The Canada Games Host Society began its volunteer drive today, a year to the day before the 2007 Games begin.

Taking place at the Canada Games Centre, host society members are asking Whitehorsians interested in participating in the Games to sign up as a volunteer.

Brent Slobodin, who's in charge of the Games volunteer recruitment drive, said today represents the beginning of a massive recruitment drive for the winter spectacle.

'(Today) we're beginning our recruitment launch ... it will go from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.,' he said Thursday.

The host society will be looking for about 5,000 volunteers who want to participate in the Games and will also be looking to bolster the number of volunteers it has for the current Games planning.

'We currently have 350 to 400 volunteers working on planning; we're looking to double that,' Slobodin said.

He said people looking to volunteer as one of 5,000 for the two weeks of the Games next year should do so as soon as possible.

'We encourage people to sign up early so that they can get the assignments that they want,' he said.

Today's recruitment drive also has a number of activities for people to participate in, including public skating and pickup soccer at the Games Centre as well as tobogganing at Shipyards Park.

'People can receive a 25 per cent discount on all Games gear if they sign up (today),' he said.

Today will also see a special reception from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. where people can meet the Games mascots and win special prizes.

Mayor Ernie Bourassa said Thursday he would be on hand to support the event, and he is encouraging all citizens interested in participating in the Games to come forward.

'It's an important day for the Games; we're looking to get as many people out (today) as we can,'' he said.

Would-be volunteers planning to get to the Games Centre by bus are out of luck today, as Whitehorse Transit isn't running due to the Rendezvous holiday.

But, Bourassa pointed out, it's important for people to realize today isn't the only opportunity for people to sign up as volunteers.

'It's not going to be their only chance to sign up ... we'll be recruiting right up until Games time,' he said.