Stu Ballantyne will be leading another major sporting event after he was appointed chief executive officer of the Prince George 2015 Canada Winter Games on Wednesday.
Ballantyne, who resigned as chief operating officer of the Western Hockey League's Vancouver Giants earlier this month will he heading the Games, which will be the largest sporting event ever held in Northern B.C.
The Games will run from Feb. 12 to Mar. 1, 2015, with the Prince George region hosting 3,700 athletes, up to 6,000 volunteers, 1,300 officials, media, medical professionals, and thousands of visitors. The Games are projected to create an economic impact of $70 to $90 million.
It's another big job for the energetic former Inman Elementary, Moscrop Junior Secondary, Burnaby Central Secondary and BCIT grad. Ballantyne, who also ran the Molson Canada Hockey House during the 2010 Winter Olympics, was also the key organizer for the 2009 World Police and Fire Games in Burnaby, the 2007 Memorial Cup and the 2006 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in Vancouver.
Add in previous stints running the Molson Vancouver Indy and working in marketing with Bridgestone/Firestone Canada and you have a coup hiring by the Prince George organizing committee.
As an athlete, Ballantyne was a double gold medallist in swimming at the 1977 Canada Summer Games.
