The City of Dawson Creek has earned national recognition for its delivery of the 2025 Para Cup, taking home the International Sport Event of the Year – Group B (Budget Less Than $2M) at the Sport Tourism Canada PRESTIGE Awards. The award recognizes the success of an international sporting event held in Northern B.C. and highlights Dawson Creek’s ability to host a world-class competition that made a real impact on the community.
That success was supported in part by $13,327 in funding from Northern Development’s Marketing Initiatives program. This support helped expand the event’s reach and strengthen local engagement, ensuring Dawson Creek was well prepared to welcome athletes, visitors and fans from across the globe. By supporting projects like the Para Cup, Northern Development continues to help communities across Northern B.C. bring ideas to life in ways that support tourism, local economies, and community pride.
Working alongside Hockey Canada, the City rolled out a strong marketing campaign to build awareness of para hockey and get the community involved. The approach included media outreach, targeted promotion, and grassroots engagement, with a clear focus on inclusion. Event organizers also prioritized recognizing First Nation partners throughout the event: Doig River First Nation, Saulteau First Nation and West Moberly First Nation. From dedicated media acknowledgment to the presentation of awards designed by Indigenous artists, the initiative ensured these partnerships were visible and celebrated.
“The 2025 Para Cup showcased the Peace Region to the world,” said Chelsea Mottishaw, Tourism, Emergency & Climate Readiness Manager, City of Dawson Creek. “With support from NDIT, a comprehensive marketing campaign was developed in partnership with the Ovintiv Events Centre, leading to record-breaking ticket sales and generating an economic impact of $420,000 in Dawson Creek alone. Sporting events like this leave a lasting legacy both on and off the ice for the region and para hockey in the north. A sincere thank you to all who contributed to this event’s success.”
Hosted from November 30 to December 6, 2025, the Para Cup brought elite international para hockey athletes to Dawson Creek, transforming the community into a hub of high-performance sport. Beyond the competition, the event created opportunities for residents and visitors to connect with para sport and sledge hockey through in-person experiences, educational outreach, and community programming, leaving a lasting impact and strengthening Dawson Creek’s reputation as a welcoming place to host major events.
The impact of the event extended well beyond the rink. The Para Cup generated approximately $1.2 million in overall economic activity across the province, including $385,000 in visitor spending and $800,000 in initial expenditures. It brought 716 out-of-town visitors to the community, supported 642 full-time local jobs, and contributed $272,000 in local wages and salaries. With $219,000 in taxes supported across Canada and a $639,000 boost to provincial GDP, the event stands as a powerful example of how sport tourism can create lasting economic and social benefits for Northern B.C. communities.
