The City of Lacombe is pledging support for next year’s Canada Winter Games in Red Deer, just not financially.

Council declined to pay for a scholarship, acting on administration’s recommendation to support the games through in-kind contributions.

Those include promoting volunteerism through social media channels and the city’s Online Volunteer Handbook.

As well, by granting volunteer leave for staff as per policy and reminding workers that if they wish to help out with the Games, that they can request vacation time.

The City of Lacombe provides employees up to two days off work without pay, to volunteer with a city-recognized educational, social, recreational or other local non-profit group.

Administration’s rationale for the recommendation was that a contribution under the Games’ Municipal Sponsor Program – which could range between $5,000 to $250,000 – was not accounted for in the 2018 budget.

Elsewhere in the region, Red Deer County became a Diamond-level sponsor at $500,000 while according to a staff report, the Town of Ponoka and Ponoka Stampede are sharing a $50,000 sponsorship.