The host society had just over a year to complete preparations, but they achieved the goal of putting on a memorable event, Sport Manitoba CEO Jeff Hnatiuk said on the last day of the 2018 Manitoba Games in Thompson.
“Everybody had an absolutely outstanding time,” Hnatiuk told a gathering of sponsors, organizers and volunteers just before the closing ceremonies March 10.
He also said that Thompson had set the standard for the 2020 Manitoba Games – a summer edition – in Dauphin, whose host society co-chairs were at the reception.
“I don’t want to say that the bar’s been set real high here, guys, but it has,” said Hnatiuk.
Thompson host society co-chair Sandra Ross-Hitch said the success of the games was due to about 800 volunteers.
“They have made us look good,” she said. “We were in it 100 per cent and so was Thompson and for that we are ever so grateful to you.”
Volunteer recruitment and administration chair Samantha Leahy said that many volunteers did more than they had signed up for, sticking around for extra shifts and helping out in other areas.
“All our feedback’s been really good and the athletes have been thanking volunteers, which is nice to see too,” said Leahy, who previously participated in the Manitoba Games as a ringette player in The Pas in 2002.
The other host society co-chair, Murray Kissick, said donations were still coming in on the last day of the games and thanked everyone involved once more.
“We just happened to be at the top,” said Kissick. “It was everybody below us that did the job.”
Former mayor Tim Johnston, who served on the host society with the Friends of the Games to drum up sponsorships, said the event shone a positive spotlight on the Hub of the North.
“One of the things I keep hearing from people is how impressed they are with Thompson, not just the facilities but the people and more importantly, how that changed their perception of this community. Everyone deserves a hand for showcasing that and showing everybody what great places Thompson and Northern Manitoba are.”
Ed Broome of Brandon, who came to watch his grandson play hockey in the games, had plenty of priase for the Hub of the North.
“I found that the people are very friendly, the games were excellent, it was really run well but the most memorable part of the whole trip was going to one of your pizza restaurants called Tom’s,” said Broome. “It was outstanding.”
Bobbi Montean, who was a volunteer when the games were last held in Thompson in 1994, said Thompson proved it should have been selected as more than a last-minute replacement.
“We submitted a bid before and it was refused and we wanted to do this again and we proved it. Absolutely.”
-with files from Kyle Darbyson
