Kootenay Country will have a spot at the 2010 Olympics trade show with a booth that will showcase the area to the world in Vancouver this February.
After being named the best booth at the Union of British Columbian Municipalities (UBCM) in Vancouver this year and winning the spot at the trade show, the details had to be worked out and representatives had to be sure they could commit to the event financially and with man-power.
Logistics are still being worked out including accommodations, travel expenses and the $2,500 entry fee.
The Columbia Basin Chambers of Commerce, Kootenay Rockies Tourism along with the Columbia Power Corporation (CPC) have showed support and leadership.
“We have notified the people at the Richmond Bowl we will be coming, now it’s just a matter of logistics, but we’re pretty excited,” said Audrey Repin, director of communications and community relations with the Columbia Power Corporation, who played a significant role in the Kootenay country booth success at UBCM.
“There’s details we have to work out but the good news is we are Olympics-bound.”
Repin, Ann Henderson, mayor of Salmo and many other municipal leaders volunteered their time at the booth at UBCM that had gift baskets with many unique handmade goods from the East and West Kootenay.
The booth was organized in partnerships with Regional Districts of Central Kootenay, Kootenay Boundary, and East Kootenay, CPC and the Columbia Basin Trust.
The new committee that will be heading to the Olympics will be led by Kootenay Rockies Tourism and made up from representatives from the three regional districts and chambers of commerce throughout the region.
Branding and messaging to a global audience will be quite the task with less than 70 days to go until the games ignite.
“It’s a tremendous opportunity for our communities to be represented on the global stage,” said Trail city councillor Al Graham.
“People are asking how 2010 will benefit all of B.C., you can’t buy this kind of publicity.”
The booth will be located on B.C. Street in ‘The O Zone’ venue. Situated in the heart of Richmond the 60-acre site will be the largest games celebration venue with up to 15,000 visitors expected per day.
Castlegar News December 01, 2009
