NEWS RELEASE

March 14, 2008
Office of the Premier
Ministry of Community Services         

$500,000 FOR SPIRIT SQUARE AT PITT MEADOWS CITY HALL

  PITT MEADOWS - The grounds of Pitt Meadows's City Hall will be transformed into a B.C. Spirit Square for the community, thanks to $500,000 from the provincial government, Premier Gordon Campbell announced today. 

"This square will ignite community spirit and pride, showcasing the history and heritage of Pitt Meadows, including its First Nations past, and the diversity of the community today," said Campbell. "This Spirit Square will stand as a proud reminder of our 150th anniversary of the founding of the Crown Colony of British Columbia, and as a memorial to the sacrifices and courage of the veterans of this community. I congratulate Mayor Don MacLean and the entire community for having the vision to move this project forward."

The Pitt Meadows Spirit Square will provide a public celebration space on the grounds of City Hall . The site is adjacent to a series of civic buildings, including the public library, a family resource centre, a seniors' recreation centre and schools. The funding will see the expansion of the cenotaph area with additional surfaces to accommodate wheelchairs and walkers and will incorporate public art, a small stage area, pedestrian pathways, landscaping and features that celebrate the community's history.

"We've been working with the representatives of the Royal Canadian Legion for the last two years in an effort to improve the cenotaph site," said Pitt Meadows Mayor Don MacLean. "We're very pleased that this funding will not only provide improved access to the cenotaph for veterans, seniors and the general public but will also create a Spirit Square in the heart of our community for year-round use."

This is the second Spirit Square in the Ridge Meadows area. Last summer, the District of Maple Ridge received $500,000 to develop a Spirit Square in Memorial Peace Park.

The $20-million B.C. Spirit Square program is helping to create or improve outdoor public meeting/celebration spaces, based on 50/50 cost-sharing with local governments, to a maximum provincial contribution of $500,000. For more information about the B.C. Spirit Squares program, please visit www.spiritsquares.gov.bc.ca.

This year, B.C. will celebrate BC150, the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Crown Colony of British Columbia in 1858.   Every community in the province is invited to participate in this year-long celebration of B.C.'s cultural diversity, community strength and achievement. For more information about BC150, visit http://www.bc150.ca/.

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