THUNDER BAY — A pair of familiar faces have been tapped to lead the city’s organizing efforts for next year’s Ontario Winter Games.
Barry Streib will co-chair the committee along with Tracie Smith, the city’s director of strategic initiatives, after a vote of Thunder Bay’s city council on Monday.
Streib has a long history of involvement in community events, from helping to found the Thunder Bay Blues Festival and Miles with the Giant marathon to chairing the organizing committee for the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games the city hosted in 2020.
The committee is rounded out with another 29 members representing the business and tourism sectors, neighbouring communities, and a number of city staff.
A handful of spots remain to be filled, including representatives from Fort William First Nation, Shuniah, and the Thunder Bay CEDC.
Thunder Bay was selected last year to host the 2024 games, which feature athletes aged 12 to 18 competing in close to 30 sports, from alpine skiing and speed skating to artistic swimming and wheelchair basketball.
Thunder Bay had last played host to the games in 1974.
The event is expected to bring as many as 3,500 participants to the city, requiring between 700 and 900 volunteers to pull off, with an estimated economic impact of $6 million or more, organizers told council on Monday.
“This is such a tremendous opportunity for our community, and a great way to showcase the wonderful people and facilities we have here,” Smith said.
The games will take place in two “waves” over the course of two weekends, Feb. 16 to 19, and Feb. 23 to 26.
Sport development supervisor Paul Burke said organizers had determined hosting the event in one go would run up against challenges, including local transportation capacity.
