With the arrival of spring, the 2015 Canada Winter Games team will travel across the northern BC region to promote the big event. Like last summer, when we attended many key regional events like Terrace's River Boat Days, Billy Barker Days in Quesnel, and the Williams Lake Stampede, the 2015 Games looks forward to generating excitement throughout the north in the lead up to hosting Canada's largest multi-sport and cultural event.
If last year was any indication--when we signed up 800 volunteers and met thousands of enthusiastic people--engaging communities in our region is a great way to generate interest in the 2015 Games. It also fulfills one of the promises we made during the bid to host: that the 2015 Games will provide opportunities for the entire region when people from 800 communities across the nation visit in February 2015.
This summer, the 2015 Games will introduce the Torch Relay program - Illuminate the North. As part of the Torch Relay, we look forward to meeting people from the northwest, northeast and central interior over the summer to promote our torchbearer and Community Torch Celebration Challenge programs.
The 2015 Games will ceremoniously light the Canada Games Torch in Ottawa on October 15th and, after a visit to Victoria on October 17th, it will arrive in Prince George before heading out to communities throughout the north.
The northern BC section of the Torch Relay will begin on November 4th in Prince George. Only 150 people from across the region will have the chance to carry the flame in our Torch Relay. Nominate yourself or an individual who has inspired you in the categories of youth, culture, sport and community and share their story with us. Starting June 2nd, nomination forms are available on our website.
While the torch will travel far and wide, the Community Torch Celebration Challenge program allows communities the opportunity to compete for the right to host one of three of the largest 2015 Games' events outside of Prince George and will bring the spirit of the 2015 Games to the winning towns. Each celebration will include music, arts and the Torch Relay. The winning Community Torch Celebration Challenge sites and torchbearers will be announced in September.
While the Torch Relay is a big part of the lead up to the event in February, generating both excitement and interest, this Sunday the 2015 Games is looking forward to meeting our official mascot. Our Official Community Partner and the Presenting Sponsor of the mascot program, the YMCA of Northern BC, will be holding its Healthy Kids Day at Masich Place Stadium on June 1st where Nanguz will be revealed at 10:30 a.m. Nanguz will then be available to meet kids at the YMCA from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The months ahead are going to be filled with activity, as we enter the final stretch in preparation for February 2015. We are grateful to the over 3,500 volunteers who have signed up so far and we are looking forward to filling even more positions. For those wishing to be involved in welcoming the nation, we have launched a Homestay Host program, allowing residents of Prince George to billet visitors, rent out their homes or a room in their home during 2015 Games time. Forms and requirements for the program are available at canadagames2015.ca for those interested. I encourage people to consider welcoming guests and visitors into their homes through this program--what a great way to show Canada our northern BC hospitality and celebrate alongside people visiting from across the nation.
