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Building a Legacy


Welcome to a special live edition of Municipal Affairs.


Today, we have a really exciting show for you, diving into the heart of one of the biggest undertakings a community can take on — hosting the Canada Games. These Games are not just a moment in time; they’re about legacy. They're about the monumental effort required to bring them to life, and the far-reaching impact they have on the cities and regions that host them. We’re here to explore what it takes, and what it means for a community to step up to the challenge of putting on a national sporting event of this scale.


You don’t just throw a Games together. There’s a massive amount of work, planning, and collaboration involved in the bid process and in delivering on that promise to the athletes, the spectators, and the entire nation. The level of effort required is something that requires the dedication and commitment of every corner of your community, from local leaders and businesses to volunteers and residents. It’s all hands on deck, all working toward the common goal of creating something bigger than themselves.


But here’s the thing — once the closing ceremonies wrap up, the real work begins. Hosting the Canada Games isn’t just about the event itself. It’s about ensuring that the benefits — economic, social, and cultural — are felt long after the athletes have left. The infrastructure that gets built, the relationships forged, the sense of pride that bubbles up in the community. All of this is part of the lasting legacy that the Games leave behind.


And that legacy doesn’t happen in isolation. Regional collaboration is critical. These kinds of undertakings don’t happen with just one city or town. They require cooperation and partnership across multiple levels of government, business sectors, and of course, neighbouring communities. Today, we’ll explore both the triumphs and the challenges that come with this kind of teamwork.


We’re lucky to have two incredible guests who are right in the middle of the Canada Games journey — and who are living proof of what it takes to build a lasting impact.


First, we’ll hear from Mayor Danny Breen of St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. In just a few weeks, St. John’s will host the 2025 Canada Winter Games. This marks a huge milestone for the region, and Mayor Breen will share with us what it took to secure the bid, how they’re preparing, and the anticipated impact on the community.


Then, we’ll be joined by Bill MacMakin, the 2029 Bid Committee Co-Chair from Saint John, New Brunswick. Bill and his team are already working tirelessly on the process for making the 2029 Games a massive success. He’ll talk about the vision they have for their region, the importance of a solid bid, and what they’re doing to ensure their region will be ready for the challenges ahead.


From the early stages of bidding to the lasting benefits that come from the Games, we’ve got a lot to discuss. So stay tuned, and let’s dive into how two Canadian cities are making the Canada Games an integral part of their communities’ futures.


This is Municipal Affairs.


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