March 8, 2010
March marks success for Canada's Tournament Capital
Kamloops, B.C. - The beginning of March has been a celebratory one for Canada's Tournament Capital with the success of the 2010 World Masters Indoor Championships and the recent announcement of the City winning the 2009 WinterLights Celebration award in the over 50,000 population category.
The 2010 World Masters Indoor Championships came to a close this past Saturday after six straight days of competition at the Tournament Capital Centre. Overall, Canada placed second in the medal count with a total of 281 medals, including the two silver medals earned by the City's Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Director, Byron McCorkell and Carolynn Boomer with PacificSport.
The 1,400 athletes who participated in the World Masters Championships have been an inspiration to our city with courage to compete and commitment to live active, healthy lifestyles. The athletes were extremely impressed with the venues, hospitality and organization of this year's World Masters, with some athletes commenting that this has been the best World Masters experience they've had. The City would like to congratulate the efforts of the World Masters Championship Board co-chaired by Bob Cowden and Judy Armstrong.
To review the full event results, visit www.kamloops2010masters.com.
On Saturday, March 6, 2010 the City was honoured with the 2009 WinterLights Celebration award during the annual WinterLights Celebrations Symposium and Awards Ceremony, held in the City of Charlottetown in Prince Edward Island. The City won in the over 50,000 population category, receiving a 5 Star rating and a special mention for the Spirit of Christmas with the Kamloops Heritage Railway.
Now into its ninth edition, WinterLights Celebrations is the winter edition of the popular Communities in Bloom program. During the months of November and December, trained volunteer judges evaluated participating communities on the program's five criteria: Visual Presentation, Festive Season Celebrations, Winter Pleasures, Goodwill Programs and Tourism & Promotion. In October 2009, the City was recognized for winning in the 55,001 to 150,000 population category of the National Edition of Communities in Bloom, receiving a 5 Bloom rating and a special mention for the McArthur Island Park and Sports Facilities.
For more information on the WinterLights Celebration, visit www.winterlights.ca.
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Media Contact:
2010 World Masters Indoor Championships
Bob Cowden
Kamloops Co-Chair
250-377-4586
250-319-2908
WinterLights Celebration
Shawn Cook, Parks Operations Supervisor
City of Kamloops
250-828-3695
scook@kamloops.ca
