B.C. BUSINESS COMMUNITY GETS BEHIND BC150

RICHMOND – Eight prominent British Columbia corporations are joining the Province in celebrating BC150, Tourism, Sport and the Arts Minister Stan Hagen announced today.

“I appreciate the commitment of each of BC150’s corporate sponsors toward making 2008 the year to celebrate the achievements that have shaped British Columbia into the strong and vibrant province it is today,” said Hagen. “Among those achievements are the tremendous contributions that B.C. businesses – including our corporate partners – have made toward the building and sustained growth of our province.”

Collectively, the corporations lending support to BC150 have served and employed millions of British Columbians for a combined total of nearly 400 years in a broad range of business categories. BC150 corporate sponsors are:

· BC Hydro

· BC Lions Football Club

· Canada Place Corporation

· Canadian Pacific

· Harbour Air Ltd.

· Helijet International Inc.

· London Drugs Limited

· Vancouver Canucks

The sponsor companies have contributed support through in-kind resources or sponsoring events that align with BC150’s five key pillars: heritage, Aboriginal people, cultural diversity, communities, and arts and culture. This includes promotion and sponsorship of local BC150 events; an online photo contest; special BC150 recognition at sporting events; a travelling museum tour; a historical rail tour; and information about BC150 on corporate websites, promotional items, publications and advertising.

“Our corporate partners have a proud history of service in this province, characterized by many of the qualities that make British Columbia the best place on Earth,” said Hagen. “BC150 gives us an opportunity to learn, share and celebrate B.C.’s proud heritage, and our partners have the gift of reaching communities in every corner of our province to bring the festivities to as many British Columbians as possible.”

In June and early July, the CP Spirit of 150 Rail Tour will visit communities along Canadian Pacific’s British Columbia rail network. The rail tour partnership includes the vintage Empress 2816 steam locomotive, support cars, vintage passenger coaches, a business car, a stage car and a travelling museum car featuring the Royal BC Museum’s Free Spirit: Stories of You, Me and B.C.

BC150 is a celebration of the 150^th anniversary of the founding of the Crown Colony of British Columbia in 1858. Every community is invited to participate in this year-long celebration of B.C.’s cultural diversity, community strength and achievement. For more information on BC150 events and programs, please visit www.bc150.ca.

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Media contact:	Betty Nicholson A/Communications Director Ministry of Tourism, Sport and the Arts 250 356-9869

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