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Home > ABOUT US > Archive News and Events > Pacific Sport Institute Receives First Major Local Donation (',March 7, 2006)
Pacific Sport Institute Receives First Major Local Donation (',March 7, 2006)
Thursday, 15 March 2007 16:38
March 7, 2006

Pacific Sport Institute Receives First Major Local Donation
Community Leader, Thrifty Foods, Invests $1 Million in Capital Campaign

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.
The project’s first phase, which includes a multi-court gymnasium, sport science and sport medicine facilities, fitness and strength training areas, classrooms and ancillary space and a lit, all-weather playing field will cost $36 million.  The facilities will be located at the Interurban campus of the Camosun College. While the intent is to have the Institute operational by the Spring of 2008, athletes, coaches and full-time human performance specialists at the Pacific Sport Institute’s Sport Innovation Centre are already working closely with Vancouver Island hi-tech companies, academics, technologists, engineers, computer experts and trades people to provide innovative solutions for sport.  

Additional funding beyond today’s announcement, the Province of BC’s support of $18.5 million announced in April 2005 and Hbc’s support of $2 million announced in October 2005, is being sought from the federal government. Also, a Capital Campaign Cabinet, co-Chaired by Hbc’s George Heller and Owen Matthews of NewHeights Software, is leading the effort to secure the balance needed from the corporate and philanthropic communities.  The Institute will not require ongoing operating support once it opens its doors – it will be financially self-sustaining.

PacificSport consists of two Canadian Sport Centres (',Victoria and Vancouver) and eight Regional Sport Centres (',Fraser Valley, Interior BC, Okanagan, Northern BC, Sea to Sky, Vancouver, Vancouver Island, and Victoria).  PacificSport fosters a dynamic environment for sport performance at all levels via Three Waves of Excellence - strategic investment in identified sports, a world-class training environment, and quality athlete and coach services – working in partnership with regional, provincial and national sport organizations.

Camosun College is one of the largest comprehensive educational institutions on Vancouver Island, serving more than 19,000 full and part-time learners from its two campuses.  Its over 80 different program offerings lead to applied degrees, associate degrees, diplomas, certificates and trades certification in fields such as business, health and human services, arts and sciences, computer and engineering technologies, apprenticeship and entry level trades training and sport and wellness education.  The College offers over 300 university transfer courses in the arts and sciences and an applied degree program in Business Administration - Accounting.  In addition, Camosun offers a wide range of adult upgrading and college preparatory programming and hundreds of continuing education courses each year.

www.pacificsportinstitute.ca
www.pacificsport.com
www.camosun.ca


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Public Contacts:

Liz Ashton                Roger Skillings
President, Camosun College                   CEO, PacificSport
Tel:  (',250) 370-3409            Tel:  (',250) 744-3583

Media Contacts:
PacificSport
Joanna Fox, Sr. Manager of Communications, T: (',250) 595-1955, C: 882-5426,
E: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Camosun College
Susan Haddon, Director, College & Community Relations T: (',250) 370-4231, C: (',250) 588-9298,
E: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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The Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence is a unique and holistic sport development model that will fuel Canada’s sport performance, build a healthier nation and develop role models to inspire physical literacy. An international forerunner bringing sport education and athlete development under one ‘roof’, it will incorporate sport science, sport technology and innovation, and sport and wellness research. Read more

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