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BC Games Leadership Bursary applications open ahead of 2026 BC Winter Games

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Athletes as well as youth coaches and officials taking part in the Trail-Rossland 2026 BC Winter Games are invited to apply for the BC Games Leadership Bursary. This bursary recognizes participants under 19 years of age who have achieved in academics and sport while going above and beyond in their communities through leadership and volunteer activities.

Sixteen applicants (2 per zone) will be selected to receive a $500 bursary during the Trail-Rossland 2026 BC Winter Games.

Sport supports healthy choices, builds self-reliance and confidence, and inspires youth to become leaders. The BC Winter and BC Summer Games provide athletes from across the province with an important competitive opportunity and exceptional experience to learn about teamwork, goal setting, friendship, and community excellence.

APPLY NOW (Deadline: February 9, 2026)

Black Jack Ski Club Breaks Ground on New Four-Season Day Lodge Ahead of Trail-Rossland 2026 BC Winter Games

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Rossland, B.C. — Black Jack Ski Club has begun construction on a new, fully accessible 2,750-square-foot day lodge—an important legacy project for the region and a transformative investment in the future of Nordic sport in the Kootenays. The lodge will open in advance of the Trail-Rossland 2026 BC Winter Games, where Black Jack will host cross country skiing and biathlon.

The project is the culmination of several years of strategic planning, fundraising, and community effort. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Black Jack Board of Directors used the pause in operations to refine the club’s long-term strategic plan. A core priority quickly emerged: the need for a modern day lodge with running water, indoor washrooms, proper storage, and adequate heated space to support both daily operations and major events.

“We knew we were missing critical infrastructure,” says Black Jack Board Member Adele Pratt. “We had outhouses, no running water, and no warm indoor space for athletes during large events. We were losing opportunities simply because we didn’t have the facilities.”

When the BC Games Society announced that Trail and Rossland would host the 2026 BC Winter Games, Black Jack was ready. A shovel-ready concept—developed by the club’s Infrastructure Subcommittee—allowed the club to launch major fundraising efforts for the new lodge. Over the past three years, the team refined conceptual designs, completed architectural drawings, and built the funding model necessary to bring the project to life.

Thanks to strong community support and competitive grant applications, Black Jack secured funding from multiple partners, including Columbia Basin Trust, RDKB Areas A and B, the Tourism Growth Program, the Rural Economic Diversification and Infrastructure Program (REDIP), Teck Trail Operations, and the BC Games Society’s Powering Potential Fund. Annual support through the Nordic Canada Club Fundraiser further bolstered project financing. Securing the REDIP provincial grant—$900,000 awarded in March 2025—was a pivotal milestone that allowed the project to move to tender.

Local construction company DJM was selected for the build. “DJM stepped up immediately,” says Pratt. “Once they commit, they are 100% in. Their support made it possible to stay on schedule for the BC Winter Games.”

A New Four-Season Hub for Sport, Community, and Tourism

The new day lodge is designed as a multi-purpose space with panoramic views of the Black Jack stadium and Red Mountain.

“This building will completely transform first impressions of Black Jack,” Pratt says. “Visitors will no longer need to gear up outside or use portable facilities. It raises the bar for our club in every way.”

The lodge is also designed as a year-round community asset. In the off-season, it will support events at the Thin Air Disc Golf course, host training camps, and provide a venue for weddings and conferences.

“We’re incredibly proud to be part of the Trail-Rossland 2026 BC Winter Games,” says Pratt. “This lodge represents years of work by our volunteers, members, funders, and the entire community. It’s a legacy we can all celebrate.”

CONTEST: Take Flight with Pacific Coastal Airlines and the 2026 BC Winter Games

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Help the Trail-Rossland BC Winter Games take flight – and YOU just might too!

👍 Sign up, show up and 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝗳𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝘄𝗼 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 Pacific Coastal Airlines 𝗳𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀! That’s right, all you have to do is volunteer your time to make the games soar!

