The presentation of the 2020 PRESTIGE awards, postponed from last year, were hosted virtually as a gala on-line production. The presentation was hosted by Olympian, World Cup medallist and CBC Broadcaster Kelly VanderBeek.

The STC Canadian Sport Event of the Year Award recognizes the overall success of an outstanding single-sport, multi-sport or collegiate event held in Canada in 2019. The criteria states that the event rights holder is a Canadian governing body/entity and that a Canadian community bid against other Canadian communities and/or was awarded the right to host the event.

2019 Canada Winter Games Facts

-The 2019 Canada Winter Games took place from February 15 - March 3, 2019 in Red Deer, Alberta
-The Games were organized by the 2019 Canada Winter Games Host Society led by Chair Lyn Radford
-The Games featured 19 sports and 150 events alongside a major arts and cultural festival
-Red Deer welcomed over 3,600 athletes, managers and coaches, 4,600 volunteers, and more than 26,000 visitors throughout two weeks of competition
-The Canada Games represent the highest level of national competition for Canadian amateur athletes, and were the largest event that Red Deer has ever hosted
-Sport infrastructure legacy generated from the Games includes the construction of the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre which is a multi-purpose venue built specifically for the 2019 Games that includes an ice rink, gymnasium, basketball court, running and sprint tracks, and squash courts
-The Games raised over $12M in sponsor and donor fundraising, resulting in the most successful sponsorship program in Games history
-Financial legacy from the Games includes generating a total net economic activity (GDP) of $44.7M for Red Deer and $60.6M for the Province of Alberta
-The Host Society donated over $500,000 in sport equipment and assets post-Games to over 40 local and provincial sport organizations and not-for-profits

Quotes

“The 2019 Canada Winter Games were a life changing experience for all participants. It was a time for dreams to become reality and for community to come together to deliver one of the elite hosting events in 52 years of history of Canada Games. The Canada Games framework gave Red Deer and Alberta an opportunity to build legacy, support sport development and deliver life long friendships to all. We thank Sport Canada, Government of Alberta, City of Red Deer, Canada Games Council,  volunteers, staff, sponsors and partners for this fabulous journey. Thank you to the sponsor, Québec City Business Destination, of this event category of the STA Prestige awards. Your sponsorship allows for all of Canada to see the wonderful work done in our Sport Tourism industry. Merci beaucoup!”

Lyn Radford, Chair, 2019 Canada Winter Games Host Society

“The 2019 Canada Winter Games were an incredible event that showcased our nation’s top amateur athletes and left behind a legacy of infrastructure, sustainability, and community pride in Red Deer. The City of Red Deer, Host Society staff, and the thousands of volunteers should be proud of what they accomplished and the 2019 Games are truly deserving of this award and recognition." 

Evan Johnston, Chair, Canada Games Council

“Thank you to Sport Tourism Canada for recognizing the 2019 Canada Winter Games, with the honour of this recognition. This award is a tribute to the incredibly hard work accomplished by our local Host Society, our generous partners and the more than 5,000 incredible community volunteers who made this opportunity possible. To the people of Red Deer, be incredibly proud of what you accomplished. We are here because you courageously said yes. We are here because you said we will find a way. We are here because you said we’ll do it together. Thank you, Canada Games, for the opportunity to welcome our fellow Canadians to our community for this once-in-a-generation opportunity.”  

Tara Veer, Mayor of Red Deer

2019 Canada Winter Games Chair Lyn Radford Wins STC Sport Event Volunteer of the Year Award

Lyn Radford, Chair of the 2019 Canada Winter Games, has been named the recipient of the 2020 Sport Tourism Canada (STC) Sport Event Volunteer of the Year Award.

The presentation of the 2020 PRESTIGE awards, postponed from last year, were hosted virtually as a gala on-line production. The presentation was hosted by Olympian, World Cup medallist and CBC Broadcaster Kelly VanderBeek.

The STC Sport Event Volunteer of the Year Award recognizes the outstanding contributions of an individual’s volunteer efforts during the hosting of one or more sport events in Canada in 2019.

