VILLAGE OF CUMBERLAND TO CREATE SPIRIT SQUARE LEGACY

CUMBERLAND – The Village of Cumberland will be developing its very own B.C. Spirit Square, The Village Square, thanks to $54,450 from the provincial government, Tourism, Sport and the Arts Minister Stan Hagen announced today.

“This is about celebrating our heritage and achievements – past, present and future,” said Hagen. “The Village of Cumberland 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.”

In 2008, the province will be celebrating BC 150 Years – the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Crown colony. BC150 will be a chance for communities to reflect on the past, and look toward the future. Thanks to the hard work of the city, community members, local organizations and the Spirit of BC Community Committee, the Village of Cumberland will have a special square to call its own.

This project will improve the existing Village Square in Cumberland’s downtown historic core, a site that was donated to the Village in 1999 to create its first urban park. It is a central and highly visible location by the landmark building the “Old Post Office.”

The design concept for Village Square is “many spaces, for many faces.” The space is designed to be open and flexible to accommodate a wide range of users and uses, including casual meetings, outdoor concerts, a Saturday market, and village celebrations accommodating 200 to 300 for a performance or 700 at a gathering.

“This is a great program for B.C.’s smaller communities in particular,” Mayor Fred Bates said. “This investment will help revitalize the historic Cumberland Village Square.”

“Through the B.C. Spirit Square program we are helping to enhance the heart of B.C.’s communities,” said Ida Chong, Minister of Community Services. “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.”

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.

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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Media contact:	Don McDonald Ministry of Tourism, Sport and the Arts 250 356-9869	Marc Black Ministry of Community Services 250 356-6334

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