GUIDELINES FOR PREPARING
A BID FOR THE
CANADA 55+ GAMES
Revised July, 2011
BID SUBMISSION
Please complete and forward five copies of the Bid
Application to:
Canada 55+ Games Association
c/o Peter Nordland
PO Box 235
Cornwallis Park, Nova Scotia
B0S 1H0
Phone: (902) 638-8009
Fax: (902) 638-3090
Cell: (902) 250-0355
E-mail: nordland@ns.sympatico.ca
INTRODUCTION
This document will assist municipalities or communities in gaining an
understanding of the Canada 55+ Games program and thus in determining if they
feel if their community would be interested in hosting future games. Specifically, the information contained in
the following pages will provide the necessary guidelines to prepare a bid application
to host the Canada 55+ Games.
A multi-activity event, the Canada 55+ Games are open to adults aged 55
and above as of December 31 of the year in which the Games are held. It is the responsibility of each
province/territory to determine a play-off process to determine participants in
the Games.
The Games combine a focus on social, physical and psychological
involvement with a high quality event and, in turn, encourage older adults to
remain involved whether as participants or volunteers.
The primary partners in the staging of the Canada 55+ Games are the
Canada 55+ Games Association (C55+GA) and the Host Committee (HC) of the
Municipality which establishes a Games Organizing Committee (GOC) to recruit
and activate the many volunteers required to run such an undertaking. The GOC of the Host Municipality signs an
Agreement with the C55+GA which outlines the commitments and responsibilities
of both organizations.
The Games are of at least three days duration and are held between late
August and early October every two years (even numbered years). Late August has
appealed to most Host Communities in the past, as school buses and drivers are
more readily available for local transportation as well as educational
facilities and teachers are available to hold and assist in administering the
games. September and October have the advantage that accommodations are
normally more readily available and possibly at a preferable cost to the
participants.
CANADA 55+ GAMES INFORMATION
Purpose of the Canada 55+ Games Association (C55+GA)
Ø
The C55+GA believes that every Canadian individual age 55 years and over
has the fundamental right to opportunities for enrichment, fulfilment and
improved quality of life and health provided by participation in a broad
variety of athletic, recreational and social activities.
Ø
The C55+GA acts as a promoter and coordinator of 55+ Games for Canadian
adults 55 plus years of age or greater at the community, regional, provincial
and national levels.
Ø
The C55+GA believes strongly that citizens aged 55 or greater; will
become and stay healthier, physically and mentally, if they live an active
lifestyle.
Ø
The C55+GA encourages Provincial andTerritorial organizations to
develop, stimulate and promote sports, recreation and social activities for
‘seasoned’ citizens within their area of concern.
Ø
The C55+GA promotes, in all its facets, older adult sports, recreation
and related activities across Canada.
Ø
The C55+GA aims to involve older adults in the planning, leadership and
supervision of the Canada 55+ Games, but also encourages an interaction between
them and our countries youth in order to promote better understanding
between generations.
BACKGROUND
INFORMATION & THE WAY AHEAD
Provinces and Territories that are currently members of the C55+GA:
Alberta Ontario
Manitoba Prince
Edward Island
New Brunswick Quebec
Northwest
Territories Saskatchewan
Nova Scotia Yukon
Non- member participants from British Columbia and Nunavut have
participated in past Canada 55+ Games. Newfoundland remains the only province
where 55+ Games have not been embraced at any level, but this appears to be
changing and we are hopeful that they will have participants at the 2012 Games.
The first Games, originally known as the Canada Senior Games, were held
in 1996 in Regina, SK. Since then, they have been held in Medicine Hat, AB in
1998, Summerside, PE in 2002, Whitehorse, YN in 2004, Portage la Prairie, MB in
2006, Dieppe, NB in 2008 and are being held this year in Brockville, ON. Of
most significance, is that the numbers of participants has risen sharply over
these years, starting with approximately 350 in 1996 to over 1600 in 2008, and
an expected 2000 this summer. The reasons for this increase are twofold, mainly
the games have grown in popularity across the country at all levels, and
secondly because the baby-boomer generation has joined our throng, giving us
many more prospective participants.
Our intent up to the present was to try to bring the games to the
smaller cities and communities in the country, but it is becoming apparent that
in order to comfortably accommodate the growing numbers, we are having to look
at larger cities, and ones that are located relatively close to major airports,
rail and bus outlets.
CANADA 55+ GAMES
BID APPLICATION GUIDELINES
Municipalities or Communities interested in hosting the Canada 55+ Games
are asked to prepare a formal bid application for submission to the Canada 55+
Games Association. Guidelines for the
bid application are provided below.
INTRODUCTION
Please include the following information as an introduction to your bid
application:
o Name, population
and geographic location of the municipality;
o Name of
municipality representative to be contacted regarding the bid;
o Reasons the
municipality is interested in hosting the Canada 55+ Games.
