WINNIPEG, April 24, 2019 /CNW/ - The World Police and Fire Games (WPFG) are coming to Winnipeg. In the summer of 2023, this Olympic-style competition will bring together over 10,000 athletes representing law enforcement officers and firefighters from more than 70 countries to compete in a number of sporting events, ranging from archery to wrestling.
Today, Terry Duguid, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Status of Women and Gender Equality and Member of Parliament for Winnipeg South, on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD), announced an investment of $2 million to help promote innovation and economic growth in Manitoba.
Through this investment, the WPFG 2023 Host Society will host a smart cities technology exhibition on emergency services. It will bring police, fire, and civic leaders, as well as experts, industry representatives, and businesses together to discuss how digital technologies and data sharing can enhance the quality of emergency services and cost reduction. The Host Society will also develop partnerships with local technology companies to demonstrate smart city technologies for law enforcement software and records management.
As one of the largest sporting events ever hosted in Winnipeg, over 25,000 people are expected to attend the Games, which will help stimulate new business growth and economic opportunities for the city.
Canada's Innovation and Skills Plan aims to build an economy in which Canadians have access to high-quality jobs and Canadian businesses are well-placed to participate in a rapidly evolving and competitive global marketplace.
Quotes
"The World Police and Fire Games are an important occasion to bring together the amazing individuals who put their lives on the line every day to keep our communities safe. I am very much looking forward to seeing Winnipeg host the Games in 2023, and to welcoming the firefighters and police officers from around the world to this world-class city. Through the investment announced today, not only will the Games be a tremendous celebration of all that police and firefighters do for us, it will also help foster innovation and promote new digital, smart cities technologies to better protect our communities and create opportunities for small businesses right here in Winnipeg."
- The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for Western Economic Diversification Canada
"The Government of Canada recognizes that innovation is key to a growing economy and creating good middle class jobs for Canadians. Not only will our investment challenge athletes to push their own sportive and professional boundaries, it will also help to showcase new digital technology for emergency services at the world-class smart cities exhibition."
- Terry Duguid, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Status of Women and Gender Equality and Member of Parliament for Winnipeg South
"The 2023 World Police and Fire Games in Winnipeg is an exciting opportunity for our community to play host to those in emergency service from across the globe and share what makes our city and province so special."
- Gord Friesen, Co-Chair, WPFG 2023 Host Society Inc.
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SOURCE Western Economic Diversification Canada
Nathalie Leroux, Director, Policy, Planning and External Relations, Western Economic, Diversification Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, 204-984-8472, [email protected]; Gord Friesen, Co-Chair, WPFG 2023 Host Society Inc., 204-226-2063, [email protected]
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