The Government of the Northwest Territories has released their report on the public engagement undertaken to decide if the NWT should make a bid to host the 2035 Canada Winter Games.
The survey, conducted in June, gathered responses from 350 residents of the territory, 80% of whom said they lived in Yellowknife. Slightly under a third of participants reported being involved with sports and recreation, and 15% identified as business owners.
The results of the survey show that roughly 60% of respondents felt the GNWT should either move forward with a bid or explore further before deciding, with 40% saying the GNWT should not submit a bid.
Participants identified some of the opportunities hosting the games could bring to the NWT, such as economic development, increased tourism, and infrastructure investment.
They also expressed some concerns, including the cost of hosting the games, potential increases in taxes, workforce capacity, and ensure there is enough housing for visiting athletes and tourists.
Overall, those who responded to the survey felt that transparent and clear planning was the most important priority, with a focus on infrastructure that will benefit residents in the long-term, rather than just the games.
The GNWT says they plan to use the feedback gathered from the engagement period and from other key partners, as well as the feasibility assessment completed in May of this year, to come to a decision on whether a bid should be made.
The GNWT is required to inform the Canada Games Council of their decision by Fall of 2026.
