one of the main reasons he's in favour of the bid.
"We have to be determined in realizing any opportunity possible to realize options that would provide affordable housing," said Borrowman.
According to the Calgary bid corporation's draft hosting plan, biathlon and cross-country skiing events would be held at the Canmore Nordic Centre, which was built for the 1988 Calgary Games.
The Nordic Centre would get utility and fibre-optic upgrades, and snow-making improvements.
The town would build a 1,200 bed athletes' village which would be repurposed into 240 affordable housing units.
It would also host the medal ceremonies for the Paralympic Games.
Borrowman said he appreciates that there are risks, but said as does any project of this scale and he has confidence in the skills and expertise of those managing the bid.
McCallum said she's still not sure how the bid would address economic diversification and support livability and jobs in the community.
"We still don't know how many of those jobs would come to Canmore, how many of those jobs are going to earn over living wage, how many of those jobs are permanent," said McCallum.
Canmore would contribute $3 million to the estimated $5.1 billion cost to host the Games.
The town plans is hoping to gain resort municipality status which would add two per cent to its hotel tax, in the hope of generating $2 million per year in additional revenue.
Whistler gained that status during the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, giving the town an additional revenue stream following the Games.
Advance voting is underway in Calgary on a non-binding plebiscite of whether or not the city should host the Games, with results due at 10 p.m. on Nov. 13.
LIVE EVENT: CBC Calgary Olympic Games Plebiscite Town HallIf you live in Calgary, find out what you need to know before you cast your vote in the Nov. 13 plebiscite by tuning in to the CBC Calgary Olympic Games Plebiscite Town Hall. Featuring a knowledgeable panel and hosted by the Calgary Eyeopener's David Gray, we will hear from both sides and take questions from the audience. Panellists include:
It'll take place at Calgary's new Central Library (800 3rd St. S.E.) on Wednesday, Nov. 7, starting at 6 p.m. All of the reserved tickets have been claimed, although there will be rush seating available at 6:15 p.m. as capacity allows. Didn't get a ticket? Never fear, you can tune in by:
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