Media Releases
EXCITEMENT AROUND SPIRIT OF BC WEEK GROWS IN 2007
Vancouver, B.C. (Feb. 20, 2007): Spirit of BC Week 2007, February 9 to 17, was a huge success, with 350 events and activities in communities across the province.
"The Spirit of BC community committees and their local partners hosted amazing events, from winter festivals and arts celebrations to cross-country ski races and free family skate days," said Bruce Dewar, CEO of 2010 Legacies Now. "The number of events grew by 90 this year, thanks to the enthusiasm and commitment of our committee members."
Sixty-five Spirit of BC committees, representing more than 80 communities, organized last week’s festivities. In Vanderhoof, the local committee hosted 40 events – a record number – over a two-week period.
"The true spirit of our community has risen to new heights," said Brian Frenkel, chair of the Vanderhoof Spirit of BC Community Committee. "It takes a committed group of volunteers to organize all of the events for Spirit of BC Week. Both young and old were given the opportunity to participate in a huge range of events, and hundreds did."
Each year, as a part of Spirit of BC Week, 2010 Legacies Now invites community committees around the province to show their spirit by finding innovative ways to display the Spirit of BC logo. Committees are asked to submit a photo of their creative idea for the Show Your Spirit contest. The three photos that best demonstrate the true Spirit of BC will be published in Black Press newspapers around the province, and posted to the Spirit of BC and 2010 Legacies Now websites. The winners for 2007 are Blue River, Enderby and Surrey.
"Congratulations to the winners of our Show Your Spirit contest," said Dewar. "These committees have captured what Spirit of BC Week is all about – pride in their community, and a feeling of energy and excitement about the future."
Spirit of BC Week was first held as a countdown to the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and has grown into a celebration of British Columbia and its unique communities. Held annually in February, it’s a week of events and activities showcasing our pride in our province and profiling local programs and services.
The Spirit of BC program promotes community innovation, pride and excellence to create unique and lasting legacies for British Columbians, leading up to the 2010 Winter Games and beyond. The backbone of the program is a network of 97 Spirit of BC community committees representing more than 200 communities across the province.
There are 95 Spirit of BC committees representing more than 200 communities across the province. The committees aim to inspire people of all ages to address needs in their communities related to sport, recreation, healthy living, literacy and the arts. Members also organize events and activities during Spirit of BC Week, an annual celebration of British Columbia and its unique communities. In 2007, Spirit of BC Week will run Feb. 9-17. For more information please visit www.SpiritofBC.com.
2010 Legacies Now is a not-for-profit society that works in partnership with community organizations, non-government organizations, the private sector and all levels of government to develop sustainable legacies in sport and recreation, arts, literacy and volunteerism. 2010 Legacies Now actively assists communities to discover and create unique and inclusive social and economic opportunities leading up to and beyond the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. For more information please visit www.2010LegaciesNow.com.
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Media Contacts:
Karen McDonald
Director, Communications
2010 Legacies Now
Ph: 778.327.5180
Cell: 778.840.8779
Natasha Vander Wal
Manager, Communications
2010 Legacies Now
Ph: 778.327.5189
Cell: 778.840.5189
