“We are excited to announce the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre / Centre des Jeux Canada Gary W. Harris as the signature legacy facility for the 2019 Games,” said Lyn Radford, Board Chair of the 2019 Canada Winter Games Host Society. “This facility is the physical representation of our partnership with The City of Red Deer and Red Deer College and will be a hub of activity during the 2019 Games.”

Featuring 19 sports and numerous cultural events and festivals, the 2019 Canada Winter Games will be the largest event in Red Deer’s history. The Partnership Agreement details how the three organizations will work together in advance of the 2019 Games.

“Because of the partnership between the 2019 Canada Winter Games Host Society, The City of Red Deer and Red Deer College, along with the contributions of our citizenry, our community is unequivocally more than ready to host the 2019 Canada Winter Games and welcome 20,000 Canadians to our dynamic city,” said Mayor Tara Veer. “This agreement today reminds us that sport building is community building and that community building is country building, and the 2019 Canada Winter Games will redefine Red Deer’s identity on a national level.”

Currently under construction and scheduled for completion in fall 2018, the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre / Centre des Jeux Canada Gary W. Harris will feature an Olympic-sized ice surface that can be converted to a NHL standard-sized rink, gymnasium, fitness facility, squash courts, an indoor track and teaching and learning spaces. The facility provides the region access to health, wellness and sports activities.

“This facility will not only create a legacy for our community, it will also help shape the future of Red Deer College by providing opportunities for the continued evolution of our programming, including the addition of degrees,” said Shelley Ralston, Chair, RDC Board of Governors.

During the 2019 Canada Winter Games, the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre / Centre des Jeux Canada Gary W. Harris will host squash, short track speed skating, figure skating, badminton and wheelchair basketball.

“The Canada Games and their lasting legacies continue to be the catalyst for the growth of sport and recreation across our country,” said Tom Quinn, Canada Games Council Chairman. “The Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre / Centre des Jeux Canada Gary W. Harris is yet another example of a signature legacy facility that will benefit a Host City for years to come. We are very excited to see the facility once it is completed in fall of 2018.”