2021 Canada Summer Games co-chairs announced

_ (press release) _ ** Ottawa ** – The City of Ottawa announced today the co-chairs of its Canada Summer Games Bid Committee. Cyril Leeder, President of the Ottawa Senators Hockey Club, and Sue Holloway, a Canadian Olympic medalist who competed in both the summer and winter Olympics, will bring their extensive expertise to the bidding process.

As part of the Phase 1 Technical Review Process, the co-chairs are supported by a bid committee featuring leaders from the sporting community, the tourism industry, and City staff.  The committee includes:

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Darrell Cox, Manager, Major Events, Ottawa Tourism

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Brian MacPherson, CEO, Commonwealth Games Canada

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Bob O’Doherty, Senior Advisor (formerly Senior Vice-President of Sports and Venues, Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games)

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Marci Morris, Executive Director, Ottawa Sport Council

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Bob Johnston, Principal, JSA Sport Architecture

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Delores MacAdam, Program Manager, Marketing and Communications, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department, City of Ottawa

“These committee members have a breadth of knowledge and enthusiasm for sports and our community that will result in a strong bid showcasing everything our City has to offer,” said Mayor Jim Watson. “Their role will be to promote our city as the destination of choice for the Canada Summer Games in 2021, from which our community would greatly benefit. These efforts demonstrate our commitment to building on our 2017 momentum to strengthen our tourism industry in the long term.”

The Canada Games is the largest multi-sport event in the country. In addition to the 4,600 elite Canadian athletes that would compete at the Games, the event would bring thousands of family members, members of the media and officials to Ottawa. The Canada Summer Games were last held in Sherbrooke, Québec in 2013, where they attracted 16,000 visitors and generated an estimated $165 million in economic impact.

The City’s _ Letter of Intent to Bid _ was submitted in May and launched the process. Should Ottawa’s bid be shortlisted in September following the Phase 1 – Technical Review, the City would submit its Phase 2 – Comprehensive Host Community Bid proposal, showing the strength of the bid and overwhelming community support. The proposal will be evaluated by the Canada Games Council and scored against other bids from Greater Sudbury, Niagara Region, and a partnership between the cities of Kitchener, Waterloo, Guelph and Cambridge. An announcement of the successful bidder is expected in late March or early April 2017.

“Bringing the Canada Summer Games to Ottawa would boost our local economy and improve some of our aging sport facilities, while providing residents with access to national calibre sporting events featuring elite Canadian athletes,” said Councillor Jody Mitic, the City’s Sport Commissioner. “This is an exciting opportunity for our community and our homegrown athletes.”

The Canada Games rank alongside other major sporting events like the Grey Cup, World Junior Hockey Championship and FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) championships. The games are a two-week long sporting event that would take place in late July and early August of 2021.

“The Canada Games are a national institution where young athletes are given the opportunity to learn and compete against their peers at the highest levels,” said Cyril Leeder. “These games represent so much of what is right with amateur sport and how it can grow and develop our next generation of leaders. We feel strongly that Ottawa can, and will, provide a world-class experience to the 2021 Canada Summer Games and I am proud to co-chair the committee that looks to bring this tremendous event to our city.”

“Having had the privilege of participating as an athlete in the Canada Games, I understand their importance in developing our next generation of elite athletes,” said Sue Holloway. “I am honoured to be part of the team that will be bidding to bring the Canada Summer Games to our nation’s capital in 2021.Ottawa will be an excellent host city and I am excited about the legacy the Games will leave behind for both our residents and future elite athletes.”

Promoting the nation’s capital as an ideal location for major national and international events and conventions is a cornerstone of the City’s economic development plan. The City developed the _ Bid More, Win More, Host More _ strategy in partnership with Ottawa Tourism to promote Ottawa as a world-class event hosting destination, create jobs and grow our local economy.