The 2027 Canada Winter Games are likely to cost more than $100 million to stage – and the Yukon is the only bidder so far.

That was the word from Community Services Minister Richard Mostyn this morning during an interview with the Star.

That estimate is for figures at current values – and with inflationary pressures and possible continuing labour shortages, the cost is likely to rise considerably higher.

Mostyn projects that the games, if the bid is successful – which it will be unless another bidder enters the sweepstakes – will generate around $80 million to $100 million in economic benefits, but that shouldn’t be foremost in anyone’s mind.

He pointed to the potential for legacy projects to be constructed that will be of benefit to the community long after the games are finished.

The last time the Yukon and Whitehorse hosted the Games was in 2007. During that period, the $43-million Canada Games Centre (CGC) was built, Mostyn pointed out.

As well, the athletes’ quarters at Yukon University were transformed into permanent housing units, and the exposure from the Games the territory received across Canada was credited with boosting tourism.

Also included in the infrastructure for the 2007 Games was the ski chalet at Mt. Sima.

The minister called the CGC a “centrepiece of the community which is beloved.

“How do you put a price on that?” Mostyn asked.

“There’s a lot of benefits that come from (something like) this. There’s benefits from prestige, etc.”

Some of the funding will come from the federal government and national sponsors, Mostyn said, although he did not quantify that.

The organizing committee recently submitted a technical review package that outlined some of what facilities would be needed to host the Games.

“This is the first step in a two-step process by the Canada Games Council’s 2027 Games Bid Evaluation Committee and Technical Review Committee to assess Whitehorse’s bid to host the Games,” the committee said in a news release.

The committee will visit Whitehorse on Tuesday and Wednesday to conduct a site visit of the venues reviewed in the report.

“A tremendous amount of hard work goes into the process of securing a major event,” stated Piers McDonald, the chair of the CWG bid committee, which confirms Mostyn’s cost estimate

(The 2007 Games host committee budget was $29 million for operating expenses and $9 million for capital works.)

Given the deconstruction of the Stan McCowan Arena in Porter Creek, McDonald has said, the city would need a fourth rink to complement the two at the CGC, and the Takhini Arena.

The second step will occur in September, when the bid committee submits the comprehensive community review information package.

The news release echoed what Mostyn said about the economic benefit.

“The Games can be expected to generate approximately $80 million to $110 million in economic spending in the host province or territory.”

As the Star reported last week, as part of the lead-up to the bid, the Mount McIntyre Recreation Centre has been provided $800,000 in funding for upgrades.

The centre is home to the Whitehorse Cross-Country Ski Club, the Whitehorse Curling Club and Tennis Yukon.

A news release said, “A complete redesign of the building’s interior is required for it to meet current and future needs.”

Also, the City of Whitehorse has announced that an agreement has been reached between the bid committee and the City of Fort St. John, B.C. for the use of its long track speed skating oval during the 2027 Canada Winter Games.

The host community for the Canada Winter Games will be announced in November.

See related story.