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Ministry of Community Services |
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CASTLEGAR SET TO CELEBRATE WITH NEW SPIRIT
SQUARE FUNDS |
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CASTLEGAR
– A $109,000 grant from the
Province’s Spirit Squares program will enable Castlegar to build a brand new
gathering place that reflects the people, history and spirit of the community,
announced Blair Lekstrom, Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Development and MLA
for Peace River South.
“Creating a new Spirit Square is an
opportunity for Castlegar to build on its existing community pride,” said
Lekstrom. “The Spirit Square will serve as a central gathering place for
celebrations, including B.C.’s 150th birthday in 2008, and provide a
venue to showcase local events and activities.”
The
$20-million B.C. Spirit Square program is helping to create or improve outdoor
public meeting/celebration spaces based on 50/50 cost-sharing with local
governments, to a maximum provincial contribution of $500,000. The new
Castlegar Spirit Square will be a unique plaza-like space offering seating and
shade, a place for the Community Christmas Tree and a small speaker’s podium.
Residents will have an opportunity to provide input into the design of the
square.
“The
City of Castlegar is extremely pleased that our community square project will
receive funding from the B.C. Spirit Squares Program,” said Mayor Lawrence
Chernoff. “It is our hope to incorporate various aspects of our heritage,
culture and the spirit of Castlegar into the design of our new spirit square.
The construction of our spirit square will be done in conjunction with the
completion of our new City Hall building and will be located in the heart of
our community’s downtown area.”
“BC150
Years is about celebrating our heritage and achievements – past, present and
future,” said Tourism, Sport and the Arts Minister Stan Hagen. “The Castlegar
Spirit Square pays tribute to this community’s history and paves the way for
festivals, events and celebrations for current and future generations to
enjoy.”
“Through
the B.C. Spirit Squares program, we are helping to enhance the heart of B.C.’s
communities,” said Community Services Minister Ida Chong. “By revitalizing
public spaces, we are supporting walkable, livable, healthier places to live
that encourage people to become more connected with their communities and their
neighbours.”
B.C. Spirit Squares is one
of four programs announced by Premier Gordon Campbell at the 2006 Union of BC
Municipalities convention, aimed at making B.C.
communities greener and healthier places to live, with reduced greenhouse
gases, improved air quality and increased energy conservation. The other programs are LocalMotion, Towns for
Tomorrow, and the Green City Awards. For more information about B.C. Spirit
Squares, and for links to these other programs, visit www.spiritsquares.gov.bc.ca
online.
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Communications Director 250 953-3677 |
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For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca. |
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