Excitement is growing as Moncton and Saint John look to co-host the 2029 Canada Summer Games.
Bill MacMackin and Louis Léger recently named co-chairs of the joint bid committee for the two cities.
Both are highly regarded community leaders with extensive experience in working on major events.
Léger said it is a big deal that the two cities are joining forces to submit a bid for the Games.
“It means that we’ll be able to leverage the infrastructure that we already have in both cities so we minimize on the capital costs,” Léger told our newsroom.
That includes the Canada Games Aquatic Centre in Saint John — the only 50-metre pool in the province — which was built for the 1985 Canada Summer Games, as well as Croix Bleue Medavie Stadium in Moncton.
Léger said holding the games in more than one community also spread the economic benefits across a wider area.
“You have to find ways of sleeping almost 3,000 athletes. It’s a big endeavour, so faciliites in both cities will make that a lot easier,” he said.
Creating two central hubs, each within a five to 10-minute drive of most venues, ensures efficient logistics and enhances the athlete experience with unique cultural and community engagement opportunities in each city, said the committee.
Municipalities have already submitted venue information, and a technical review visit took place in June.
Léger said they will now submit a comprehensive bid proposal, followed by a review slated for January and February. The final decision to award the 2029 Canada Summer Games will be made in March.
Each Canada Summer Games features two weeks of competition, between 16 and 20 sports, approximately 4,600 participants, and over 5,000 volunteers.
Officials said the two most recent Canada Games have generated more than $200 million in overall economic activity in the host province.
The 2029 Canada Games would mark the third time hosting for New Brunswick. Saint John previously hosted the 1985 Canada Summer Games while the 2003 Canada Winter Games were held in Bathurst-Campbellton.
