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2005-02-12: Spirit of BC Week
February 12, 2005
Chilliwack Celebrates Spirit of BC Week
(Chilliwack:) Chilliwack has joined communities across BC in acknowledging the 'five year out' milestone for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver/Whistler. February 12th, 2005 marked the first of what will be an annual celebration in the yearly countdown to the date of the Opening Ceremonies of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver/Whistler. The Spirit of BC Community flag was raised at Chilliwack City Hall Saturday where it will fly for 10 days--the duration of the 2010 Games.
"In raising and flying this flag, we want to make citizens of Chilliwack know we are working to both celebrate and be ready to take advantage of opportunities that come with having the Olympic Games close by" noted Chilliwack’s Spirit of BC Community Committee co-chair Terry Bodman. "We are developing strategies to plug into those opportunities, and to create events for our citizens to participate in celebrations in the lead-up to the Games throughout the next five years. And we want to even look beyond 2010.: "Our Community Committee is focusing on what Chilliwack does well, and what that would enable us to pursue for opportunities" adds committee co-chair Bill Davies. "That might mean hosting regional championships in the years prior and after 2010, hosting a national team leading up to and during the Olympics, or even supplying speciality goods or services."
"Our first initiative will be a special half-day forum for businesses, and individuals, on April 8th, here at City Hall. This forum will provide an overview of opportunities for businesses and individuals from this area arising out of the 2010 Games. We’ll be hearing from representatives of the Olympic Commerce Centre, of 2010 LegaciesNow, and tentatively planned is an official from Provo, Utah, a town located in the same proximity to the site of the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City as Chilliwack is to Vancouver" said Davies. "It will be a large step-up in information for businesses in the Chilliwack area understanding how they can possibly be involved with the Winter Olympic Games. We’ll be publicizing the forum in coming weeks."
Along with Mayor Clint Hames, members of council, and members of the Spirit of BC Community Committee, past Olympians Margaret Langford (white water kayaking-Canada), Amelie Koloska (athletics-Germany), and Bob Penner (swimming-Canada) were there to talk about the Olympic/ Paralympics experience. Also on hand for the flag raising ceremony were Nolan Julseth-White (hockey-Chilliwack Chiefs), Patrick Kinch (hockey--Chilliwack Minor Hockey), and Courtney Lamm (figure skating- Cheam Skating Club), representing winter sports organizations in the area.
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Contact:
Dave Stephen, Communications Chair,
Chilliwack’s Spirit of BC Community Committee,
Office: 604.792.0025, loc.4611
Home: 604.824.9353
Email: stephendh@shaw.ca
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