👉 Sign up to volunteer here 
👉 Follow @pacificcoastalair & @bcwintergames.ca on Instagram

*Must complete all volunteer shifts to be eligible. No purchase necessary. This giveaway is in no way sponsored, endorsed or associated with Instagram. The winner will be contacted by a BC Winter Games representative on March 2, 2026. Contest closes Feb 22, 2026.

RED Mountain Resort Partners with BC Winter Games to Host Alpine and Freestyle Events

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RED Mountain Resort is gearing up to take center stage during the 2026 BC Winter Games, welcoming some of the province’s best young athletes across alpine and freestyle skiing events.

“Red Resort is a hub of winter activities in our communities and to have them come on as a Community Partner is great news for our Games.” Says Trail-Rossland 2026 BC Winter Games President Brian Stefani.

General Manager Andrew Lunt, who has led RED since 2022, says the resort is well equipped to host high-caliber alpine competitions in collaboration with Red Mountain Racers and BC Alpine, utilizing two established race venues—one for slalom on the front face and another for giant slalom on the back trail.

In addition to alpine races, RED will break new ground by hosting three freestyle events—including moguls and slopestyle—marking the first time the resort has held Freestyle BC-sanctioned competitions. “This will be our first foray into freestyle at this level,” says Lunt. “Freestyle BC will bring in mogul builder and we’ll assist with snowmaking and grooming time to create the course.”

The mountain resort will also see the creation of a new freestyle terrain park on RED’s Topping area, a project made possible through BC Games Society’s Powering Potential Fund and Freestyle BC, with support from Arena Snowparks, a Canadian company that specializes in designing, building, and maintaining snowparks and freestyle terrain. The park will feature jumps and rail-line options used for slopestyle events and will be maintained by RED’s own staff, who will receive on-the-ground training from Arena Snowparks.

“If we can use the area we’ve identified on Topping, that will give us an opportunity to work with Freestyle BC on creating a park that can be used well beyond the Games,” says Lunt. “Having a terrain park of that caliber moving forward would give us a venue to host provincial freestyle events.”

The partnership between RED Mountain Resort and the BC Winter Games brings benefits beyond the Games—an investment that supports the future of skiing in the Kootenays. “We’re excited to host the Games,” says Lunt. “It’s one of those events that really means a lot to the community, and it sets us up to support every discipline of ski competition—alpine, freeride, and freestyle—for years to come.”

Trail-Rossland 2026 BC Winter Games Welcomes Katie Spittlehouse as Operations Manager

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TRAIL/ROSSLAND, BC — The Trail-Rossland 2026 BC Winter Games Society is pleased to announce the appointment of Katie Spittlehouse as Operations Manager, making the team of volunteers behind one of British Columbia’s most anticipated multi-sport events that much stronger!

With a background spanning over 16 years in alpine ski coaching—most recently with the Canadian Para-Alpine Ski Team—Katie brings deep experience from the slopes to the planning room. Her career highlights include coaching at the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Games, as well as leading teams at the 2019 Canada Winter Games and competing as an athlete in the 2009 Canada Summer Games.

“After years of developing athletes at every level of the sport, I’m excited to bring my skills to the broader world of event planning and delivery,” says Katie. “The BC Winter Games are a powerful celebration of youth sport and community spirit, and I’m honoured to be part of shaping that experience for athletes, coaches, officials, and volunteers.”

As Operations Manager, Katie is tasked with coordinating the logistical foundation of the Games, working closely with the Games’ 14 directorates to manage planning, budgeting, contracts, and timelines in the lead-up to the event, which takes place February 25–March 1, 2026.

With as many as 1,800 participants, 15 sports, and up to 1,500 volunteers expected, the Trail-Rossland 2026 BC Winter Games will represent one of the largest collaborative efforts the region has seen in recent memory.

Katie emphasizes the role of volunteers and the community in delivering a successful Games: “Volunteering is one of the most rewarding ways to get involved. Whether you have two hours or two weeks, we have a place for you.” Early volunteer interest is already being accepted via the Games’ registration portal, with official recruitment launching in September 2025.

