2008 News Archive
Festival 150 generates $27 million for capital region
December, 2008
Festival 150, the highlight of the BC Day long weekend in Victoria, produced more than just a great time for the thousands that enjoyed the free outdoor concert. An Economic Impact Assessment commissioned by the event’s presenter, the Provincial Capital Commission, reports that Festival 150 had a gross total economic impact of $27.0 million in the Capital region. The net total impact -- that is, the injection of spending into the region by visitors from elsewhere -- is estimated at $6.0 million.
The report estimates that 160,000 people attended Festival 150 over the three-day weekend. The biggest single day’s attendance was for the all-day concert on holiday Monday that featured such BC-based legends as Dal Richards, Colin James, Burton Cummings and Sarah McLachlan. About 65 per cent of Festival 150 attendees came from the Capital region, with 20 per cent from the rest of the province and seven per cent from elsewhere in Canada. The remainder came from the United States and overseas -- about four per cent in each category.
The good “vibes” felt on that day are reflected in the survey results – 85 per cent rated the experience as very good/good, while more than 95 per cent said they would like to attend a similar event in the future.
Opium, murder and lepers provide intrigue for new Social Studies 10 online resource
November, 2008
Being Victorian circa 1858-1914 is an intriguing interactive unit developed by Open School BC for the Provincial Capital Commission. Interesting subject matter includes a tragic shooting on the steps of a church, opium trafficking, the D’Arcy Island Leper Colony and photographer Hannah Maynard.
Designed to engage students, this web-based resource provides an opportunity to explore and role-play, to challenge the accuracy of source material, to weigh in on the era’s societal actions and attitudes and to build historical empathy.
Being Victorian also includes a comprehensive teaching guide containing background information on the featured topics, critical thinking activities, detailed teaching instructions, marking information, additional resources, student worksheets and suggested additional activities.
Greg Smith, former president of the BC Social Studies Teachers Association, chose Being Victorian as his #1 pick for best resource in November.
This is the second online social studies unit produced by the Provincial Capital Commission. A Grade 4-5 multi-media interactive unit about the province’s capital was launched in 2007.
Signs of Lekwungen honour local Coast Salish
Sept. 30, 2008
Signs of Lekwungen, a new interpretive walkway, was officially unveiled at a ceremony beside Victoria’s Inner Harbour. The project honours centuries of contributions made by Songhees and Esquimalt people to the Victoria area by recognizing and featuring seven significant artistic, historical and cultural Coast Salish sites around the Capital city.
Songhees Chief Robert Sam, Esquimalt Chief Andy Thomas, project artist Butch Dick and numerous city officials were on hand to witness the blessing and unveiling of the spindle whorl located along the lower causeway.
Other spindle whorls are located at Songhees Point, Laurel Point, beside the lookout in Beacon Hill Park, outside city hall, outside the Royal BC Museum and at the site of the southwest bastion of the Hudson’s Bay Company Fort.
Each site marker, based on a traditional Coast Salish tool use in weaving, consists of a bronze casting of an original cedar carving, conceptualized and carved by Butch Dick.
The Signs of Lekwungen project was financially supported by the Provincial Capital Commission along with other funding partners. “The site markers reveal what has long been hidden,” said Ray Parks, PCC CEO. “These artworks honour the spirit of the Coast Salish people and invite residents and visitors to learn more about Victoria’s rich history.”
Brochures that include a map and information about the cultural significance of the seven sites are available throughout Greater Victoria.
Victoria plays host to Canada’s capitals
June 24, 2008
Victoria is hosting representatives from the nation’s capital cities June 25-28.
Delegates attending this year’s Canadian Capital Cities Organization annual conference will explore common goals and challenges, share experiences and discover ways to develop outreach programs and to celebrate the uniqueness of their individual cities.
Keynote speakers for the event include John Furlong, chief executive officer for the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, and Peter Byron, director of events and outreach with Australia’s National Capital Authority.
Formed in 1996, the CCCO is composed of representatives from Canada’s provincial and territorial capitals as well as from the national capital. Its goal is to foster an exchange of ideas among participants from different areas of the country to promote capital cities, both culturally and economically.
Last year, the delegates met in Regina and St. John, Newfoundland hosted the previous conference.
