Band skips into the spirit
Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett tried out one of the jump ropes supplied to the Canim Lake Band from ActNow BC Aug. 12.
Email
Print
Letter to Editor
Share
Updated: August 06, 2009 10:40 AM
The Canim Lake Band community is going for the gold — that would be the gold medal that represents a $100,000 first prize in GamesTown 2010 contest.
Silver or bronze wouldn’t be bad, either, with big cash values.
The province-wide challenge is a Vancouver 2010 and Province of BC initiative that will reward three communities for their efforts in supporting healthy living, environmental sustainability and 2010 Winter Games Spirit.
In February 2009, the band registered to take part via the GamesTown website. Since then, they, along with other participating communities, have been adding stories and photos to their individual sites.
From Nov. 1 to Jan. 4, people can vote for their favourite community online in the Viewer’s Choice segment of the contest. A panel of select judges will make the final decision after the contest closes on Jan. 18, 2010.
Tish Diamond, the band recreation director, is the push behind local involvement in the contest, but people of the community are what makes their entry a worthy contender.
Most take part in the many activities that are offered year-round on the reserve, like twice-weekly adult fitness classes, competitive softball, the annual Poker Face Run triathlon, and non-stop kids' recreational programs.
“We’re definitely on the right track,” said Chief Mike Archie, adding that a school breakfast program and 4-H for the youngsters add to their health-oriented attitude toward life.
The community was rewarded for their efforts on Aug. 5 with a mid-contest prize box filled with skipping ropes, Frisbees, water bottles and measuring tapes with charts they can reference for healthy girth parameters; it was supplied by ActNow BC and presented in the band gymnasium by Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett.
v2