She also notes the opportunity for local businesses and organizations to contribute to the Games’ success: “From in-kind donations to sponsorship and services, there are many ways to support the Games and leave a lasting legacy in our region.”

The benefits to the host communities go far beyond the competition. In addition to an estimated $1.6 million in economic impact, the Games will leave a legacy of upgraded sport infrastructure, skilled volunteer capacity, and long-term funding through the BC Games Society’s Powering Potential Fund.

For Katie, the Games reflect what sport is all about: “Sport has shaped who I am—it’s where I’ve built community, learned resilience, and found purpose. I want these Games to give young athletes and our entire region that same opportunity for growth and connection.”

About the BC Winter Games
Held every two years, the BC Winter Games provide a competitive, multi-sport environment that supports the development of athletes, coaches, and officials on the pathway to national and international levels. The Trail-Rossland 2026 BC Winter Games will mark the 33rd edition of the BC Winter Games and the third time the region has hosted them.

For more information or to express interest in volunteering, please visit bcwintergames.ca.

Media Contacts:
Andras Lukacs
Director of Marketing
Trail-Rossland 2026 BC Winter Games
andras@bcwintergames.ca

Volunteers Put ‘Pens to Paper’ in Preparation for 2026 BC Winter Games

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TRAIL, BC, May 29, 2025 — Last week’s Key Volunteer Rally for the Trail-Rossland 2026 BC Winter Games began with a fitting etymology lesson. The word amateur, derived from the Latin amator, refers to someone who pursues an activity for the love of it rather than as a profession. “In that sense, not only are our athletes amateurs—but so are you,” said Games President Brian Stefani, addressing a room full of passionate volunteers gathered at the Trail Memorial Centre on Friday. United by their love of sport and community, each attendee embodied the true spirit of amateurism.

The Trail-Rossland region has a proud legacy of hosting provincial sporting events, including the BC Summer Games in 1996 and the Winter Games in 1982 and 2006. While the communities have evolved significantly over the past two decades, their commitment to supporting youth and sport remains as strong as ever. “I’m not very sporty,” admitted Katherine Shearer, Superintendent of School District No. 20, who attended the rally alongside many current and former SD20 staff. “But sharing in the joy of our youth as they compete builds a profound sense of belonging.”

Earlier today, the Host Community Sport meeting welcomed over a dozen Provincial Advisors—representatives from the organizations that oversee each sport in the Games—to the region. Each advisor was matched with a local Sport Chair, who was selected by community sport clubs. Together, they toured the competition venues located between Castlegar and Fruitvale. The Sport Chairs will act as tournament directors during the Games in February 2026.

These exchanges marked a key milestone in Games planning. “Today was a huge step forward,” said Director of Sport James Brotherhood, who leads the team of Sport Chairs along with four other members of the Sport Directorate. “It was pens to paper—maps drawn and strategies aligned.” Decisions made during these planning sessions, including the allocation of provincial funding, will leave a lasting impact on the region’s sport infrastructure.

Some of the day’s work took place at Red Mountain, where Josh Dueck, Executive Director of Freestyle BC, met with Ryan LaChapelle, local Sport Chair for freestyle skiing and Club Director of Team GIVE’R. Though planning is still in its early stages, discussions are already underway about potential upgrades to terrain features and storage facilities—enhancements that could benefit the community for years to come. For Josh, the vision extends beyond the competition itself. “Sport is a powerful tool for change, he said. “When athletes march into the Opening Ceremony and feel the energy of these communities, it will be transformational. That moment may become a turning point in their lives. The real win lies in the anticipation, in the creation of this opportunity—for the athletes, and for the community. The competition is just the cherry on top.”

Media Contact
Andras Lukacs
Director of Marketing
Trail-Rossland 2026 BC Winter Games
andras@bcwintergames.ca

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We respectfully acknowledge the lək̓ʷəŋən (Lekwungen) People, also known today as the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations, and recognize that our work in this province spans the territories of more than 200 First Nations, as well as Métis and Inuit communities.

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