This year’s conference theme, “Connecting and Celebrating,” is especially appropriate and meaningful for Victoria,” said Ray Parks, CEO of British Columbia’s Provincial Capital Commission, host of the 2008 event. “Not only is our province celebrating the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Crown Colony of BC, but the PCC has a great deal of experience and success to share with other capital cities, particularly with its varied outreach programs designed to connect all British Columbians with their capital.”
Victoria Tall Ships Festival 2008
June 2008
Tall Ships Festival 150 celebrates BC’s 150th birthday in the Capital!
April 21, 2008
To mark BC’s 150th anniversary, the Provincial Capital Commission is launching Festival 150, a major public event on the BC Day weekend in August 2008.
Festival 150 will offer four days of free family-oriented activities, taking place all around the Capital’s beautiful Inner Harbour from Friday, Aug. 1 through BC Day Monday, Aug. 4. It will showcase our rich history, vibrant culture, entrepreneurism and innovation.
Alongside some wonderful community events already scheduled for the long weekend – annual favourites like Symphony Splash and special BC150 events like Fire Bells & Fanfare – Festival 150 will add a variety of other sights, sounds and activities to the Capital’s BC Day long weekend. These include a multi-day Best of BC Stage, a children’s activity zone, a showcase of the Province’s food producers, and a mainstage concert finale on the holiday Monday featuring internationally-acclaimed performers.
Additional funding for distant schools
April 17, 2008
Additional per student funding for schools in distant communities and a streamlined online Field Trip Guide are the latest improvements to the Provincial Capital Commission’s Student Travel Subsidy program.
Additional funding has been allocated to significantly increase per student subsidies for communities located farther away from Victoria. New zones were created and a new funding formula applied. Schools in the furthest zone, as an example, can now apply for $400 per student for a trip of four or more nights, up from the previous $170 per student.
Funding rates remain unchanged for the Lower Mainland and southern Vancouver Island areas.
The change comes as a result of feedback received as to how the Provincial Capital Commission could provide greater help to those groups having to travel the greatest distance to visit their Capital.
Aimed at assisting school groups visiting the Capital on educational trips, the PCC-sponsored program is offered twice yearly.
PCC partners with Free Spirit
April 10, 2008
The Provincial Capital Commission has agreed to become a marketing partner of the Royal BC Museum’s “Free Spirit: Stories of You, Me and BC,” a new exhibition celebrating the 150th anniversary of the creation of the Crown Colony of British Columbia.
PCC support includes funding a promotional Free Spirit icon on the street corner in front of the Museum based on “The Party,” which depicts 150 notable British Columbians; distribution of free admission vouchers to all 683,000 school-age students in British Columbia; and promotion of a traveling exhibit called “Free Spirit on the Road”. BC Hydro is a major sponsor of this initiative, which will be designed to promote energy conservation as well as pride in the province’s history. The tour will visit about six communities this fall.
“This is a truly unique and exciting initiative,” says Pauline Rafferty, Chief Executive Officer for the Museum. “We are very pleased to be collaborating with BC Hydro on this joint venture and are thankful for added support from the Provincial Capital Commission.”
PCC to sponsor major baseball event at North American Indigenous Games 2008
April 2, 2008
The Provincial Capital Commission is proud to be named sponsor of baseball - one of four major team sport events at the North American Indigenous Games in Duncan Aug. 2-10.
More than 4,000 athletes will stay in the Cowichan Valley competing in 16 sporting events. Thousands more are expected to enjoy the week-long cultural village and live performances.
National Historica Fair launched
March 6, 2008
Stan Hagen, Minister of Tourism, Sport and the Arts, joined École Willows students Adrienne Henderson and Owen Erickson today to officially launch the 2008 National Historica Fair.
“It is a special time to be visiting BC’s Capital, when we as a province will be joining these students in a celebration of shared history, community strength and achievement,” he said.
This marks Victoria’s first time in hosting the fair, which will run from July 7 to 14. About 165 students in Grades 4 through 9, selected from 275,000 students in 1,000 communities across Canada, will take part in the week-long history camp culminating in a one-day public exhibition Saturday, July 12 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Cedar Hill Recreation Centre in Saanich.
The Provincial Capital Commission is a major sponsor of the Historica Foundation’s event as is the Heritage Branch and the BC150 Secretariat.