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PITT
MEADOWS – The grounds of Pitt
Meadows’s City Hall will be transformed into a B.C. Spirit Square for the
community, thanks to $500,000 from the provincial government, Premier Gordon
Campbell announced today.
“This square will ignite community spirit and pride, showcasing the
history and heritage of Pitt Meadows, including its First Nations past, and the
diversity of the community today,” said Campbell. “This Spirit Square will
stand as a proud reminder of our 150th anniversary of the founding of the Crown
Colony of British Columbia, and as a memorial to the sacrifices and courage of
the veterans of this community. I congratulate Mayor Don
MacLean and the entire community for having the vision to move this project
forward.”
The Pitt Meadows Spirit Square will provide a public
celebration space on the grounds of City Hall. The site is adjacent to a series of civic
buildings, including the public library, a family resource centre, a seniors’
recreation centre and schools. The funding will see the expansion of the cenotaph area with additional surfaces to accommodate
wheelchairs and walkers and will incorporate public art, a small stage area,
pedestrian pathways, landscaping and features that celebrate the community’s
history.
“We’ve
been working with the representatives of the Royal Canadian Legion for the last
two years in an effort to improve the cenotaph site,” said Pitt Meadows Mayor Don MacLean. “We’re very pleased that this
funding will not only provide improved access to the cenotaph for veterans,
seniors and the general public but will also create a Spirit Square in the
heart of our community for year-round use.”
This is the second Spirit Square in the Ridge Meadows area. Last summer,
the District of Maple Ridge received $500,000 to develop a Spirit Square in
Memorial Peace Park.
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. For more
information about the B.C. Spirit Squares program, please visit www.spiritsquares.gov.bc.ca.
This year, B.C. will
celebrate BC150, the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Crown
Colony of British Columbia in 1858.
Every community in the province is invited to participate in this
year-long celebration of B.C.’s cultural diversity, community strength and
achievement. For more information about BC150, visit www.BC150.ca.
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contact: |
Communications Director Office of the Premier 250 387-6605 |
Ministry of Community Services 250 387-4089 |
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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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