TEAM BC WILL LEAVE ITS LEGACY IN KAMLOOPS
VICTORIA, BC – It started in Halifax with the Mitten Project at the 2011 Canada Winter Games and now in Kamloops at the upcoming Western Canada Summer Games, The ABC’s of Team BC Legacy Project will collect and donate new and gently used books for the children of Kamloops.
Team BC, in partnership with Literacy in Kamloops (LinK), will launch the “Bright Red Bookshelf” project in Kamloops. The ABC’s of Team BC Legacy Project (Athletes Believing in Communities) teams up with LinK to fill custom built bright red bookshelves placed in designated locations in Kamloops with new and gently used children’s books. Children can enjoy these books at the sites and take home free books. Team BC Mission Staff will lead the collection of books, designated for children from birth to 12 years old, from Team BC athletes, coaches, managers, parents, partners and MLAs and deliver them to LinK who will deliver them to bookshelf location sites.
The initiative demonstrates the social responsibility and mobilizes the goodwill that Team BC members feel as participants in a multi-sport Games event and recognizes the needs in their home communities across the province.
“We want to thank the City of Kamloops, Western Canada Games Council and the Host Society of the 2011 Western Canada Summer Games for providing us with the opportunity to create the ABC’s Project which raises the social consciousness for not only our Team BC athletes, but the entire Team BC family,” says Irene Schell, Team BC Chef de Mission. “The project demonstrates the community spirit of all athletes and truly embodies the essence of the Games spirit.”
“This is a wonderful example of the true spirit of the Games and a powerful reminder of our shared values,” says Fiona Clare, Literacy Outreach Coordinator for LinK. “Thanks to initiatives such as the ABC’s Project, Team BC has an opportunity to leave a caring, supportive legacy in its wake.”
LinK is looking for agencies or organizations who would like to participate in the program and house a bookshelf.
“Agencies who wish to join us in this project can contact LinK at 250-372-9373,” continues Clare.
Team BC will send 356 athletes aged 12 to 22 and 69 coaches to the 2011 Western Canada Summer Games. BC has won the Western Canada Summer Games Cup every year since the Games’ inception in 1975.
The 2011 Western Canada Summer Games take place Aug. 5-14 in Kamloops and will bring together approximately 2,300 athletes competing in 18 sports, along with coaches, managers and officials from British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Nunavut, Northwest Territories and the Yukon Territory.
Literacy in Kamloops (LinK) is a group of interested community partners who work together to increase the literacy levels of children, youth and adults within our community. LinK works with community partners to develop, maintain and expand literacy programs for all ages. LinK is the result of the 2010 Legacies Now Community Literacy Initiative.
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Media Contacts:
Judy Joseph-Black
Team BC Communications Manager
250-217-4518 (cell)
judy.josephblack@gov.bc.ca
Fiona Clare
Literacy Outreach Coordinator
Literacy in Kamloops (LinK)
250-372-9373
fionaclare@shaw.ca