FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 12, 2011
HALIFAX, NS - Halifax has been asking “What will you bring?” to the 2011 Canada Winter Games. Team BC is answering, “We are bringing the warmth of our hearts”, in the form of its legacy project, “Hands Across the Country”.
Affectionately known as the Mitten Project, in reference to the red mittens which captivated the country one year ago today when the 2010 Olympic Winter Games opened in Vancouver, Team BC athletes, coaches and mission staff have been collecting hundreds of donated items of warm clothing including mittens, scarves, jackets and toques. Some of the items were distributed to homeless shelters in the communities where the 340 athletes, coaches and mission staff reside. Several more boxes of clothing were packed up and brought to Nova Scotia to give to a Halifax homeless shelter. The initiative demonstrates the social responsibility and mobilizes the goodwill that Team BC members feel as participants in a national event, and recognizes the needs in their home communities as well as communities across the country.
“In honour of celebrating the one-year anniversary of the Opening of the Olympic and Paralympic Games and the wonderful opening ceremonies of the 2011 Canada Winter Games we witnessed last night, Team BC is bringing the spirit and warmth of BC to celebrate our next generation of Olympians, Special Olympians and Paralympians,” said Team BC Chef de Mission Ajay Patel.” We want to thank the the City of Halifax, Province of Nova Scotia, Canada Games Council and the Host Society of the 2011 Canada Winter Games for providing us with the opportunity to create the Mitten project which raises social consciousness for not only our Team BC athletes, but the entire Team BC family and our province. The project demonstrates the community spirit of all athletes from coast to coast to coast and truly emboidies the essence of the Canada Games spirit.”
Halifax mayor Peter Kelly was on hand at an event today to mark the one-year anniversary of the 2010 Olympic Games, and to receive the donations from the Team BC legacy project. "This is a wonderful example of the true spirit of the Canada Games," said Mayor Kelly, thanking Team BC. "These Games do more than unite Canadians in friendly rivalry. They are a powerful reminder of our shared values and, thanks to initiatives such as the Hands Across the Country initiative, they are an opportunity to leave a caring, supportive heritage in their wake."
Boys & Girls Club of East Dartmouth was chosen to receive the donations brought to Halifax by Team BC. "Boys & Girls Club's appreciate the kind generosity every time someone donates,” said John Burton, Executive Director of Boys & Girls Club of East Dartmouth. “Organizations like ours can certainly utilize a donation of hats and mittens for children and youth throughout HRM. Unfortunately, some children simply do not have adequate winter wear or simply have lost a mitten or hat. This donation will help us keep children and youth prepared for our Nova Scotia weather."
The Canada Games is a national multi-sport Games competition that brings together the best athletes from each Canadian province and territory. The primary objective of the Games and the Games movement is national and provincial sport development of Canadian youth. The Games provide the stimulus for Canadian youth to reach their athletic potential, pursue personal excellence and develop socially and culturally within the context of ethical competition.
Team BC has brought a dedicated team of 242 athletes, 74 coaches, three National Artists and 22 mission staff to compete in 20 sports at the Games in Halifax. The Games has brought together approximately 2,700 athletes, coaches, managers and officials with participation from every province and territory in Canada.
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Photos to accompany this press release can be downloaded at www.teambc.org/photos
Media Contact:
Jan Mansfield
Team BC Communications Manager
januscom@shaw.ca; 902-719-8093