Alyson Gourley-Cramer, manager communications & community relations, Canada Winter Games & Chris Kinch, director of membership and progarms, YMCA of Northern BC – photo 250 News

Prince George, B.C. – The Canada Winter Games and the YMCA of Northern BC have teamed up to provide support for a special youth project.

From now until Christmas Eve the Y will be selling the limited edition Nanguz plush toy with proceeds going towards the development of a 2015 Canada Winter Games Legacy Program.

“It’s something we’re really excited about. The goal is to provide free memberships to all grade 6 students in the city. We’ll have specific programming exclusively for them to come and attend the Y, and get used to it,” says director of membership and programs Chris Kinch.

He says further details will be announced in January but says the program will run from September to August every year with a planned launch next month.

Kinch says they’ve targetted grade 6 students because statistics show it’s commonly a time when “we see a drop-out in youth recreation.”

He also acknowledges it will take more than the sale of stuffy’s to keep the program going in the years ahead.

“We’re going to be looking for additional funding and support for this to keep going. We are expecting we’ll need donors in the future.”

The dolls themselves cost $19.99 and games spokesperson Alyson Gourley-Cramer doesn’t think the exclusive sale will hurt potential sales.

“No, not at all. We really feel like the Y is the perfect place to sell Nanguz. They’re our official partner of the program and there are lots of children programs and great visibility for us here.”