Lyn Radford Background and Accomplishments

-Lyn Radford served as the Chair of the 2019 Canada Winter Games Host Society from 2014 - 2019
-Lyn oversaw the leadership, planning, execution, governance, and fundraising of the 2019 Canada Games, while serving as the primary spokesperson for the organization
-She is the first singular female Chairperson of a Host Society in Canada Games history

Lyn has volunteered her time to other major events throughout Red Deer and Alberta including the following:

• 2003, 2006 and 2007 Bid Committee member for Alberta & Western Canada Games 
• Committee member for 2013 Memorial Cup Bid
• Chair of the 2006 Alberta Summer Games 
• Directed the 2010 Olympic Torch Celebration
• Served as a Director for 1998 Alberta Winter Games
• Served as a Director for the 2004 and 2012 Scotties Tournament of Hearts 
• Served as a Director for the inaugural 2013 Tour of Alberta cycling race 
• Served as Capital Campaign Chair for Red Deer’s Ronald McDonald House 
• Founding member of both the Alberta Sport Development Centre – Central and the Red Deer Leadership Centre 
• Served on the Alberta Sport Connection as the Provincial Games Chair
• Served as a Director on Red Deer College’s Board of Governors

Lyn has been recognized through various other awards including:

• 2005 Alberta Centennial Medal for Volunteer Service
• 2006 Toyota Never Quit Award
• 2007 Mayors Award of Distinction for Volunteer Service 
• Red Deer’s 2009 Citizen of the Year 
• 2011 Women of Excellence Lifetime Achievement Award winner
• Governor General of Canada 2012 Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal 
• 2019 City of Red Deer Lifetime Achievement Award
• 2019 honorary bachelor of interdisciplinary studies degree 

Quotes

“The 2019 Canada Winter Games were an incredible event that showcased our nation’s top amateur athletes and left behind a legacy of infrastructure, sustainability, and community pride in Red Deer. Lyn Radford was the driving force behind how successful these Games were, and we are grateful for the years of hard work and dedication she invested in the 2019 Canada Winter Games. The Canada Games are stronger than ever because of Lyn, and we’re thrilled that she’s being recognized for all of her accomplishments.”  

Evan Johnston, Chair, Canada Games Council

“Congratulations to Lyn on being recognized  by Sport Tourism as the Sport Event Volunteer of the Year.  What a well deserved honor. Lyn has worked tirelessly as a volunteer for all of her adult life. No task is too small or too large for her to tackle. But the legacy of her volunteerism goes deeper than just her own involvement in a myriad of activities and events. She leads, motivates, encourages, cajoles and celebrates in such an infectious manner that the result is literally thousands of people who are giving back to their community because of her passion for commitment. The 2019 Canada Winter Games was just one of many opportunities for her to lead others to impact our community. I am sure all of the nominees have been involved in their events because of an intrinsic motivation to make a difference.  And Lyn was no different. Her motivation is never about self but about transforming community and people. During one day in the preparation for the Games, Lyn made an important presentation to our political leaders in the morning, helped with the orientation of volunteers in the afternoon and then was found hanging ornamental snowflakes from the light posts of main street in the evening. She exemplifies the saying ‘life is short-do stuff that matters-for and with others.”

Hugh McPherson, Vice Chair, 2019 Canada Winter Games Host Society

“Thank you to Sport Tourism Canada for recognizing the 2019 Canada Winter Games, and the hard work of our “force-to-be-reckoned with” Chair, Lyn Radford. This award recognizes the leadership, strength and fortitude demonstrated by our Chair, Lyn Radford and CEO, Scott Robinson, and the more than 5,000 incredible community volunteers. We made this once-in-a-lifetime moment ours, as individuals, as a community, and as a country in pursuit of possibilities. Congratulations Lyn on this prestigious award.”  

Tara Veer, Mayor of Red Deer

About the Canada Games

Held once every two years, alternating between winter and summer, the Canada Games are the largest multi-sport event in Canada for up and coming amateur athletes. Each Games features two weeks of competition, between 16 - 19 sports, approximately 3,400 summer and 2,350 winter athletes, and over 4,000 volunteers. Hosted in every province at least once since their inception in Quebec City in 1967, the Games are proud of their contribution to Canada’s sport development system in addition to their lasting legacy of sport facilities, community pride and national unity.

The organization of the Canada Games is made possible thanks to the contribution and support of the Government of Canada, provincial/territorial governments, host municipalities and the Canada Games Council.

For more Information Contact:

Erin Mathany
Vice President, Marketing and Partnerships
Canada Games Council
Tel: (416) 209-2142
E-mail: emathany@canadagames.ca