Strathmore welcomes 55 Plus Summer Games

Strathmore is expected to welcome over 1,000 game enthusiasts, when hosting the Alberta 55 Plus Summer Games in July 2015. Using facilities all over town, including schools and the Family Centre, a number of sports will be featured.

Games Director Dennis Allen says some events are more sedentary, while others can be really active.

“It’s quite a range,” Allen said. “It provides for an opportunity for people of any type of fitness level.”

Slo-pitch, athletics, cycling, swimming, and tennis may require a bit more physical training, whereas cribbage, bridge, pool, and military whist will require preparation, but not nearly as much athletically. Bocce, floor curling, floor shuffleboard, golf and horseshoes events will also be held.

Acting Chair for the Alberta Sport, Recreation, Parks, and Wildlife Foundation, John Short, said the bidding committee found Strathmore to be almost irresistible: “The selection committee toured this community and went back to Edmonton with a lot of good things to say.”

The Alberta 55 Plus Games are made possible by the Alberta Sport, Recreation, Parks and Wildlife Foundation, with help from the Alberta 55 Plus Association. The Foundation is supporting Strathmore with $175,000 in grants.

“I am super excited about what this will do for your community, but I’m also excited as to what your community will do for these games,” said Minister of Tourism, Parks, and Recreation, Richard Starke. “The games contribute to the community, both in terms of organizational ability, and in terms for the community to gain confidence, and the legacy of the facilities that you have in the community as a result of the games. These games celebrate an active, healthy lifestyle of our province.”

Starke spoke of the 1978 Commonwealth Games in Edmonton, the 1982 Lloydminster Winter Games, the 1988 Calgary Olympics, and the 1994 Lacombe Sr. Games; each of these communities still speak of the transformative time, and the confidence and pride their towns and cities have gained with hosting such large scale events. Most of them, he said, go on to host more.

“It infused a sense of confidence and an ability for the community to work together on something like this, so I am so excited for the community of Strathmore, for what you are going to be able to experience over the next two years, in planning for this,” Starke said. “That’s how we do things in Alberta. We do things because we gather together as a community, and we work together to make these events successful.”

Over 700 volunteers will be needed for everything from food to transportation to opening and closing ceremonies. Mayor Steve Grajczyk believes the participants will enjoy our friendly atmosphere and hospitality, along with our impressive facilities.

“Now the work begins…and we know you can do it,” Grajczyk said. “We are pleased to have an opportunity to showcase our community and 

take part in a fun-filled weekend of spirited competition and camaraderie, Proud of all that Strathmore has to offer, we are confident the games will be outstanding.”