VICTORIA - In honour of the largest multisport and cultural event ever held in northern British Columbia, Coralee Oakes - Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development - today announced that Feb. 13-March 1, 2015, has been officially proclaimed Canada Games Week.

(flickr.com)

Starting Friday, and for the next 18 days, 2,400 of Canada’s best and brightest athletes from every province and territory will compete for top honours in Prince George, following four years of planning by the Prince George Host Society.

The 2015 Canada Winter Games is expected to draw 15,000 fans and supporters to the region, generating an estimated impact of $70 million to $90 million.

Team BC will bring a cadre of 350 athletes, coaches and mission staff to the Games to compete on home soil.

Nineteen sports will be featured at the Games, including Paralympic Sports and events for Special Olympics athletes: Alpine Skiing, Archery, Badminton, Biathlon, Cross Country Skiing, Curling, Figure Skating, Freestyle Skiing, Gymnastics, Ice Hockey, Judo, Ringette, Snowboarding, Speedskating, Squash, Synchronized Swimming, Table Tennis, Target Shooting, Wheelchair Basketball.

The Province has invested $12.5 million in the 2015 Canada Winter Games, including $220,000 to fund the involvement of the Lheidli T’enneh as the first-ever Official Host First Nation.

Quotes:

Community, Sport and Cultural Development Minister Coralee Oakes -

“I am thrilled to proclaim Canada Games Week. It is a testament to the significance of the event and our status as a province as a premier sport-hosting destination. The Government of British Columbia is committed to promoting sport participation and high performance at every level through an annual investment of more than $50 million. Our Team BC athletes are living proof of the success of British Columbia’s sport development system.”

Prince George-Valemount MLA Shirley Bond -

“Unifying the nation through sport, arts and culture, the Canada Winter Games will serve as a stepping stone for our local and provincial athletes to reach their athletic potential, while providing artists of various mediums with the chance to showcase their creative talents and hone their craft. These Games are also a tremendous opportunity to share not only the incredible beauty and spirit of our region, but also the economic opportunities and lasting legacies in this part of the province.”

Prince George-Mackenzie MLA Mike Morris -

“B.C.’s high-performance athletes are a source of pride and inspiration for all British Columbians. Some of our most celebrated Canadian athletes like Clara Hughes, Sidney Crosby, Hayley Wickenheiser, Steve Nash and Ryan Cochrane are all Canada Games alumni. We wish the athletes competing in the 2015 Canada Winter Games all the very best as they pursue their podium dreams.”

Nechako Lakes MLA John Rustad -
“The Canada Games reach beyond the scope of athletic competition. They have a direct impact on host communities, often leaving a legacy of new or upgraded facilities, a cadre of trained volunteers and a significant economic boost.”

Quick Facts:

• The Lheidli T’enneh First Nation is the first-ever Official Host First Nation of a Canada Games.
• The 2015 Canada Winter Games is expected to draw 2,400 athletes, 1,000 coaches and officials, 4,500 volunteers and an estimated 15,000 visitors.
• Team BC athletes are the next generation of national team athletes, many of whom will go on to higher levels of competition, including the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
• The 2015 Canada Winter Games were awarded to Prince George on Sept. 17, 2010.
• B.C. has previously hosted two Canada Summer Games:
  • In 1973, the Games were held in Burnaby and New Westminster.
  • In 1993, the Games were held in Kamloops.
• No other country in the world has an event like the Canada Games, created in 1967 to unify the nation through sport.
• The 2015 Canada Winter Games Torch Relay started in Ottawa on Oct. 16, 2014, with a torch-lighting event on Parliament Hill. The B.C. leg of the relay was launched in Victoria on Oct. 17, 2014.
• At the 2014 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in Sochi, 22 Olympians and Paralympians were Team BC or BC Games alumni, including Ski Cross silver medallist and current Team BC Honourary Captain Kelsey Serwa and NHL player Dan Hamhuis.
• B.C. athletes accounted for 19% of the Canadian Olympic team and won 32% of Team Canada’s medals.
• An astounding 24% of the Canadian Paralympic team was affiliated with B.C. and brought home 44% of the nation’s medals.

Learn More:

To learn more about the Canada Winter Games, go to: http://www.canadagames2015.ca/

For the most current 2015 Canada Winter Games information, including results, medal counts, athlete profiles and more, visit m.canadagames.ca on any operating system or mobile device and bookmark the link or save it to your home screen.

You can also help light up 2015 Games celebrations with the northern lights on your mobile device using the free Illuminate the North app, available on all smartphone platforms.

Media Contacts:

Gillian Rhodes
Ministry of Community, Sport
and Cultural Development
250 888-1462