The Alberta government could be flagging down a luxury train service between Vancouver and Whistler during the 2010 Winter Olympics.
"We're looking at how the train might be used (by the Alberta government)," says Ian Robertson, a spokesman for its operator, Vancouver-based Rocky Mountaineer Vacations.
Robertson says the company has presented a proposal to the Alberta government to use the Whistler Mountaineer as a means of showcasing the province, but a deal has not been completed yet.
Alberta could use the train exclusively, or share it with other national and international sponsors, and also use the company's Vancouver station for hospitality events. The train would run twice daily for 16 of the 17 days on which the Games will be held in February 2010.
The Whistler Mountaineer runs between April and October. The company does not plan to make the train available for public use during the Games, says Robertson. But the firm's flagship Rocky Mountaineer train between Calgary and Vancouver, which also operates April-October, could be open to the public earlier than usual.
Alberta Tourism Minister Cindy Ady toured the company's Vancouver train station earlier this year. But provincial officials say the province is not ready to discuss its plans for the train because they have not been finalized.
"We're looking, actually, at a whole bunch of opportunities," says Russ Tynan, head of Alberta's Olympic secretariat, which co-ordinates the province's Games activities. "I haven't got anything finalized yet, but (a potential deal with Rocky Mountaineer) is certainly on the list."
Travel Alberta spokesman Don Boynton says his provincial agency could secure the train in conjunction with the Olympic secretariat.
"As part of Travel Alberta's strategy and working with the secretariat, we are developing a strategy to raise awareness of Alberta internationally as a premiere sports-tourism destination," says Boynton. "We will have a presence in Vancouver."
Tynan, who managed volunteers and venue operations for Calgary's 1988 Winter Olympic organizing committee, OCO '88, says his secretariat will likely secure the use of privately operated Vancouver venues for hospitality events during the Games.
David Guscott, executive vice-president of celebrations and partnerships for the 2010 Winter Olympic organizing committee (VANOC), says the Alberta government is expected to have a presence at Vancouver venues.
"It's written into the (memorandum of understanding) that we signed with Alberta in February that they will have (venues)," says Guscott. "Manitoba will have Manitoba House, and several other provinces that we're talking to are quite interested in them."
Guscott says Alberta is expected to sign onto VANOC's contributing province and territory program, whereby provincial and territorial governments make a financial contribution to Own the Podium, a federal initiative that is designed to increase the number of Canadian medal winners; provide money to VANOC to stage the Games; and promote the culture of their regions.
Ontario, Manitoba, and Newfoundland and Labrador have already signed contributor agreements, while Alberta is among other provinces that have deals "in the works."
Guscott expects VANOC and Own the Podium to receive a combined total of about $20 million from the contributor program.
"(Provinces and territories) see the benefit of the exposure to the international media and what it can bring to them in the way of tourism, economic development and the promotion of sports in their jurisdictions," he says.
(Monte Stewart can be reached at monte@businessedge.ca)
