Prince George and Quesnel are bidding to co-host the 2026 55+ B.C. Summer Games, after city council signed off on the bid on Monday night.
If the bid is successful, the event is expected to draw 4,000-plus athletes and coaches competing in 20 to 32 different sports, city supervisor of event services Debbie Heywood said. Between two-thirds and 85 per cent of the events would be hosted in Prince George, with the remainder being hosted in Quesnel.
“The partnership with Quesnel, you don’t see that very often,” Mayor Lyn Hall said. “I think this is going to garner a tremendous amount of interest for both communities.”
The city’s contribution is expected to be $52,000, plus roughly $48,000 on in-kind services. Funding would come from the city’s Major Events Reserve Fund.
“The potential economic impact of the 55+ BC Games is significantly higher than hosting other BC Games as participants are responsible for their own accommodation, meals and transportation,” Heywood wrote in a report to council. “Close to 4,000 participants and supporters will utilize approximately 2,000 spaces for accommodation through hotel rooms and RV sites, frequenting numerous community businesses, and visiting a variety of facilities. The estimated economic return to Prince George based on two-thirds of the events and visitors in our city, is over ($3.5 million).”
City of Quesnel event coordinator Charlene Lawrence wrote a letter of support for the event, saying the city and Cariboo Regional District are fully in support of the application to co-host the event.
Quesnel is tentatively proposing to host curling, archery, mountain biking, triathlon, swimming, karate and either cribbage or whist.
“Co-hosting the 55+ BC Games will positively impact our communities while working together to produce the best ever games,” Lawrence wrote.
Tourism Prince George CEO Colin Carson also wrote a letter in support of the bid.
“Event hosting is a major area within the tourism industry and it plays a key role in diversifying our local economy and driving the growth of regional tourism,” Carson wrote. “A joint bid of this nature would be a first in our region and would drive economic benefit to both communities. Tourism Prince George has provided enthusiastic support to this bid. Should this application be successful, will work closely with the City of Prince George and the City of Quesnel to ensure the success of the 2026 55+ BC Games and promote it to locals and visitors alike.”
Prince George last hosted the senior games in 2008.
“The B.C. senior games have been here twice already,” Coun. Susan Scott said. “I believe our community will get behind this enormously.”
