With just over a month to go to the opening of the 2018 South Slave Arctic Winter Games, the number of volunteers has not hit the target set by the host society.
However, organizers are not worried.
The target is still 1,500 volunteers, said Kevin Hurley, the volunteer co-ordinator with the host society for the March 18 to 24 event in Hay River and Fort Smith.
As of Feb. 9, there were a total of 1,211 registered volunteers. There are about 620 in Hay River and 580 in Fort Smith.
"I'm confident that we can run it on what we have right now, but the more the merrier," said Hurley, who works in Fort Smith for the host society. "I don't think we'll end up with 1,500. I think it will probably be closer to 1,350 to 1,400."
The number of volunteers continues to grow.
"Without doing much recruiting at this point, we're still getting about 10 per day still, which is just great," Hurley said. "We expect to be continuing to get that right up until at least March 4 when we start giving out uniforms."
The last volunteer drive – set up as a competition between Hay River and Fort Smith between Dec. 1 and Dec. 12 – netted 280 volunteers.
When asked, Hurley diplomatically declined to say which town is doing better when it comes to attracting volunteers, noting that residents of both communities have responded well.
"There's been a lot of excitement in both communities," he said.
Hay River is the larger community with more than 1,200 more people than Fort Smith.
Hurley said organizers are now concentrating on getting schedules together for volunteers, but that doesn't mean the search for volunteers has stopped.
"We're certainly still looking for volunteers and we could take volunteers right up until the week of the games," he said.
Hurley has personally volunteered at five large sporting events, including the Pan American Games and the Canada Games.
And he said volunteers at the Arctic Winter Games will have a great experience.
"There's always at least that one moment that you'll never forget," he said. "These people are coming into your community and I just couldn't see myself having people come into my community and not wanting to be part of it in some way. Just the whole town will be all about the games at that point."
Volunteers will be identifiable by a special jacket, vest and shirt.
Hurley expects a surge of volunteers as the games get closer.
One of the longtime volunteers is Glenn Smith, who has been involved since helping prepare the bid for the games about five years ago.
Smith is one of two information technology (IT) chairs with the host society.
His role is to oversee designing, procuring, deploying and supporting all IT assets, including computers, printers, cell phones and radios, along with building a communications network at all venues and sites.
"It's very diverse. It's a big activity," Smith said. "There are a lot of hours that are invested into the IT aspect."
Asked why he has made such a volunteer commitment to the Arctic Winter Games, he starts by simply noting he is a community resident.
"I think the big thing for me is an opportunity to give back to the community," he said.
Plus, he noted he has a background in IT from working with Northwest Territories Power Corporation.
Smith added that volunteering for the games is to be part of something historic that will leave a legacy.
"The community relies on volunteers, and for this event especially because it is very big for these two communities to undertake something of this magnitude," he said. "It's an opportunity to give back to your community and make it a better place."
Smith, who among other things is president of Hay River Men's Fastpitch, noted recreation and community are passions for him.
If other people are considering volunteering for the games, they should do so, he said. "There's a role for everyone. They'll give you a role."
AWG volunteers with be part of something good for their community at a once-in-a-lifetime event, Smith added. "And you'll have a front-row seat to a major event that does not occur up here very often."