The ATCO Group of Companies was an official sponsor of the 2010 Arctic Winter Games in Grande Prairie, March 6-13, 2010. The Arctic Winter Games is a forum for competition in 21 sports popular throughout the circumpolar North. Athletes compete in indoor and outdoor sports, as well as traditional Arctic sports and Dene Games. In addition to their athletes, each contingent also brings cultural representatives and programs to share the music, art, fashions and food of their communities.

The ATCO Group provided people, products and services to the event that saw nearly 2,000 athletes and cultural participants from Arctic nations around the world competing and showcasing their talents.

Excellence, transparency and a commitment to go beyond the call of duty embody the strong foundation on which ATCO was built. ATCO celebrated the athletes’ drive for excellence in their sport by presenting medals during the podium presentations.

ATCO Place in Muskoseepi Park was the home of the Dene Games. Just as with the Arctic sports, the Dene Games do not require much equipment. They are greatly intertwined with traditional and cultural values that focus on demonstrating sportsmanship, a competitive desire to perform to the best of their capabilities and to have fun with their teammates and opponents.

ATCO’s sponsorship included the provision of ATCO modules which were used in the athlete village and the many sports venues in and around Grande Prairie. In addition, ATCO staged ‘technical excellence camps’ at Wapiti and Night Hawk ski areas to support the skiers, technicians and officials, as well as many other applications at the various sport venues.

Volunteers played a pivotal role in creating a successful Games. In recognition of their hard work, ATCO sponsored the Volunteer Lounges throughout Grande Prairie. Many of ATCO’s employees in Grande Prairie and the surrounding area were active volunteers during the Games.

As a legacy to the Games, ATCO created a beautifully constructed cauldron in Muskoseepi Park. Built by ATCO Gas, the cauldron and steel pedestal stands more than four metres tall with a two-metre-wide dish on top that houses the natural gas-fuelled flame. The flame remained lit during the Games. It will be used by the City of Grande Prairie for future community events and activities.

For more information, please visit the 2010 Arctic Winter Games website.