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WEST
VANCOUVER – The Province is providing
the District of West Vancouver with $500,000 to help create a Spirit Square in
its new Civic Centre atrium, Premier Gordon Campbell announced today.
“This square will ignite community spirit and pride,
showcasing both the First Nations history and heritage of West Vancouver and
the diversity of this community today,” said Campbell. “This will be one of a
number of Spirit Squares throughout B.C. that stand as a proud legacy of our
150th anniversary of the founding of the Crown Colony of British
Columbia.”
Funds
provided to West Vancouver will help create a 325-square-metre atrium
connecting the Community and Aquatic centres. Fully retractable walls will
seamlessly connect the atrium to surrounding outdoor gathering spaces. The
combined capacity for the atrium and other outdoor spaces will be for
approximately 9,000 people. The North Plaza, part of the larger Civic Centre
project, will include a musical garden with seating, chimes, wind gongs and
talk tubes. The area will be further enhanced by public art that will be commissioned in partnership with the Squamish
Nation.
“This wonderful
project will provide a place for West Vancouver residents to share and
celebrate the province’s heritage and diversity for years to come,” said West
Vancouver-Garibaldi MLA Joan McIntyre.
The
$20-million B.C. Spirit Square program helps to create or improve outdoor
public meeting and celebration spaces based on 50/50 cost-sharing with local
governments, to a maximum provincial contribution of $500,000.
“We are
thrilled to celebrate B.C.’s 150th anniversary through the commemoration of the
atrium in our new community centre,” said Mayor
Pamela Goldsmith-Jones. “The provincial government’s vision of squares
throughout the province where people come together to celebrate life’s simple
pleasures or share in major events will be enjoyed by the citizens of West
Vancouver and visitors for years to come.”
The B.C. Spirit Squares
program is one of four initiatives announced by the Premier at the 2006 Union
of B.C. 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 Program.
For more information about
B.C. Spirit Squares, and for links to the other programs, visit www.spiritsquares.gov.bc.ca
online.
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contact: |
Press Secretary Office of the Premier 250 213-8218 |
Communications Manager Ministry of Community Services 250 356-6334 |
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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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