The District of Sechelt was among six communities recognized for their Olympic spirit with a presentation from the Ministry of Forests and Range.
Minister Pat Bell presented shadow boxes to Sechelt Mayor Darren Inkster and the mayors of Fort St. James, Powell River, Kamloops, Prince George and Revelstoke during the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) conference in Whistler last week. The communities were recognized because they donated wood that was used to build podiums at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. Sechelt's donation came from its community forest.
"The memory of athletes competing and reaching the podium at the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games is an ongoing source of inspiration for millions worldwide," Bell said. "But residents of many B.C. communities held a special connection - the podiums were made of wood grown and harvested by their neighbours."
Canadian figure skaters Tessa Virtue, Scott Moir and Joannie Rochette received medals on lodgepole pine harvested in Prince George, while Canadian speed skaters Christine Nesbitt, Kristina Groves, Clara Hughes and the men's pursuit team celebrated at the Richmond Oval on Douglas fir from the Powell River community forest.
The mayors were presented with a 76-cm x 76-cm x 10-cm shadow box containing a medal tray identical to the ones used during the Games and a photo of athletes celebrating on top of the podium. The recognition also included a special edition coffee-table book featuring all the podiums, printed specifically to recognize donating licensees, and a letter of thanks from Premier Gordon Campbell.
The Ministry of Forests and Range sourced the wood and co-ordinated the production of 23 podiums used at the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The podiums were made from 18 wood types donated from community forest operators and other forest licensees around the province.
