The pandemic’s toll, both financial and human, has been significant. We’ve faced mental health challenges across our team and community. These trials have underscored the vital role of facilities like ours in nurturing a healthy society. Our commitment to physical and mental well-being has never been stronger. I am admiring and proud of our team’s resilience through two tough years.

Financially, we’ve had to navigate decimated revenues and the pressing need for capital reinvestment. This challenge has spurred us into action on two fronts: the first is revenue recovery and operational efficiency; the second is repositioning and strengthening WinSport’s brand and programming to appeal to our community and to ensure we are making a compelling case for funders to support our required capital investments.

On the operational front, we are making strong progress. Significant organizational changes, including a new leadership structure, have bolstered our capability and efficiency, particularly in managing the ski and snowboard hill and the Markin MacPhail Centre/WinSport Event Centre.

We’re extremely excited about the upcoming day lodge renovation as we prepare to break ground soon after this winter season ends. That project will have an enormous impact on our service offering and the inclusivity and accessibility of the day lodge and hill.

The National Sport School is thriving and stronger than ever under the new provincial oversight of the Palliser School Division. Demand continues to rise for this specialty school – the only one of its kind in Canada – which enables young athletes to pursue both athletic and academic success in parallel. The correlation between high-performance sport participation through youth and professional success later in life is remarkable. This correlation is particularly striking for women.

In high-performance sport, our world-class facilities, like our halfpipe, slopestyle course, and arenas continue to attract global competitions, World Cups, and elite athletes. In 2023, we were excited to become the home of professional basketball when the Calgary Surge, a member of the Canadian Elite Basketball League, played their inaugural season in the WinSport Event Centre. WinSport also became the practice home for the Calgary Wranglers, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Calgary Flames.

WinSport’s brand repositioning left our purpose statement unchanged: we inspire human potential through the spirit of sport. This work reconfirmed our one firm truth: healthy activity and sport have endless benefits and should be inclusive for all. We are striving to ensure that WinSport’s community reflects the Calgary community more broadly. The day lodge renovation – with its greatly improved accessibility – is a strong start. Our school programs are back, which are a great way to introduce kids from all backgrounds to the fun and health benefits of winter sport. WinSport’s trailblazing, award-winning programs extend far beyond conventional sports offerings. They include our Adaptive Program, Newcomers Program (supporting immigrants in their efforts to integrate into Calgary), the IPLAY Program (Immigrant-focused physical literacy for youth), Indigenous Initiatives, and our Girls-Only Programs.

Our commitment to IDEA (inclusivity, diversity, equality, and accessibility) means no one is left on the bench. We are focused on ensuring equitable access to our world-class facilities. Canadians want affordable, accessible, safe places to stay mentally and physically healthy. We don’t take our role in this lightly. We are dedicated to cultivating a vibrant, active, and diverse community of people who can take advantage of what WinSport has to offer.

We also remain steadfast in our commitment to safe sport, actively participating in initiatives to prevent abuse in sports. We are a leader in the safe sport movement – working to ensure that the physical and mental health of athletes is protected at all times. Among other efforts, we are participating in Sport Canada’s Abuse-Free Sport program.

I am grateful for the engagement and the funding that we receive from our sponsors and donors, who are central to our success. I hope that you will click on the sponsors’ page in this report to make note of the excellent companies and organizations that support WinSport.

WinSport’s team of approximately 125 permanent and up to approximately 625 seasonal employees are committed, passionate, capable, and hardworking people. I am grateful every day to work with such an excellent team. I am also grateful for and would like to thank our tremendous volunteer Board of Directors for their unwavering passion, guidance, and commitment to WinSport, which is instrumental to our growth and success.

I do not typically mention individual Team Members, but I need to make an exception this year for Mike Tanner, WinSport’s longest-serving employee. Embodying the Olympic spirit that aligns seamlessly with WinSport’s purpose, Mike retired in the fall of 2023 after a dedicated 37-year career. Among his many achievements, Mike orchestrated decades of World Cup events, showcasing his extraordinary capabilities in managing large-scale, international sporting events. His contributions have not only elevated WinSport’s profile on the global stage but have also left an indelible mark on the world of sports. He was a mentor to many at WinSport and he leaves a tremendous legacy in our organization.

Looking ahead, we are energized to fulfill our mandate, refresh our brand, and secure our long-term financial sustainability. Together with our funders and community, we remain dedicated to inspiring human potential and promoting health and physical activity for all Canadians. We are not just a sports facility; we are a community hub where every dream has a place to flourish.

Join our community. Explore our programs, join our team, host an event, or donate to our cause, and share your stories and feedback with us. Your engagement, ideas, and passion are the fuel that powers WinSport.