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Tourism, Culture and Recreation
March 11, 2010

Minister to Co-host Atlantic Canadian Athletes at
Paralympic Winter Games Event in Whistler, B.C.

The Honourable Terry French, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, will co-host a luncheon for Atlantic Canadian athletes and their families in Whistler, B.C. on Tuesday March 16, as part of activities around the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games, to be held March 12-21.

Minister French will be joined by the Honourable Graydon Nicholas, Lieutenant-Governor of New Brunswick; and the Honourable Robert Vessey, Minister of Tourism and Culture for Prince Edward Island. The event will be held in the Emerald Ballroom at the Westin Resort and Spa in Whistler, beginning at 11:00 a.m. (PST)

"We are pleased to help celebrate the presence of Atlantic Canadian athletes at the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games," said Minister French. "The achievements of these athletes inspire us, and remind us that if we pursue our dreams – no matter what the obstacles – there is no limit to what we can accomplish."

Tuesday's luncheon will be emceed by interviewer, performer, songwriter and video director Matt Wells, a native of Mount Pearl, and a host of MuchMore Music. The event will also feature Newfoundland and Labrador entertainer Terry Kelly as a guest speaker.

Meanwhile, Minister French said that with the success and popularity of Atlantic Canada House during the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, the pavilion has now moved to Whistler for three days (March 15-17) of business networking, food-tasting and entertainment during the Paralympic Games. Activities will culminate in a St. Patrick's Day showcase of tourism opportunities, culture, music and cuisine designed to further highlight Atlantic Canada both nationally and internationally.

Atlantic Canada House will be located at The Longhorn in Whistler. Situated at the bottom of the Whistler and Blackcomb Mountain gondolas, The Longhorn is central to activities taking place both on the mountain and in the village. During the day, Atlantic Canada House will provide a culinary experience that includes a variety of dishes from the provinces. In the evenings, there will be entertainment featuring a number of musicians from the East Coast, including Newfoundland and Labrador musical group The Navigators.

Minister French noted that Newfoundland and Labrador is also showing its support for the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games with a presence at the medal ceremonies, and various promotional activities taking place at Paralympic venues and throughout the athletes' village.

Atlantic Canada House is a pan-Atlantic partnership which includes the Government of Canada, represented by ACOA, and the Governments of Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island. Each province has contributed $65,000 to the partnership, for a total of $230,000, with ACOA providing a matching grant.

This is the first time the Paralympic Winter Games are being held in Canada. State-of-the-art sporting venues in Whistler and Vancouver will host 1,350 athletes and team officials from 44 countries competing in five sports: alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, ice sledge hockey, wheelchair curling, and biathlon. For more information on Atlantic Canada House activities during the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games in Whistler, visit: www.atlanticcanadahouse.com.

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Media contact:

Heather May
Director of Communications
Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation
709-729-0928, 697-5061
heathermay@gov.nl.ca

2010 03 11                               10:35 a.m.
 


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