... Mayor Kurt Alberts said that while the Winning Bids Research Project doesn't discuss rowing, canoeing and kayaking, it does specifically mention the Bedford Channel, and the great potential it has "as a venue for major rowing events."
Alberts said that an announcement is in the offing for a major rowing event.
Council voted unanimously to amend the report, to add Bedford Channel to the venues list.
Council also unanimously approved a request to change meeting frequency of the Sport Langley Advisory Committee (SLAC) to an annual general meeting, rather than the current quarterly meetings. The annual meeting will allow staff to establish work plan priorities for the coming year, and to allow the members to establish task forces and elect a representative to the Tourism Langley Board.
The Sport Langley Advisory Council is a joint venture between the City and the Township, created out of the Langley Sport Tourism Strategy, endorsed by both councils in 2005. Municipal staff has been working with SLAC, a committee of various volunteers from community sports groups, the education and business communities, to encourage sports tourism.
The Winning Bids study examined existing tournaments and championships, and overnight stays generated (one soccer tournament attracts 4,800, with 45 per cent overnight stays); and many issues ranging from volunteering, event master planning, welcoming packages for out of town sports-events visitors, financial assistance for smaller sports organizations which have bid successfully for large events, better direction signs to major venues, and media relations and sponsorships.
The study also looked at the competition, from Abbotsford and other Lower Mainland towns, as well as towns like Prince George and Kamloops...