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Media Releases 2007
CHILL SNOWBOARDING PROGRAM FOR YOUTH AT-RISK BACK FOR SECOND YEAR
Program Success Sees Return of Chill in 2007 and beyond
Prince George, B.C. (January 27, 2007): Chill, a snowboarding program that focuses on developing life skills for youth at-risk, launched its second season in Prince George today, thanks to 2010 Legacies Now, Bell Canada, the Province of BC and Tabor Mountain.
“The Chill program has helped change the lives of youth in 12 cities across Canada and the U.S., including here in Prince George,” said Katherine Ringrose, manager, Inclusion, 2010 Legacies Now. “Chill provides these youth not only with the opportunity to learn to snowboard, but also the opportunity for personal development and increased self esteem through sport.”
Created for at-risk youth aged 12 to 24, Chill provides participants with everything needed for a mountain experience including equipment, transportation, clothing, lift tickets and instruction. Each week, youth are introduced to a theme that integrates the snowboarding experience with the challenges of every day life. The weekly Chill themes are: patience, persistence, respect, courage, responsibility and pride.
“Chill is an innovative program that proved to be very popular in Prince George last year,” said Prince George-Mount Robson MLA and Deputy Premier Shirley Bond. “The success of last year’s program, which allows local youth agencies to teach important life skills to at-risk youth in a fun environment, was a very compelling reason to bring it back in 2007.”
”When young people are active in their communities, they help build stronger communities,” said Bob Killops, Bell Western Canada. “That’s why Bell is proud to continue supporting Chill. We know that our $150,000 funding commitment helps to ensure that local youth have access to program resources and community mentors, planting the seeds for them to become local leaders themselves one day.”
The 2007 Chill program will run Saturday and Sunday for a complete six-week program. 2010 Legacies Now worked with youth agencies in Prince George, including North Central Family Resources, Eagle's Nest and Intersect Youth and Family Services, to identify 50 youth they feel can most benefit from the Chill experience.
“The skills that the participating youth will learn from this program will help them to deal with future challenges in their lives,” said Prince George-Omineca MLA John Rustad. “It will also encourage the participants to be physically active by getting them out onto the slopes.”
Chill participants from 2006 will be returning this season in the role of Peer Chaperone where they are taught leadership skills by helping the new Chill participants get adjusted to the program and sharing their Chill experience and knowledge of snowboarding.
Several organizations are supporting the Prince George Chill program in Prince George, including Burton which provides the snowboarding equipment; Tabor Mountain which supplies lift passes, instructors and access to the mountain’s facilities; Schenker which facilitates shipping and customs clearance; Diversified Transportation provides program transportation and the City of Prince George provides program support.
About 2010 Legacies Now
2010 Legacies Now is a not-for-profit society that works in partnership with community organizations, non- government organizations (NGOs), the private sector and all levels of government to develop sustainable legacies in sport & recreation, arts, literacy, and volunteerism. 2010 Legacies Now actively assists communities discover and create unique and inclusive social and economic opportunities leading up to, and beyond the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. For more information, please visit www.2010LegaciesNow.com.
About Bell Canada
Bell Canada is Canada’s national leader in communications with 28 million customer connections across the country. The company provides consumers with simple solutions to all their communications needs, including telephone services, wireless communications, high-speed Internet, digital television and voice over IP. Bell also offers integrated information and communications technology (ICT) services to businesses and governments, and is the Virtual Chief Information Officer (VCIO) to small and medium businesses (SMBs). Bell is proud to be a Premier National Partner and exclusive Telecommunications Partner to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. For information on Bell’s products and services, please visit www.bell.ca, and for corporate information on BCE, please visit www.bce.ca.
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Media Contacts:
Ian Buckley
2010 Legacies Now
778.840.5155
Linda Low
Bell Canada
604.678.7509
