Antigonish Regional Development Authority, where ideas take root

ARDA and Community Representatives Attend 2009 Sport Event Congress

In April 2009, Shannon MacIntyre, development officer at ARDA, and Irene MacLeod, an Antigonish community representative attended the 2009 Sport Event Congress in Gatineau, Quebec.

The annual Congress is facilitated by the Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance (CSTA) and is the largest annual gathering of sport, tourism professionals and event management firms.  At the congress, a wide range of programs including a tradeshow, panel discussions, and presentations by top experts who shared key lessons and best practices on sport tourism in Canada and around the world were presented. 

ARDA recently become a member of the Alliance which gives us access to a wide array of networks, tools, and templates including the Sport Tourism Planning Template, Sport Tourism Economic Assessment Model (STEAM), STEAM Pro, and the Business Plan Template for Sport Events. ARDA will be using STEAM Pro over the summer and fall months to conduct economic impact studies during the Antigonish Highland Games and other key events in the area.

CSTA has over 200 members including 95 municipalities, 55 national sport organizations, and a variety of product and service suppliers to the industry. CSTA offers a wide array of other activities and mandates including sharing best practices, economic impact measurement and analysis, and promoting sport tourism.