Media Releases
PROVINCE LAUNCHES SPIRIT OF BC WEEK 2009 ONE-YEAR COUNTDOWN CELEBRATIONS
Port Coquitlam, B.C. (February 7, 2009): Iain Black, Minister of Labour and Citizens’ Services and MLA for Port Moody-Westwood, Port Coquitlam Mayor Greg Moore and the Tri-Cities Spirit of BC community committees have launched the fifth annual Spirit of BC Week at the Port Coquitlam Recreation Complex with an event featuring local aerialists and musicians, along with a community marketplace and a free family skate.
"In one short year, British Columbia will welcome the world to the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games," said Black. "We’re proud to officially proclaim Spirit of BC Week as a time to celebrate our province and its unique communities, and a time to celebrate the one-year countdown to the 2010 Winter Games. We want British Columbia to be the healthiest jurisdiction ever to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and Spirit of BC Week events around the province will inspire people to get fit, have fun and keep learning."
Spirit of BC Week 2009 runs February 6 to 14 with more than 300 events taking place in more than 100 communities. Events include winter festivals, sport tournaments, arts performances, literacy presentations, and celebrations recognizing the work of volunteers.
"Port Coquitlam is proud to host the launch of Spirit of BC Week 2009 with our partners in Coquitlam and Port Moody," said Moore. "Our community has a wonderful sense of identity, and we’re looking forward to showing the world, one year from now, why this area is so special."
"The City of Coquitlam is excited to be participating in the Spirit of BC Week celebrations," said Julian Alphilbert, chair of the Coquitlam Spirit of BC Committee. "We’d like to especially thank the volunteers who generously give their time to help make our community events fun and engaging for people of all ages."
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.
"This year Spirit of BC Week has a special focus: the one-year countdown to the 2010 Winter Games," said Bruce Dewar, CEO of 2010 Legacies Now. "Communities around the province are celebrating as they get ready to tell their story to the world. But we’re also looking beyond 2010, to the community legacies that will exist, and continue to be created, thanks to the commitment of Spirit of BC committee members around the province."
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 on Spirit of BC Week and a complete calendar of events, please visit www.SpiritofBC.com.
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Media Contacts:
Regan Lal
Consultant
Reputations Corporation
604-551-4409
rgarbutt@reputations.com
Karen McDonald
Director, Communications
2010 Legacies Now
778-840-8779
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.
