Written by Peter McIntyre Friday, 13 November 2009 11:10107.5 KISSFM:
The process for finding people to organize and run the 2012 BC Winter Games in Greater Vernon, has begun.
The Greater Vernon Advisory Committee has agreed to form a nominating committee that will recommend a slate of officers that will be appointed to serve as the volunteer board of directors. Mayor Wayne Lippert says they'll be looking for people with experience in past events such as the World Cup and World Curling. "I'm quite confident we will get that because we have so many individuals that have volunteered for putting on different events in Greater Vernon already." The nominating committee will be made up of politicians from each Greater Vernon jurisdiction, along with a trustee from the School Board and reps from the Chamber of Commerce and the Parks and Rec Department.BC Games officials would like to see the nominating committee in place by January 11, 2010.It's expected about 15 people will be needed to sit on the board.The four day event in February 2012 will feature over 2,500 participants in 24 sporting activities, and will require 2,500 volunteers.
A special event will be held tonight to mark 100 days until Greater Vernon hosts the BC Winter Games. Operations manager Brenda Thorlakson says a torch lighting ceremony is set for Vernon's Spirit Square. "There's a really exciting evening planned for everybody. The public
is encouraged to come down at 5 o clock. There's going to be a BBQ and
other activities." The Games torch will be lit by a as-yet-to-be announced local V-I-P
at 6:30, and it will burn until the end of the games which run from
February 23 to 26, 2012. Thorlakson says more than one-thousand volunteers have signed up for the four day event. "We think it's right on track. We've got about a thousand and five
volunteers signed up, and we're really seeing that start to ramp up as
everybody is starting to hear about us." The four day games will bring about two thousand athletes, coaches
and officials to Vernon, Coldstream and Armstrong for competition in 15
sports.
