Victoria, BC - The Pacific Sport Institute at Camosun College is very pleased to announce the first major local contribution to its capital campaign - a $1 million investment from Thrifty Foods - bringing the innovative project one step closer to the $36 million goal.

The Pacific Sport Institute (',PSI), a partnership initiative of PacificSport Victoria and Camosun College, is a visionary nexus of sport science and sport medicine expertise, educational programming in sport leadership, coaching science, athlete and coach development, health and wellness; and sport and training facilities within a single centre in Victoria. And with a major focus on sport technology and innovation, the Institute is aimed to play a key role in athlete performance at the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Beijing and podium performances by 2010 and 2012.

"We have just witnessed unprecedented success by Canadian Olympians in Torino from athletes who benefit from a world-class facility that is a legacy from the 1988 Calgary Olympic Winter Games, the Calgary Oval," said Roger Skillings, President and CEO of PacificSport Victoria. "And we may very well see unprecedented success at the upcoming 2006 Commonwealth Games, from the divers, triathletes and swimmers who train at Saanich Commonwealth Place, a legacy of the 1994 Commonwealth Games. Today's contribution by Thrifty Foods will help build a facility that is a legacy for the future for performance athletes and, like Saanich Commonwealth Place, the greater community."

Camosun College President Liz Ashton says that "involvement from community leaders like Thrifty Foods is particularly valued as they are very interested in the physical building of the Pacific Sport Institute as well as in the programs that are being developed such as a diploma program in Exercise and Wellness which starts this September. They are committed to the overall vision for the Institute and want to be a long-term partner."

"We are proud to be an important partner in such an exciting and worthwhile undertaking," says Thrifty Foods CEO Milford Sorensen, "and we look forward to playing a vital role in the way in which the Pacific Sport Institute will provide state-of-the-art facilities - not only for elite athletes but also for community sports groups, teams and individuals."

Sorensen adds that, as a company that has always given back to the communities in which it does business, Thrifty Foods is particularly drawn to the concept of the Pacific Sport Institute as a national center of excellence with local and community ties.

"This balance between delivering programs and services for Canadian athletes and coaches at the national level and the development of a world-class facility available for use within this community is a balance that resonates with Thrifty Foods," he added.