PEMBROKE – On December 15th 2020, the Honourable Lisa MacLeod, Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries, and the Honourable John Yakabuski, MPP for Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke and Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry announced that Renfrew County had been selected to host the Ontario Winter Games in 2022.
The Executive Committee are looking to recruit people to serve on a series of sub-committees from March 2021 until the Games commence on the weekends of February 24-27, and March 3-6, 2022. Serving or chairing one of the several committees will involve regular meetings and a commitment of your time of approximately 10 hours per-month until fall 2021, then increasingly more later in the year and in the early part of 2022 with full availability required during the weekends of the Games. There will be 16 sub-committees, each with vital roles in the planning and implementation of the Games. Each sub-committee will have detailed job descriptions and expectations of deliverable goals. An orientation session will be provided to all volunteers in late March of this year to kick off our journey to a successful 2022 Games. It is estimated each of the 16 sub-committees will need between 3 and 7 members, and they will report to the Executive Committee.
On the weekends of February 24-27 and March 3 -6, 2022 Renfrew County will be hosting the Ontario Winter Games. Over 700 volunteers will be required to assist with twenty-three events ranging from 5-pin Bowling to Cross Country Skiing, from Fencing to Wushu, will be held outdoors and indoors across our county. Local communities have generously offered excellent venues to hold these exciting events. Renfrew County communities will be hosting 3500 athletes, their coaches and event officials in Calabogie, Pembroke, Barry’s Bay, Cobden, Renfrew, Petawawa, Deep River, Eganville and Arnprior. For the participants, this event is a key milestone of their athletic development and for some, a steppingstone that will help them advance to national and international competitions. The games will boost our local economy, with an increase of visitors and volunteers, and will create a lasting legacy for communities by supporting local sports, recreation and education opportunities.
Support from Local Municipalities, the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan, Garrison Petawawa and private sector partners will be key to ensuring success. The Province of Ontario will be providing logistical and financial support for items such as hosting and feeding the athletes, transportation, promotion, facility and equipment rentals and more.
If you have an interest in volunteering by Chairing one of the Sub Committees or being a volunteer sub-committee member, please send us a quick email to: [email protected] prior to March 5th at 4 pm. In the email, please provide a brief overview of your interest in the sub-committee you are interested in (see attached chart), the experience you have in those areas and any other information which will assist us in placing you on a sub-committee which will ensure you enjoy your volunteer experience. Throughout the year we will be issuing calls for more volunteers to assist with the specific events at the venues prior to, and on the days of the competitions. If you know of someone with expertise in any of the 23 sports that are part of the 2022 Games please encourage them to reach out and we can assist in placing them with a volunteer opportunity.
