Preparation continues for the 2019 Western Canada Games, which will be held in Swift Current.

On May 24 the M1 Mission Conference was held at the Innovation Credit Union iPlex for the Games, which featured a collection of people from the provinces and territories involved.

Representatives from Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba, the Northwest Territories, Yukon, and Nunavut joined to learn about the plans that have been made for the Games, which will be held in Swift Current and its surrounding area from August 9 - 18 next summer.

Mark Benesh, Games co-chair, was excited to translate thier hard work into a physical product, saying that "it will be equally exciting to show off this first collection of Games swag."

This conference was the first opportunity for the heads of each territory and province to meet and talk about the games. Co chair of the summer Games Melissa Shaw was excited to get the early stages of things underway.

"This is a great opportunity for us to get to know the folks from all around western Canada who we'll be working very closely with over the next year and a half to deliver a spectacular Games."

Although there's over a year until things officially kick off, you can see a preview of the action this summer.

Test events will be set up to prepare Swift Current and its sorrounding areas for events coming to the Games that are relatively new to southwest Saskatchewan.

The test events will be cycling, triathlon, open-water swimming, and water sports such as canoeing, kayaking, and rowing. Open-water swimming is the first of the test events, and is at Saskatchewan Landing on July 15.