Canfor has purchased the first ticket to a sporting event at the 2015 Canada Winter Games.
In fact the forestry corporation has purchased the first $300,000 worth of tickets.
All of them will be reserved seating for students from across northern B.C. in the various communities where Canfor operates.
Part of the money will also help arrange travel for regional students to attend the games.
"There was little doubt Canfor would step up as a significant partner," said Canfor CEO Don Kayne at the company's annual general meeting Wednesday. He called the upcoming games "a spectacular showcase for the community of Prince George."
"Canfor is deeply embedded in the whole region - in timber harvesting, silviculture, sawmilling, pulp and paper milling, and all the associated products and services that go along with those endeavors," said Canfor's vice-president of brand and external relations Christine Kennedy. "We represent the entire region. The Canada Winter Games represents big benefits for the entire region, so we see this as a good fit."
The mass purchase of tickets gives Games organizers a big head start in the effort to build a lively audience for as many events as possible.
"It's a tremendous number of tickets, and it is very significant for the Games that they came forward with their support early like this," said Prince George mayor Shari Green. "And tickets for kids is a very smart and exciting idea. It will give those young people an opportunity to participate in the experience and spirit of the Games, and they will bring their energy to the events."
Canfor has also pledged $150,000 worth of lumber and other wood products to the games for various construction needs.
"That may not seem as exciting as the big ticket purchase, but it is a huge load off the organizers' shoulders, to know that lumber is there, because it had to come from somewhere, and it would have had to come out of the budget otherwise, so that is a significant contribution by Canfor," said Green.