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Date: Oct 20, 2009

Entry: McCloskey Elementary School is a Healthy Living School and is a member of the Action Schools. This year our healthy living committee is being replaced by the Olympic Events Committee. This committee is made up of five teachers who will be planning events for the year. The Olympic theme was our entry theme for the school year and students and teachers were encouraged to "be and do their best and go for the gold." We are excited to be part of the Spirit School Program and would like to have an athlete visit our school.

Date: Oct 20, 2009

Entry: McCloskey Elementary School is a Healthy Living School and is a member of the Action Schools. This year our healthy living committee is being replaced by the Olympic Events Committee. This committee...more

Date: Mar 11, 2009

Entry: I found myself volunteering for a committee I knew very little about and one to which I thought I had no real connection but I learned that through my membership in the Kiwanis Club of Tsawwassen – Ladner, I could provide a valuable role by creating an award for an aspiring athlete with Olympic ambitions.
I learned that until an athlete is “carded” that it is very difficult to pay all the training and equipment costs connected with the individual's sport. By offering a yearly award to an outstanding althete we as a service club are able to inspire them to continue in their training even after finishing school when a choice very often has to be made as to continuing education or work. Many athletes cannot afford to keep up with their passions or are not allowed the time to do so.
The Kiwanis Club of Tsawwassen – Ladner has now presented the “Kiwanis Delta Memorial Sports Award” to 5 athletes in a variety of disciplines including field hockey, baseball, ice hockey, fencing and waterpolo. The award is offered to all Delta residents who fit the criteria as created by the local Spirit of B.C. Committee and Kiwanis in partnership.
We look forward to continuing this tradition beyond 2010.

Supporting our amatuer athletes

Date: Mar 11, 2009

Entry: Delta Rivermania turned out to be a wonderful partnership with the Spirit of B.C/2010 Legacies Now and the community, business and volunteer relationships that were formed as a result. Over the course of one and a half years the Delta Spirit committee recruited and partnered with over 40 organizations
The idea started out innocently when the idea of having a celebration of the 200th anniversary of Simon Fraser’s river explorations was proposed to communities from Prince George down to Richmond.
This unprecedented collaboration not only “Re-created History but created it at the same time”. The Tsawwassen First Nations had never in their history “partnered” with the local community on such an endeavor. They appreciated being involved from the start instead of getting a last minute call to show up somewhere. Their partnership turned out to be the focal point of the entire celebration when we discovered that exactly 150 years ago the Tsawwassen First Nations guided the Ladner Brothers into Delta – which lead to their settlement – How serendipitous that it was B.C’s 150th as well! We held a “symbolic historical reenactment” which turned out to be an emotional and healing element to the festivities. Descendents of the Ladner brothers were found and rode in the “Eagle Spirit Canoe” followed by a flotilla parade. Elders talked about this event being the road that brings us closer together not that divides us. A joint Mosaic Grant was received to help with the funding of this partnership.
The impact of Delta Rivermania is multi leveled. For example:
The School Board was a welcomed partner hosting a district wide essay writing contest for all Grade 5’s. The Klondike studies are part of the B.C curriculum and thus a perfect fit. The students were to pick a local historical figure and “become” that person and tell a story using fact & fiction. The newspaper co-sponsored the event and the winners were awarded donated prizes at our Canada Day celebrations. One entire day at Deas Island of celebration & education was dedicated to 450 grade 5 students. Metro Vancouver hosted the live theatrical interactive production, “Voices of the Fraser”. The children heard about Mr. Deas, a freed black slave who worked with the First Nations and Chinese immigrants to develop one of the largest Canneries on the river. They toured an actual historical school house and got a taste of teaching in the 1800’s.
A strong partnership was formed with all members of the Ladner Business Association. A website was set up for Rivermania . A float was designed and built to participate in 3 parades. A Moonlight Market with 144 artisans, downtown merchants and two live bands were organized. A Chowder cook off was included in the Super Saturday’s festivities. Six local restaurants entered their Chef’s and their “live” creations which the Mayor judged & also the “People’s Choice” was awarded.
The Municipality was a significant partner contributing a large Show stage for the entertainment, engineering for the street closures, police for security and Parks & Recreation for help in event planning.
Sponsorship was given by the Port, Ferries, Metro Vancouver, School Board, Media- Newspaper, and Radio & Cable, Service groups, all levels of government, all local business associations throughout Delta as well as countless volunteer hours.
The Delta Arts Council provided their expertise to recruit and present period specific talent to fill two show stages for day long performances. Klondike Kate, Yukon Dan, Bands, performers, singers, dancers, skippers, jugglers, and buskers were among the many artists featured – Fun for everyone.
Spirit of B.C. through Legacies Now spearheaded the entire provincial project and gave support to us via meetings at Summit gatherings. Staff was most helpful and the extra funds distributed for us to use was greatly appreciated for promotion throughout the lower mainland. The concept of a shared celebration connecting the Spirit Committee’s was a great one. It was helpful to network with our “sister” Spirit committees with resources and ideas.
The impact of this B.C. 150th celebration was beyond our expectations and will surely leave a legacy we can all be proud of.

Delta Rivermania 2008 - not only reliving history but making history.

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