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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Courier New";color:black"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";mso-fareast-language:EN-CA"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Courier New";color:black">This is on a first-come first–served selection basis, submissions open at 9 am Tuesday May 19<sup>th</sup>. Open to community sports, cultural, arts organizations for events not already
eligible for other BC grants, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-language:EN-CA">EventHostBC grant applications and eligibility guidelines can be found online at:
<a href="http://www.cscd.gov.bc.ca/arts_culture/EventHostBC.htm">http://www.cscd.gov.bc.ca/arts_culture/EventHostBC.htm</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Courier New";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-language:EN-CA">PRINCE GEORGE - Following on the success of the 2015 Canada Winter Games, the Government
of British Columbia has introduced two new measures to further promote British Columbia as a world-class event hosting destination.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-language:EN-CA">Coralee Oakes, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development, and Shirley
Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Responsible for Labour, announced today that the Province is undertaking the development of a five-year hosting strategy to support communities and organizations in making B.C. the destination of choice
for sport and cultural events. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-language:EN-CA">In support of the five-year strategy, Oakes also announced a $250,000 one-time funding
opportunity - EventHostBC - which encourages small events that strengthen volunteer capacity for event hosting throughout the province.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-language:EN-CA">Eligible non-profits are invited to apply for up to $5,000, awarded on a first-come,
first-served basis, distributed to B.C.’s six tourism regions. The funding will provide a stimulus for new events or assist existing events that are currently ineligible for other provincial government funding.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-language:EN-CA">The new five-year hosting strategy will capitalize further on the international exposure
the province received during the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and the success of the recent Canada Winter Games held in Prince George - both of these events resulted in positive economic benefits.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-language:EN-CA">To maximize event hosting opportunities, a provincial Hosting Toolkit is being developed
that will help communities and organizations attract, manage and leverage events to boost tourism revenue and support economic diversification. This toolkit will include: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-language:EN-CA">A provincewide recreation facility inventory;
<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-language:EN-CA">an economic impact assessment tool;
<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-language:EN-CA">bid package templates;
<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-language:EN-CA">volunteer training and management tools;
<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-language:EN-CA">sponsorship package templates and sponsor recruitment resources; and
<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-language:EN-CA">a way to document and share lessons learned.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-language:EN-CA">The Government of British Columbia provides more than $3.2 million annually toward
sport event hosting, and to support arts and culture event hosting through the BC Arts Council and gaming grants.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-language:EN-CA">EventHostBC grant applications and eligibility guidelines can be found online at:
<a href="http://www.cscd.gov.bc.ca/arts_culture/EventHostBC.htm">http://www.cscd.gov.bc.ca/arts_culture/EventHostBC.htm</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Courier New";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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