Editor, The Times:
Mark your calendars on the July 12 - 15 weekend, as the Clearwater Minor Ball Association and Clearwater will be hosting the 2012 Softball Provincial Championships. Over 18 teams will arrive on the community's doorstep for the competition.
As the newly appointed sports coordinator for the District of Clearwater and serving Wells Gray Country, I am very excited about hosting this tournament with over 800 visitors. It is expected hotels, motels, campgrounds, restaurants, gas stations and tourism activities will see an increase in business as a result of the provincial championship tournament.
We look forward to using this tournament as a launching point to further establishing relationships with the local business community, tourism operators and of course, using the experience as a template for hosting future tournament opportunities.
With over nine years of related sports experience, I have firsthand knowledge on the economic opportunities that sport tourism can offer to a community. We are committed to ensuring success for the Peewee and Midget Provincial Championship tournaments here in Clearwater. Tournaments are excellent events for all seasons and can provide strong economic opportunities for the shoulder seasons in our community. A positive tournament experience has the potential spin-off effect of encouraging participants to return to explore more of the area's offerings.
It is important to track the success of the event. Therefore, I request that businesses call or email sports@docbc.ca after the July 12 - 15 weekend to give feedback on the amount of rooms/campsites that were rented out for the weekend. Information on the increase of patrons to businesses, tourism operators and restaurants are also important to track. These will be beneficial statistics for this weekend and future sporting events.
For details on the tournament, please visit the Facebook page: Clearwater Minor Ball. This site will be updated frequently.
If you have any questions on the provincials or would like to make arrangements for activity packages or reservations, please call Melody at 250.674.8009.
I am very excited about this new position and look forward to working hard on behalf of the community. Thank you in advance for your support.
Melody Romeo, sports coordinator
District of Clearwater