The City of Whitehorse and the Yukon government want to co-host the 2027 Canada Winter Games.

“The 2007 Whitehorse Canada Winter Games were an extremely successful event that had a lasting impact in Whitehorse’s sporting infrastructure, economy and sense of community,” says the administrative report presented to city council at its meeting Monday.

“Hosting the Canada Games would provide a rare opportunity for Yukon athletes to compete at a national level on their home territory and be cheered by their own community and families while participating in Canada’s largest multi-sport event.

“It would also be an incredible chance for local sports organizations to forge long-lasting relationships with partners across the country.”

Whitehorse hosted the 2007 Canada Winter Games.

City council is scheduled to vote next Monday on whether to pursue a bid for the 2027 Games.

To submit a bid, the city must send a letter to the Canada Games Council before June 30 indicating its intention to bid on the event.

The official bid launch should take place this fall, with the technical bid being due in January 2022 and the full bid due in July 2022, says the report.

The Canada Games Council’s review of the bids is scheduled for October 2022, with the award of the Games to be made in November 2022.

The city and the Yukon government are splitting the $60,000 non-refundable bid fee.

If successful, the partners would have to pay a hosting fee of $1.08 million, as well as commit to $3 million for capital expenditures.

The report notes there would be $9 million in capital expenditures required, with the city and the Yukon and federal governments each contributing $3 million.

Operational funding requirements would be in excess of $22 million, says the report.

Council is also being asked to appoint a bid committee.

In 2007, the city hosted more than 7,500 visitors who spent an estimated $8.7 million, mostly in the hospitality sector, says the report.

It says that according to the economic assessment, the 2007 Games contributed an estimated $75.2 million to the territory’s gross domestic product, and generated $176.7 million in economic activity.

“Bidding for the Canada Games is a significant undertaking,” says the administrative report. “It will require countless hours of volunteer and staff time from individuals with a variety of backgrounds from sport to marketing, from revenue generation to general accounting, from arts to infrastructure, and everything in between.

“The bid package will outline all aspects of co-hosting the Canada Winter Games, including but not limited to athletes’ accommodations, transportation, venues, revenue generation, volunteer recruitment as well as capital and operating funding.”

The administrative report notes the Canada Winter Games would also provide the opportunity to showcase Canada’s true North, it culture, heritage and community spirit.

Yukon artists would have the chance to perform in front of thousands of athletes, coaches, officials and guests from across the country.

The Canada Games Centre was built for the 2007 event, which attracted a visit from then-prime minister Stephen Harper.