At tomorrow’s (Monday) meeting, the Caledonia Nordic Ski Club will ask Council for financial support in hosting the 2024 Para Biathlon World Championships and World Para Nordic Skiing World Cup Finals.
The club is requesting up to $250,000 in support, according to a report to Prince George City Council, if the events are held in Prince George.
The funding would come from the Major Events Reserve, and the Club would have to sign a sponsorship agreement with the city to get it.
The championships were already held at the club in 2019, with the same amount of city funding.
Cost breakdown:
- In April, $20,000 was allocated to help with announcements, video production, audio visual, branding, marketing, and other miscellaneous planning expenses.
- $20,000 in April for announcements, video production, audio visual, branding, marketing, and other planning expenses;
- $210,000 in January 2023 to meet deadlines for ISEE grant matching grant applications from Sport Canada.
The Major Events Reserve has been maintained in recent years thanks to a sustainable funding source of $200,000 in annual contributions from the city’s gaming revenues.
This is due to a host financial support agreement with the province, in which the City receives 10% of the Treasure Cove Casino’s net revenues.
Casinos have been closed since March 2020 as a result of COVID-19, and the City is currently not receiving any revenue from this program.
The Major Events Reserve also has some residual funds from previous years, with a balance of around $66,000 as of December 31.
The Major Events Reserve will fund the $20,000 instalment in 2021 and the $20,000 instalment in 2022 if this funding request were accepted by Council.
The remaining $210,000, however, could not be funded by current reserve funds.
According to the report, the reserve will need a different funding source, such as a tax levy.
However, according to the report, the City’s gaming revenues are likely to be restored before the 2023 tax year.
