Canada Games Flag Flying In Prince George

By 250 News

City Councillor Dave Wilbur, Bid Committee Co-Chair Les Waldie, Host Society member Blair Mayes, MLA Shirley Bond, Host Society member Jane Newman, City Councillor Garth Frizzell, Acting Mayor Shari Green, City's Director of Community Services Colleen Van Mook

Prince George, B.C. - There is a new flag flying outside Prince George City Hall this afternoon...

At 2:30pm, half-an-hour before the official launch of the 2011 Canada Winter Games in Halifax, a small crowd gathered to watch the the Canada Games flag take its place beside the Canadian and provincial flags, marking the start of the countdown to 2015 when Prince George will host the multi-sporting national event.

"Four years and counting, it's a very exciting time for us," says Acting Mayor Shari Green.  "But today we're here to celebrate Halifax and the Opening Ceremonies which happen today, so Prince George wanted to raise the flag today and celebrate along with them and, as Prince George (is) joining the family of host communities for the Canada Games, we are very excited.

Local MLA Shirley Bond says, "I think we've started a four year countdown to something that's going to be exceptional for British Columbia."  (click photo at right for video clip of ceremony)

Yesterday marked the one year anniversary of the start of the 2010 Vancouver-Whistler Olympics and Bond says "We are seeing some direct benefits in terms of tourism and the economy, but I think it's much more about the spirit people generate when they get excited about something like this."

"For me, it's a great opportunity to have our young athletes compete right here in northern British Columbia, it will put us on the stage in terms of the country and I think we're in for a very exciting four years."

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