Premier Opens BC Winter Games

Written by Peter McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM Thursday, 23 February 2012 21:00 
 A capacity crowd helped open the 2012 BC Winter Games at Wesbild Centre.  Premier Christy Clark was on hand, and she also lit the torch, taking it from local athletes Steven Linemayr and Connie Kapak.  Clark told the crowd, "I am delighted to be here. What an honour. Over the past 33 years, the BC Games is where our province's budding sports heroes have come to shine." Clark had a message for the more than 1,100 athletes. She said Canada's greatest athlete was Terry Fox who never participated in an Olympics, but he inspired so many with his determination and courage. "All of you are learning important lessons. You're learning to be role models, to step up with courage and determination. We are all so proud of you." Host committee president Akbal Mund thanked the volunteers. "There's two-thousand-four hundred and-34 of us out here, and without them, these Games would not be possible." Mund also thanked the parents of the athletes. "They spend all the time waking up early, getting the kids up, getting them out there. You're doing a great job." Vernon mayor Rob Sawatzky joked about the mild conditions. "I apologize for this warm weather. I know you wanted cold, minus 20 degrees, but I think maybe City Hall opened up and all the hot air came out." Melissa Severson, Jenna Cotter and Nick Berg also handled the torch while in Wesbild Centre. The opening ceremony lasted about 90 minutes and featured numerous acts and entertainment. Vernon native Randene Neill of Global BC was the MC. Competition in 15 sports gets underway Friday at venues in Vernon, Armstrong, Silver Star and Coldstream.
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Visit www.2012bcwintergames.ca for schedules of all sports.

BC Games Torch Lit

Written by Peter McIntyre Friday,  107.5 KISSFM 18 November 2011 19:48

The 2012 BC Winter Games torch has been lit.  At an event attended by hundreds of people Friday night, Vernon Monashee MLA Eric Foster was the official lighter.  He says the games running Feb 23 to 26, 2012 are going to be a big event.  "The economic drive is big. As Games president Akbal Mund said, there will be 14-hundred athletes and then all the support that goes with that like the families, so several thousand people will come to town, and they'll leave a few million dollars here."  Foster also presented Mund with a $100,000 cheque from the Community and Sport Ministry, to use for the games. Mund quipped,"Time to go Christmas shopping," after getting the cheque.
Global BC news anchor Randene Neill, a Vernon native, emceed the event outside Vernon City Hall, which marks less than 100 days until the games begin.  The torch will remain lit until the games are over.
Photo: MLA and torch lighter Eric Foster poses with Princess Kaitlyn Chirkoff (left) and Queen Silver Star Aksana Skrinnikoff in front of the BC Games torch Friday night (P McIntyre photo)

Games Office Opens Its Doors

Written by Peter McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM  Thursday, 29 September 2011 07:35

BC Games office on 31 Ave (P.McIntyre photo)

The 2012 BC Winter Games in Greater Vernon now have a place to call home.  The event's office will be officially opened today in the former Vernon Flower Shop on 31st Ave, just west of the Greyhound bus depot.  Operations manager Brenda Thorlakson says the opening comes five months before the games are held (February 23-26). She says "It's a fantastic site, it's central to downtown, and easy for people to just drop by when they're strolling downtown."  People can also visit the office to learn more about volunteering and purchase Games souvenirs. About 700 people have signed up to volunteer so far. The city project to add a new transit terminus and service upgrades in that area limits parking, but the work is expected to be finished by mid October. The phone number at the new office is 250 550 2012.