2012 Arctic Winter Games host committee announced

Photo by Vince Fedoroff

George Arcand was announced as the president of the 2012 Arctic Winter Games Society earlier this morning, and he plans to get right down to business.

The announcement was made at the Sport Yukon building by Host Society executive vice-president Dennis Shewfelt.

“After careful review and consideration of a number of candidates we are pleased to announce that George Arcand has accepted the position of president,” said Shewfelt.

Arcand is the current president of Sport Yukon. He has taken part in many important sporting events in the past few years including the 2008 World Junior Men’s Fast Pitch Championship and was the chair of the merchandise committee for the 2007 Canada Winter Games. He also acted as president of the Arctic Winter Games Host Society in 1992.

“Mr. Arcand brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience that he’ll draw upon to help make the upcoming Games a success,” said Shewfelt.

“I’m honoured to have been chosen as president of the 2010 Arctic Winter Games Host Society,” said Arcand.

Shewfelt says the first two major steps in bringing the Arctic Winter Games to Whitehorse in 2012 were selecting a president and securing funding, both of which have been done.

“I’m happy to report that we have been successful in those first two challenges,” said Schewfelt.

The Yukon government has contributed $1.4 million to the Arctic Winter Games. Shewfelt says the host society will also be doing fund raising in the next few years for the remaining amount.

“The early contribution from the Yukon government certainly makes our jobs easier,” said Shewfelt.

At the press conference, Arcand kept his words short, as he was ready to jump right in to the search for a general manager and volunteers to round out the 2012 Arctic Winter Games Host Society.

“I’m going to start today,” he said. His plans were to begin talking with people who have volunteered at sporting events in the past to begin to fill out the remaining positions on the host society. The search for a general manager is the next hurdle Arcand will have to tackle.

Ads will go out in local papers soon advertising the general manager’s position.

“It’ll take a little while,” said Arcand.

The newly selected president is looking forward to the process from now until the Games are held.

“It’s a challenge to set it all up,” said Arcand. “It’s a whole process of watching it come together.”

Arcand is planning to have extremely well organized Games in 2012, and believes the venues throughout Whitehorse are perfect for this type of event.

“Whitehorse, as we know, is a great host city,” said Arcand.

Venues all over Whitehorse will be used for the Games.

“This event will make use of city as well as other community facilities, including the Canada Games Centre, Yukon College and the Mt. McIntyre Recreation Centre,” said Arcand. “We are very fortunate to have the venues and the volunteers that make it feasible to host an event like this.”
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Tentative venues

Mount Sima, F.H. Collins Secondary School, Christ the King Elementary School, Porter Creek Secondary School, Grey Mountain, Mt. McIntyre Recreation Centre, Yukon Arts Centre, Mt. McIntyre Recreation Centre, Selkirk School, Fish Lake Road, Takhini Arena, Polarettes Gymnastics Club at Vanier Catholic Secondary School, Canada Games Centre, Riverfront trail, Millenium Trail, Vanier Secondary School and Yukon College
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Also in the audience today at the press conference, was newly re-elected mayor Bev Buckway, who is the vice-president at large with the 2012 Arctic Winter Games Host Society.

Arcand will also have the job of presenting Whitehorse as a host city at the upcoming Arctic Winter Games in Grand Prairie to be held March 6 to 13.

The Games will feature a variety of winter and indoor sports; alpine skiing; snowboarding;  freestyle skiing; arctic sports; badminton; basketball; biathlon, ski and snowshoe; cross-country skiing; cultural participants; curling; Dene games; dog mushing; figure skating; gymnastics; hockey; indoor soccer; snowshoeing; speed skating; table tennis; volleyball and wrestling.