On Friday, August 16, Lisa MacLeod, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport, was in Niagara to make a special funding announcement for the 2021 Canada Summer Games (CSG) in Niagara – and two NC Broadcasting – Radio Television and Film (BRTF) program students volunteered to film the event.
Third-year television students Mitch Thomspon and Dakota Troup went to the Henley in St. Catharines, cameras in tow, to cover the provincial announcement. Minister MacLeod and Sam Oosterhoff, MPP for Niagara West, announced $29 million in funding – in addition to the $10.3 million previously announced – toward infrastructure to transform Niagara for the 2021 games. The funds will support a host of new athletic facilities, as well as major improvements to existing facilities, across the region.
“Having our students work alongside industry pros at a major announcement like this is as real as it gets,” said Peter ‘Dutch’ VandenBerg, professor in NC’s School of Media. “I was proud to watch them utilizing the skills that they’ve learned in BRTF. Our program is honoured to be involved with the Niagara 2021 Canada Games.”games
Troup and Thompson put their skills and knowledge from the BRTF program into practice. The duo was among a handful of media outlets – including CHCH and Cogeco’s YourTV – to cover the announcement. The footage shot on August 16 will be used by CSG organizers for their website and communication purposes.
Leading up to and during the 2021 Games, NC students will have valuable experiential, volunteer, and course-based learning opportunities like these thanks to an ongoing partnership between the College and organizers. CSG organizers say that over 4,000 volunteers will be needed to make the games a success, of which NC students will have plenty of opportunities to be a part of the action.
The funding announcement was made just days after the two-year countdown to the multi-sport event, taking place August 6 to 21, 2021, and bringing over 5,000 athletes and 200,000 spectators from across Canada to Niagara. The 2021 Canada Summer Games are expected to be the largest Canada Games ever.
On top of the 10.3 million dollar commitment – the Province of Ontario has committed an additional 29 million dollars toward infrastructure which will transform Niagara! pic.twitter.com/Wqltctx2jo
— Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games (@2022CanadaGames) August 16, 2019
For more information on the funding announcement, see the official news release from the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport.
