Geoff Paynton, the City’s director of community services, was recently named as a founding member of the 2015 Canada Winter Games Society and was selected as board secretary.
The host society at the Games, to be held in Prince George, will be responsible for organizing and conducting the events in early 2015.
“The bid was built on years and years of hard work by many great people in that community that was started with a big dream by a handful of us 10 years earlier,” Paynton said. “At the time it seemed like an impossible goal but we dreamed big.”
Paynton, who has been involved in PacificSport North since its first day of existence as the Regional Multisport Network Centre in 1995, was also a staff member for the first three and a half years. He has since served as a board member at the regional and provincial levels and has been involved with both provincial and national level Games.
Exact roles of board members have yet to be defined, but Paynton expects to be involved with organizing fields of play and venues for the Games.
Being from Williams Lake, Paynton offers regional representation to the board.
“One of the key aspects of the bid that made Prince George successful was the goal to ensure that these Games were for, and involved, all of Northern B.C.,” he said. “I believe I am intended to be the voice of the regions on this board and to be able to bring that unique perspective to the table when key decisions are being made.”
Williams Lake Mayor Kerry Cook said congratulations are in order.
“From his years of involvement in organizations that develop athletes and coaches to eventually represent Canada, as well as his level of commitment and pride in northern B.C., I know Geoff will be a great asset to the Host Society,” Cook said.
“I am proud we have such a dedicated and experienced person to represent the northern region of the province.
“His passion for sport and for communities will be clear to anyone involved in the 2015 Games.”
Paynton said he’s looking forward to working with a group of talented individuals on the board to make the Games a memorable event for B.C.
“I’m extremely humbled and very honoured to be chosen to be a part of this Host Society,” he said.
“This is a true once in a lifetime opportunity. I’ve worked in sport for many, many years and I know that this opportunity is extremely rare.
“It’s also very gratifying to know that you are, in a sense, being recognized as a person who can help represent all of us on the biggest national stage we have.”
As part of the preparation for the Prince George Games, Paynton will observe parts of the latter half of the 2011 Games later this month in Halifax.