Media Releases
COMMUNITIES CELEBRATE SPIRIT OF BC WEEK 2006
Week Long Celebration to Feature Over 200 Events
Vancouver, B.C. (February 3, 2006) - Today marks the beginning of the 2nd Annual Spirit of BC Week, a week-long celebration of community spirit in cities and towns across B.C. Building on the success of its inaugural launch last year, Spirit of BC Week 2006 runs from February 3 – 10 and features over 225 events in more than 70 communities across the province. A sampling of these events include arts celebrations, winter festivals, "schmockey" tournaments, literacy days, ice carving competitions, ski races, volunteer recognition nights, and a photo competition.
"Spirit of BC Week had a strong inaugural year, but has really gathered momentum in 2006," said Olga Ilich, Minister of Tourism, Sport and the Arts. "That so many volunteers would dedicate their time to create and promote these community celebrations really shows they understand what the Spirit of BC is all about."
In its inaugural year, over 40 communities participated in Spirit of BC Week 2005 through events such as community walks, flag raising ceremonies, family skates and other community oriented activities.
The focus of Spirit of BC Week 2006 is to encourage all communities to embrace the spirit of achievement, effort, inclusion, celebration and excellence, the five elements that define the Spirit of BC. This year communities are encouraged to feature events not only in sport and recreation but in arts and culture, volunteerism, and literacy.
"Communities throughout the province have pulled out all the stops and come up with some fantastic events," said Marion Lay, CEO of 2010 Legacies Now. "The success of Spirit of BC Week is a tribute to the efforts of the more than 90 Spirit of BC Community Committees that work year-round to showcase local programs and promote events in their communities. I am so proud to be a British Columbian."
A contest to be featured throughout the week asks communities to take a picture of the Spirit of BC Week 2006 logo displayed in unique and innovative ways. The top three pictures are going to be published in the daily newspaper from British Columbia – Canada Place (www.bccanadaplace.ca) in Torino during the 2006 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
For more information on Spirit of BC Week, and a complete calendar of events, visit www.SpiritofBC.com
-30-
Media Contact:
Ian Buckley
Manager, Communications
2010 Legacies Now
778-327-5155
Spirit of BC
More than 90 Spirit of BC Community Committees are working together to leverage Olympic, Paralympic, and other community opportunities in the areas of sport and recreation, arts and culture, literacy and volunteerism. Supported by the Province of B.C. and 2010 Legacies Now, the Spirit of BC Community Committees are committed to developing local programs and events that demonstrate the five elements that define the Spirit of BC – achievement, effort, inclusion, celebration and excellence. For more information, visit www.SpiritofBC.com.
2010 Legacies Now
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.
