EDITORIAL: Mission readying to host athletes

To help make the event a success, volunteer your time

In slightly less than one year, the opening ceremonies for the 2014 B.C. Winter Games will take place in Mission, the chosen host city.

A ceremony Tuesday morning marked the one-year countdown with the unveiling of a specially designed clock which will be mounted in the Leisure Centre lobby.

The original announcement of Mission’s successful bid was made in 2009, and work began in earnest last year. A board of directors has been chosen, led by Brian Antonson, and the ramp-up now begins to secure the estimated 2,000-plus volunteers who will be required to make these games happen.

Mission is fortunate to have landed this opportunity, and thanks go to the council and municipal staff of the day for their efforts in making it happen.

But now the difficult work begins, and as a community, we should all do what we can to ensure these games become the most successful in BC Games history. This type of widespread exposure is good for the municipality as a whole.

No matter what your personal area of expertise, there is likely a niche that needs to be filled, whether it be transportation, accommodations, communications, etc. Everyone can have a role to play, and we encourage you to find yours.

To volunteer, call the Chamber of Commerce at 604-826-6914 or come out to the Community Service Awards April 27 at the Leisure Centre. Also, visit bcgames.org after April to sign up online.

Mission City Record