MUNICIPAL SUPPORT
Municipal support is critical to the success of the event. It is therefore important to indicate the
types of support your municipality is prepared to commit to the Games
Organizing Committee. Please include
the following in your bid application:
o Resolution of the
Municipal Council indicating support for the bid application;
o List of support
agencies which are prepared to support the bid and the types of support to be
provided by each;
o List of major events,
including sporting events where possible, previously hosted by the
municipality.
Specify:
o Name of Event
o Number of
Participants
o Number of
Volunteers
o Name and address
(e-mail if possible) of a contact person.
HUMAN RESOURCES
The Host Games Organizing Committee will need to recruit, train and
direct the efforts of 400-500 volunteers, dependant on the number of
participants expected, in order to successfully host the 55+ Games. With these
numbers in mind, outline the human resources which would be available to your
organizing committee.
o Name of Games
Chairperson
o Names of municipal
contacts
o Extent of municipal
government’s proposed involvement in the planning and operation of the Games
o Plan for staffing
the Games office
o Plan for
recruiting, co-ordinating and recognizing Games volunteers
o Proposed structure
for the Games Organizing Committee
o Names of potential
sub-committee chairpersons (if available at time of application)
OPERATION OF THE GAMES
The Canada 55+ Games will be at least a four day, multi-activity event
involving approximately 1500 - 2000 participants (plus non-participants) from
across Canada. Please address the
following areas of Games operations:
Ø
Registration/Accreditation
Identify the necessary requirements and your
plan for registering Games participants and accrediting volunteers.
Ø
Accommodation
Outline a plan for housing Games
participants. Indicate the number of
hotels/motels/B&B’s with the number of rooms each has available. NOTE: Billeting of participants is not
recommended, but for smaller communities, may become necessary. Please also
indicate potential RV sites, number of spots, facilities, etc.
Ø Food/Services
Outline a plan for ensuring participants at all
venues are fed or have easy access to food during the event. List available restaurants and catering
firms. Large venues hosting more than
one event should have short term cafeteria arrangements if restaurants are not
in reasonable walking distance or if transportation is not provided.
Ø
Transportation
Describe the accessibility to your community by
highway, rail and air. Describe your plans for transporting participants from
the nearest major airport to the registration area and on to their
accommodations.. Outline a plan for
transporting Games participants and VIP’s to and from the sports venues,
accommodation sites and special events.
Ø
Public Relations
Identify the media resources available and the
plan for involving each in the promotion and coverage of the Games. Identify
what local attractions you foresee as being of interest to both participants
and non-participants, and what thoughts you might have as to how you might best
want to showcase these to them.
Ø
Ceremonies/Special Events
Identify potential events and proposed venues.
These must include, at the very least, Opening Ceremonies including the
participants marching in with their flags, and Closing Ceremonies including a
closing banquet.
Ø
Facilities
List the facilities proposed for each of the
potential activities. Indicate the facility specifications, size, accessibility
for the disabled, change rooms, concessions, etc. for each. Provide a municipal
map showing facility locations and their location in respect to the places of
accommodation. List the names of local sport organizations, educational
facilities, senior’s clubs, etc. willing to offer use of their facilities and
to assist in running the Canada 55+ Games.
Ø
Other
We believe that the Canada
55+ Games is a win-win situation for both the participants and the Host
Community. The community
provides the venue where these
individuals can ‘strut
their stuff’ - they also become your audience for you to show off your
attractions and your hospitality. Please let us know of any other thoughts or ideas that you
may think would make
this a week the participants will never forget.
CANADA
55+ GAMES ACTIVITIES
The Host Committee will indicate the activities that will be offered if
the bid is accepted.
CORE ACTIVITIES
The Canada 55+ Games will include a minimum of 14 of the16 Core events
listed below. These events have been identified as the most popular amongst the
provinces and territories from previous games.
5 Pin Bowling 8-Ball Pool Contract Bridge Cribbage
Darts Duplicate Bridge Floor Shuffleboard Golf
Horseshoes Ice Curling Ice Hockey Scrabble
Slo-Pitch Swimming Track & Field Tennis
OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES
The Canada 55+ Games shall also include a minimum of six and a maximum
of 10 events from the following list of Optional Activities:
Archery Arts & Crafts Badminton Bocce
Candlepin Bowling Canoeing Carpet
Bowling Crokinole
Cycling Floor Curling Forty-Fives Ice Skating
(Pred.
Time)
Kayaking Lawn
Bowls Micro Marathon Snooker
Table Tennis Washer
Toss Whist
The C55+GA will also consider other Cultural Activities and
Demonstration Activities that may be unique to the area of the Host
Community.
NOTE: The C55+GA must approve the final list of events.