Members of the 2007 Canada Winter Games Host Society spent some time at the Arctic Winter Games in Fort McMurray, Alta., last week.

Whitehorse Mayor Ernie Bourassa, along with Chris Morrissey, the General Manager of the 2007 Games, traveled to Alberta to gain ideas on what works and what doesn't, as far as organizing such a large event.

Bourassa said the two also met with organizers and potential sponsors for 2007.

'We met with their mayor numerous times,' said Bourassa in an interview this morning. 'We also met with the Secretary of State for sport, Stan Keyes, to discuss our Games and our issues.'

Bourassa said one of the biggest items on the agenda for the host society was looking into the use of a large tent, such as the one at AWG. Organizers made use of the tent, which seats 8,000 people above stage level, at both opening and closing ceremonies.

'That is an extremely viable option for us and something we want to pursue,' said Bourassa. 'It gave them and it will give us the opportunity to have very large seating capacity for a large venue.'

Bourassa said additional uses for the tent, such as constructing an ice arena inside it, will also be discussed over the coming year.

'If we do some of the things worth doing, like put an ice rink in it, obviously it we'll have to make it bigger,' he said, adding organizers at the AWG told him it would be possible. 'Then we could have the closing hockey games in there, where we can have larger crowds.'

Bourassa said Takhini Arena just doesn't have a large enough seating capacity for the Canada Games.

There were a few problems Bourassa noticed with the tent which, would have to be worked out, he said.

'We saw some logistical issues and safety concerns with it,' he stated. 'They ended up extending the stage more than they were supposed to, and it created a bottleneck in the middle. If there was an emergency, it would make it very difficult to get people out.

'We want to make sure we do it right.'

Bourassa would also like to have the tent's heating improved for the 2007 Games.

'Although, we do see that as a marketing opportunity to sell seat pads,' he laughed.

The host society took some time to study the transportation, food and accommodations while in Fort McMurray. Bourassa said the two critical things when planning such events are the athletes food and transportation.

'The food left something to be desired,' he stated. 'We saw an awful lot of athletes in restaurants on their lunch breaks. And we heard comments like no bananas, no fruit.

'Our standards for Canada Games are going to be that much higher.'

The mayor said there were some issues with transportation, but the host society just had to make sure it's done right. The society has also faced questions about volunteers, and how many will be needed. At the 2004 AWG, there were 5,000 volunteers. So does that mean Whitehorse will need thousands more for the Canada Games?

'No,' Bourassa said emphatically. 'There were an awful lot of volunteers standing around doing nothing. We don't want that. We want our volunteers to feel like they're a part of something.

'We'll limit the number of volunteers just by limiting the number of venues.'

Bourassa expects 4,500 volunteers will be more than adequate un 2007.

As far as ideas for opening ceremonies, the mayor just wants to make sure the athletes intro runs quicker, and smooth.

'The ceremonies in New Brunswick (2003 Canada Winter Games) were marvelous,' he said. 'But they had a good budget to do it with, unlike Arctic Winter Games. At these Games, the introduction of athletes dragged on and on, because of the bottleneck I mentioned earlier.

'You have to bring them to their seats quickly.'

Bourassa said overall, the host society had a very successful trip to the AWG, one that was worthwhile.

'You always learn stuff when you go to these kind of events,' he said. 'You learn what works and what doesn't, and then you apply that to our Games.'