As MLAs gathered last week in the Legislative Assembly for the first time since the end of the South Slave Arctic Winter Games in March, congratulations were offered for a successful event.
Hay River North MLA R.J. Simpson started the praise on May 24, noting the games in Hay River, Fort Smith and K'atlodeeche First Nation were an overwhelming success.
"That's not just my opinion," he said. "I have heard it from many other residents of the South Slave, from members of the various national and international delegations that attended the games, and from the Arctic Winter Games International Committee, who have seen their fair share of the games."
Simpson said the success of the 2018 games redefined the very notion of who can host the event.
"Essentially, the South Slave was a testing ground, used to determine whether or not smaller communities could host the games," he said. "Guess what? It can be done, and can be done in spectacular fashion."
The MLA also praised the many dedicated volunteers who made the event a success.
On May 25, Municipal and Community Affairs Minister Alfred Moses thanked the many people and groups involved in the games, including NWT athletes who won 102 medals.
"One of the many benefits of hosting the Arctic Winter Games is the infrastructure legacy that the community receives afterwards," he added, listing investments in Hay River's airport and Rec Centre, and the new snowboard park in Fort Smith.
Moses said there is also still some work to be done to wrap up the 2018 Arctic Winter Games.
"Currently, many who were involved in different aspects of the games are supporting the completion of an economic impact study," he said. "Its findings will help demonstrate the economic effects this event had on the South Slave Region."