Media Releases
MORE THAN 100 B.C. COMMUNITIES CELEBRATE SPIRIT OF BC WEEK 2009
Vancouver, B.C. (February 17, 2009): More than 100 communities celebrated Spirit of BC Week February 6-14 with 300 events, including winter festivals, arts showcases and sport tournaments.
"The fifth annual Spirit of BC Week was a great success, with more than 300 events and activities celebrating the one-year countdown to the 2010 Winter Games, and community achievements in the areas of arts and culture, sport and recreation, healthy living, accessibility and volunteerism," said Bruce Dewar, CEO of 2010 Legacies Now. "Thank you to Spirit of BC community committee members and their local partners for organizing fun and engaging events for all ages, and to the Province of B.C. for its ongoing support. We look forward to celebrating Spirit of BC Week for many years to come."
Events around the province included Spirit of BC Family Skate Day presented by BC Hydro, with approximately 50 communities inviting families to skate at the local rink for free. In another 25 communities, families were invited to swim for free at the local pool. In Powell River, the local committee helped to plan several events, including a one-year countdown celebration featuring local sport groups, artists and performers.
"Every year our community gets into the spirit, and this year our Spirit of BC Week celebrations were extra special because of the one-year countdown to the 2010 Winter Games," said Joyce Carlson, chair of the Powell River Ayjoomixw Spirit of BC Committee. "Through a variety of events, we encouraged our youth and all residents to be active and get involved in the community, because that's what Spirit of BC means to us."
Spirit of BC Week was first held as a countdown to the 2010 Winter Games and has grown into a celebration of British Columbia and its unique communities. Held annually in February, it is a week of events and activities showcasing British Columbians' pride in their province and profiling local programs and services that strengthen arts, literacy, sport and recreation, healthy living, accessibility and volunteerism.
"It has never been more important for communities to come together to celebrate our province's many opportunities and strengths," said Bill Bennett, Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts. "Spirit of BC Week enables people from all different sectors in each community to come together to build meaningful celebrations – the Province is proud to be a part of it."
Spirit of BC® is a 2010 Legacies Now program in partnership with the Province of B.C. This province-wide initiative promotes community innovation, pride and excellence, and involves British Columbians in the opportunities arising from the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The heart of the program is a network of more than 95 Spirit of BC committees, representing more than 200 communities across the province.
For more information, please visit www.SpiritofBC.com.
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Media Contacts:
Karen McDonald
Director, Communications
2010 Legacies Now
778-327-5180
kmcdonald@2010LegaciesNow.com
About 2010 Legacies Now
2010 Legacies Now is dedicated to strengthening arts, literacy, sport and recreation, healthy living, accessibility and volunteerism in communities throughout British Columbia. As a not-for-profit society, 2010 Legacies Now is creating lasting legacies around the province leading up to and beyond the 2010 Winter Games.
With support from the Province of B.C. and in partnership with non-government organizations, private companies and all levels of government, 2010 Legacies Now works with communities to discover social and economic opportunities for all British Columbians. Through these partnerships, communities are creating their own legacies from which they will benefit long into the future.
For more information, please visit www.2010LegaciesNow.com.
