CANDACE WU
news@pqbnews.com
The Regional District of Nanaimo put its full support behind a project that aims to bring a national sporting spectacle to the Parksville Qualicum Beach area in 2015.
“I’m sure the economic ripple effect would be humongous,” said Parksville director Marc Lefebvre in regards to hosting the National Women’s U18 Hockey Championship, adding that hotels and restaurants would reap major monetary benefits.
All the directors involved seemed fond of the idea. Area F director Julian Fell recalled hosting the curling championships as being “spectacularly successful.”
The RDN unanimously passed a motion supporting the bid to host the 2015 National Women U18 Hockey Championship with a $5,000 grant, and if required, committed to an additional grant of $3,000 on the condition that two tournament games be held at Oceanside Place and the Parksville Qualicum Beach area be utilized as a main accommodation area for staging the tournament.
Additionally, the RDN agreed that in the event not all six Vancouver Island Sport Tourism Council communities are able to participate in the bid, the RDN will commit up to an additional two games with the related financial support of $2,500 and $1,500 per game.
Finally, the RDN agreed that the $2,500 per-game funding to support the RDNs application be allocated to the 2014 Oceanside Place operating budget.
