COLD LAKE – City of Cold Lake council approved financial support for a team participating in the Alberta 55 plus Games in Calgary. The team will be competing from April 10-13.
A motion was brought forward by Coun. Chris Vining at the March 11 regular council meeting, in support of the request. The City will provide a $1,000 travel grant to the team, and $2,400 for jerseys and socks, which the City of Cold Lake will keep for future use.
The request came after Lloyd Belcourt a representative on behalf of the team, approached the City with an urgent need to support a team in the Alberta 55+ Games.
The Alberta 55 Plus Games offer a diverse range of over 28 sports and activities for participants aged 55 and older. These include physical sports such as track and field, swimming, cycling, golf, slo-pitch, hockey, ice curling, badminton, tennis, and alpine skiing. Precision and strategy games like bocce, horseshoes, darts, pickleball, floor curling, floor shuffleboard, table shuffleboard, carpet bowling, sturling, and lawn bowling are also featured, according to the Alberta 55 plus website.
The team’s participation is linked to the community’s potential opportunity to host the event the following winter.
Belcourt initially applied for a $4,800 recreational grant, but Vining noted the amount was high for a single event.
Discussions among council focused on how best to support the team while ensuring the funds were allocated responsibly.
“Would you be okay with a friendly amendment of $1,000 which would cover team travel?” asked Coun. Vicky Lefebvre.
The need for jerseys also sparked a debate about long-term use. “For myself, I've got no problem helping them. If they're going to buy sweaters, it would be kind of cool if the sweaters could stay for the zone . . . so that they could use them again,” said Mayor Craig Copeland.
Vining agreed, noting that Belcourt had suggested the city store the jerseys for future games.
Copeland expressed concern over the team's $2,400 registration fee, noting he did not realize they needed to pay to enter the games.
Council agreed on providing a $1,000 travel grant and $2,400 for jerseys and socks, which will remain city property for future use.
“The way I look at it is we take $1,000 for expenses and then the City buys the jerseys for $2,400 and we own them. If they don’t want us to own the jerseys, then I guess we’re not in for the $2,400, but I think they would,” said Copeland.
