The exact details of the 2026 Arctic Winter Games set to be held in Whitehorse are largely still undecided, but games organizers will benefit from significant support from the City of Whitehorse.
At its Jan. 15 meeting, Whitehorse city council passed a budget amendment to provide funding for the 2026 Arctic Winter Games that had already been agreed upon.
The approved support takes the form of $250,000 in cash and $500,000 of in-kind support including the use of facilities and city staff time.
The games are estimated to cost $9.55 million and the territorial government has pledged $4.35 million in cash and in-kind support.
“To initiate planning and preparations for the games, the host society depends on a steady cash flow. The City of Whitehorse has allocated a funding contribution, which is securely held in a trust, and is building that trust through the operating budget process,” said city community services director Krista Mroz, who presented a report to council about the budget amendment at the meeting.
“To expedite the cash flow ahead of the approved operating budget, a budget amendment is required to facilitate the transfer of funds from the trust to the 2024 to 2026 provisional operating budget and establish a dedicated budget line item.”
The report to council contains a breakdown of the spending: $100,000 is earmarked for this year with another $100,000 in 2025 and $50,000 in 2026.
A host society has been established and given the task of bringing the games to Whitehorse. At the Jan. 15 meeting, Mroz told council that ongoing work includes defining what a management committee for the games will look like, hiring a general manager and finding a space for the host society to set up as they work on organizing the games.
City staff weren’t able to provide an update on what forms the city’s promised in-kind support for the games would take, noting that more information would be available once the games have hired a manager.
Coun. Ted Laking said he has heard from people interested in which sports will be included in the 2026 games. Mroz said conversations about what sports will be included are just starting to get underway. More information may be available in the coming months.
Council also approved travel expenditures allowing Mayor Laura Cabott to go to this year’s Arctic Winter Games set for Mat-Su, Alaska from March 10 to 16. The mayor has been invited to participate in a formal handoff from the 2024 host community to Whitehorse as it prepares the 2026 games.
-With files from Patrick Egwu
Contact Jim Elliot at jim.elliot@yukon-news.com
