Northern Health Unveils New Mascot
Spirit the Caribou & Isabel Stratton – photo 250News
Prince George, B.C. – Hundreds of screaming high school students welcomed the unveiling of Northern Health’s new mascot today at Duchess Park Secondary School – Spirit the Caribou.
“Many of you probably know the caribou is listed as an endangered species, they live in the more remote areas in the province,” Prince George-Mackenzie Liberal MLA Mike Morris told the students.
“The province and federal governments have been doing lots to try and enhance their populations and ensure that these populations remain healthy so I think this is a great symbol for what we have here in front of us today.”
Also present at today’s ceremony was 13 year old grade 8 student Isabel Stratton, the person responsible for the concept and story behind Spirit.
She says she could barely contain her excitement when her design beat out challenger Rex the bear in a public vote last summer.
“I was really excited, I was jumping up and down screaming” adding “it’s really exciting to see him like that,” at today’s unveiling.
The $6,272 cost required to develop the mascot was paid for the Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation.
“We recognize the importance of supporting health care strategies encouraging people to live healthier lives,” said CEO Judy Neiser.
“We’re very excited to sponsor Spirit the caribou in engaging youth across the Northern Health region.”
Following today’s announcement Spirit will attend next month’s Canada Winter Games before making appearances at events across the region promoting healthy habits for area youth.
According to Northern Health’s chief medical health office Dr. Sandra Allison that’s very important who notes Northerner’s are not as healthy the rest of the province.
“By beginning with healthy habits at a young age, we’re hoping that children and youth will be able to avoid more chronic diseases and prevent injuries.”
Comments
And what purpose is this ‘mascot’??? seems a total waste of time and money.
the thousands of dollars probably (3 or 4)it cost for this could better have been spent on seniors health, mens health, and people in general….
though I will say better here than in the paychecks as bosus’s for the top yohos (CEO’s)
I dunno; I’m a bit skeptical about how some guy dressed up as a caribou is going to influence kids to adopt healthy habits. If mom and dad aren’t going to change the kid doesn’t have much of a chance.
“bcracer , the thousands of dollars probably (3 or 4)it cost for this could better have been spent on seniors health, mens health, and people in general…. ”
the article clearly states that this was NOT funded by northern health monies. It was Spirit of the North that funded the mascot.
It maybe a waste of money however, this mascot MIGHT just might reach out to those who do not have a stable home life or stable family kids relate differently than adults do and if this is going to help change the generations forward to lower medical costs and help improve society as well as lower medical premiums then its worth a shot. You never know unless you try.
You know the 250 news commenters are scraping the bottom of the barrel when they turn to bitching about a bloody mascot!! Where is your “Spirit”..!
It’s should have been a huge blank cheque for a mascot. Northern health is a huge scam. Hundreds of workerson stress leave, to many managers, one department has no clue what the one next to it does, best thing my lady did was quit that place.
WOW..tough crowd. .. Isabelle , love your mascot!!! Ignore the negative & continue on your path of community spirit!! Congrats on winning entry.☺
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