West Vancouver Atrium Will Be B.C. Spirit Square Legacy

NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
2007OTP0111-000989
Aug. 2, 2007

Office of the Premier
Ministry of Community Services
Ministry of Tourism, Sport and the Arts

WEST VANCOUVER – The Province is providing the District of West Vancouver with $500,000 to help create a Spirit Square in its new Civic Centre atrium, Premier Gordon Campbell announced today.

“This square will ignite community spirit and pride, showcasing both the First Nations history and heritage of West Vancouver and the diversity of this community today,” said Campbell. “This will be one of a number of Spirit Squares throughout B.C. that stand as a proud legacy of our 150th anniversary of the founding of the Crown Colony of British Columbia.”Funds provided to West Vancouver will help create a 325-square-metre atrium connecting the Community and Aquatic centres. Fully retractable walls will seamlessly connect the atrium to surrounding outdoor gathering spaces. The combined capacity for the atrium and other outdoor spaces will be for approximately 9,000 people. The North Plaza, part of the larger Civic Centre project, will include a musical garden with seating, chimes, wind gongs and talk tubes. The area will be further enhanced by public art that will be commissioned in partnership with the Squamish Nation.

“This wonderful project will provide a place for West Vancouver residents to share and celebrate the province’s heritage and diversity for years to come,” said West Vancouver-Garibaldi MLA Joan McIntyre.

The $20-million B.C. Spirit Square program helps to create or improve outdoor public meeting and celebration spaces based on 50/50 cost-sharing with local governments, to a maximum provincial contribution of $500,000.

“We are thrilled to celebrate B.C.’s 150th anniversary through the commemoration of the atrium in our new community centre,” said Mayor Pamela Goldsmith-Jones. “The provincial government’s vision of squares throughout the province where people come together to celebrate life’s simple pleasures or share in major events will be enjoyed by the citizens of West Vancouver and visitors for years to come.”

The B.C. Spirit Squares program is one of four initiatives announced by the Premier at the 2006 Union of B.C. Municipalities convention aimed at making B.C. communities greener and healthier places to live, with reduced greenhouse gases, improved air quality and increased energy conservation. The other programs are LocalMotion, Towns for Tomorrow and the Green City Awards Program.

For more information about B.C. Spirit Squares, and for links to the other programs, visit www.spiritsquares.gov.bc.ca online.

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Media contact:

Mike Morton
Press Secretary
Office of the Premier
250 213-8218

Marc Black
Communications Manager
Ministry of Community Services
250 356-6334