Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation
The 2017 HSBC Canada Women’s Sevens rugby tournament will return to Langford this May, thanks in part to a $130,000 provincial investment announced by Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour.
The 2017 HSBC Canada Women’s Sevens tournament runs May 27-28 at Westhills Stadium in Langford, and is part of the HSBC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series, with 12 of the world’s best national teams competing. One of the most dynamic global sporting events, the tournament will feature all three medalists from the 2016 Rio Summer Olympic Games rugby sevens debut – Australia, New Zealand and Canada. This is the third time the women’s rugby sevens tournament will be hosted in Langford, home of Rugby Canada’s Canadian Rugby Centre of Excellence. The tournament will be broadcast nationally in Canada on TSN and will receive international media attention.
Today’s investment includes $100,000 from the Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Responsible for Labour’s Tourism Events Program and $30,000 from the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development’s Major Events Program.
The Tourism Events Program supports events that raise awareness nationally and internationally of British Columbia’s tourism experiences and motivates Canadians and people from other countries to travel and experience British Columbia. These events generate tourism and economic activity in communities and regions throughout the province.
The Major Events Program, administered by the Sport Branch in the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development, supports the hosting of single-sport events that demonstrate economic and community development, sport development and regional engagement.
(flickr.com) Quotes:
Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour –
“Rugby sevens continues to gain popularity and support in Canada and worldwide thanks in part to our national women’s team that won bronze in 2016 in the rugby sevens Olympic debut in Rio. Investing in events like the Canada Sevens Series in Langford helps us draw visitors to British Columbia and promote our reputation as a premier tourism and event-hosting destination."
Peter Fassbender, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development –
“I am delighted to see the return of the World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series to Langford for the third year in a row. This international event will be an engaging and exciting two days for Rugby fans and sport enthusiasts. As it has over the last two years, this tournament will continue to showcase British Columbia to the world while boosting the regional economy, and creating jobs.”
Steve Thomson, Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations –
“I’m proud as a former national team member myself and huge fan and supporter of rugby to see this investment today. The Canada Sevens Series promises once again to be an unforgettable event and sports experience for fans attending here in B.C. and watching from around the world. We wish the national teams the best as they compete for important World Sevens Series points.”
Stewart Young, mayor, City of Langford –
“The City of Langford is grateful for the Province of British Columbia committing $130,000 to continue supporting women’s rugby in Langford. This funding will support the women’s national team and build on their success at the Rio Olympics, and along with the new Al Charron national training facility in Langford, help generate tourism and economic activity for the region, and advance rugby and inspire youth across the province.”
Gareth Rees, director, Commercial and Program Relations, Rugby Canada –
"The Canadian women’s sevens team captured the hearts of Canadians in Rio last summer, with a bronze medal performance that firmly established them as one of the best sevens teams in the world. The 2017 HSBC Women’s Sevens Series is serving as a platform for this inspiring group of athletes to build on their Olympic success. We’d like to thank the Province of British Columbia for their continued support to the Canada Women’s Sevens in Langford, as it not only inspires our athletes to perform at their best in front of a home town crowd, but plays a critical role in the development of the sport here in Canada.”
(flickr.com) Quick Facts:
- At each of the six HSBC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series stops, the teams play a tournament where they are assigned a point total based on how they finish. The series culminates with a champion being crowned at the end of the season based on total points combined across the six tournaments.
- There are 11 core teams participating at each round of the Series including: New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Russia, England, Spain, USA, Fiji, France, Japan and Ireland. The 12th team is selected by each host tournament, and it will be the Netherlands in Langford.
- Every four years the series also doubles as an Olympic qualifier, with the top four-ranked teams booking their ticket to the Olympic Games.
- The Women’s Sevens tournament in 2017 is expecting over 130 athletes and about 6,000 fans.
- There will be 35 accredited media representatives on site during the event. Television broadcasting is expected to reach over 200,000 viewers nationally along with some international viewership.
- In addition to the funding announced today, the Government of B.C. invests about $50 million in sport and over $98 million in the tourism sector annually.
- In 2016, 5.5 million international visitors came to B.C. – a 12.3% increase (605,198 more visitors) compared to 2015.
- In 2015, the tourism industry generated $15.7 billion in revenues with a direct contribution to B.C.’s gross domestic product of $7.4 billion.
Learn More:
For more information about the 2017 HSBC Rugby Sevens Series: http://www.canadasevens.com/womens/
BC Jobs Plan: http://engage.gov.bc.ca/bcjobsplan/economy/tourism/
To learn more about the Tourism Events Program: http://www.destinationbc.ca/BC-Tourism-Industry/Municipal-and-Regional-District-Tax-Program/Tourism-Events-Program.aspx
