Welcome Messages

British Columbia is a special place – a place where innovation and entrepreneurship intertwine with community spirit and participation. A place where we know anything is possible if we can work at it together.

That is the spirit of BC and the spirit that helped us win our bid for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. And it's the foundation of the Spirit of BC Committees our government developed through 2010 Legacies Now, which are helping communities around BC feel the benefits of the Games.

If you're already helping make your local committee a success, thank you. If you've just learned about the committees, welcome! Together we're going to strengthen our communities and show the world the Spirit of BC.

Honourable Gordon Campbell, Premier of British Columbia

In 2010 British Columbia will host the world for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. But 2010 is not just an event – it's a catalyst that's building our communities.

Spirit of BC community committees are helping their communities and regions use that catalyst to promote tourism, physical activity and sport, volunteerism, literacy, the arts and overall community participation and excitement. If you're not already involved, I encourage you to volunteer with your committee. If there's not one active in your community already, consider starting a local Spirit of BC committee.

Our government is proud to support the Spirit of BC committees' efforts to build lasting legacies in communities right across the province; legacies that start today and will last long after 2010!

Honourable Stan Hagen, Minister of Tourism, Sport, and the Arts