April 2007 Events

WORLD'S FIRST HYDROGEN BUS FLEET ONE STEP CLOSER

VANCOUVER — The Province is a step closer to deploying the world's first fleet of hydrogen buses with $45 million that will go toward the production of 20 buses and development of hydrogen fuelling stations in Whistler and Victoria, Premier Gordon Campbell announced today at the Hydrogen and Fuel Cells 2007 international conference and trade show in Vancouver.

NEW UBCM MUNICIPAL HOUSE ONE STEP CLOSER TO REALITY

GOLDEN — The Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) is a step closer to having a new, permanent, environmentally friendly home in B.C.'s capital following the transfer of the land titles to a property located near the parliament buildings in Victoria, Premier Gordon Campbell announced today.

VISITING KICKING HORSE CANYON

Premier Campbell stopped by the Kicking Horse Canyon project on April 26th. The project involves upgrading approximately 26 kilometres of the Trans-Canada Highway from the junction of Highway 95 in Golden to the western boundary of Yoho National Park to a modern four lane standard, including bridge replacements.

45 CITIZENS RECEIVE BC COMMUNITY ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

VICTORIA — Forty-five British Columbians representing 25 communities throughout the province were honoured today at the fourth annual BC Community Achievement Awards ceremony held at Government House in Victoria.

B.C. JOINS WESTERN REGIONAL CLIMATE ACTION INITIATIVE

VICTORIA — British Columbia has joined with five western U.S. states to partner in the new Western Regional Climate Action Initiative (WRCAI), Premier Gordon Campbell announced today.

STRATEGY TO IMPROVE ABORIGINAL ACCESS, ACHIEVEMENT

VICTORIA — The Province has launched a new $65-million Aboriginal post-secondary strategy to help Aboriginal students to start, stay in and succeed in post-secondary education and training, Premier Gordon Campbell announced today.

PREMIER HOSTS CONGRESS ON WOMEN'S SAFETY

VANCOUVER — Premier Gordon Campbell is hosting British Columbia's first Congress on Women's Safety in Vancouver today with Community Services Minister Ida Chong and Attorney General Wally Oppal, bringing together experts in the field to discuss the issue of violence against women.

CELEBRATING EARTH DAY

April 22nd is Earth Day! It's a great time to remember that British Columbians live in one of the most spectacular natural landscapes on earth. Premier Gordon Campbell talks about how the Province is working hard to protect and preserve our environment, but it's up to all of us to do our part to combat climate change. By working together we can lead the world in environmental stewardship.

FLOOD MITIGATION WORKS ON TRACK FOR MAY COMPLETION

VICTORIA — Eighty-seven flood protection projects are on track to be completed by mid-May in communities across B.C. with $33 million in provincial funding for flood mitigation now allocated, Premier Gordon Campbell announced today.

PREMIER HONOURS QUEEN'S 81ST BIRTHDAY

VICTORIA — Premier Gordon Campbell released the following statement today in recognizing the 81st birthday of Her Majesty The Queen on April 21.

KWANTLEN TRADES CAMPUS TO TRAIN SKILLED WORKERS

CLOVERDALE — Premier Gordon Campbell officially opened the new Kwantlen University College Trades and Technology Centre today, which will provide leading-edge trades and technology training for more than 900 students in an environmentally friendly building.

PREMIER CAMPBELL MEETS AMBASSADORS TO DISCUSS CANADA'S PACIFIC GATEWAY

INTEGRATED ADDICTIONS RECOVERY CENTRE OPENS IN SURREY

SURREY — Federal, provincial and community partners gathered today to celebrate the official opening of the Phoenix Centre, a $10.9-million integrated addictions services centre offering a continuum of supports for individuals recovering from addictions and mental illness.

NOAH RICHLER WINS B.C. AWARD FOR CANADIAN NON-FICTION

VANCOUVER — Noah Richler has claimed one of Canada's largest literary prizes — the British Columbia Award for Canadian Non-Fiction — for his literary atlas of Canada, This Is My Country, What's Yours?

PREMIER MEETS WITH ASEAN DELEGATION TO PROMOTE B.C.

VICTORIA — B.C.'s role as Canada's Pacific Gateway and host of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games will lead the items for discussion during meetings with the B.C. Consular Corps and The Association of …

PREMIER CAMPBELL AND THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR HOST B.C. CONSULAR CORPS

RESOURCE AGREEMENTS BUILD CERTAINTY IN THE NORTHEAST

VICTORIA — The Province and Blueberry River First Nations (BRFN) have achieved four long-term agreements that establish ways to work together and support economic certainty for the resource industry in B.C.'s northeast region, announced Premier Gordon Campbell today.

PREMIER HONOURS SURVIVORS ON HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL DAY

VICTORIA — Premier Gordon Campbell was joined by over 60 Holocaust survivors in a ceremony at the legislature today to mark Yom Ha'Shoah or Holocaust Memorial Day in remembrance of the more than six million victims of the Holocaust.

PREMIER GORDON CAMPBELL SPOKE AT THE 23RD ANNUAL VANCOUVER SUN RUN

FUNDING GIVES NEW LIFE TO HISTORIC KINSOL TRESTLE

VICTORIA — Canada's longest wooden trestle, the historic Kinsol wooden railway structure, will be replaced by a new structure that is safe for pedestrians and cyclists to enjoy, as a result of more than $1.6 million in provincial LocalMotion funding, Premier Gordon Campbell announced.

PREMIER EXTENDS VAISAKHI HOLIDAY WISHES TO B.C.

VANCOUVER — Premier Gordon Campbell released the following statement today wishing British Columbia's Indo-Canadian community a happy Vaisakhi. The spring holiday historically was a harvest festival celebrating the Sikh New Year and is recognized both as the Sikh solar New Year and as the day Guru Gobind Singh Ji created the Khalsa to formalize the Sikh identity and protect their principles of humanity, equality and justice.

FOREST MARKETING BOOSTED BY $11.5 MILLION

PRINCE GEORGE — A record $11.5 million of provincial funding is being invested this year in marketing initiatives to maintain British Columbia's position as a world leader in forest product exports, Premier Gordon Campbell announced today at the annual meeting of the Council of Forest Industries (COFI).

PREMIER BETS GOVERNOR ON CANUCKS FIRST-ROUND VICTORY

VANCOUVER — Premier Gordon Campbell said today he will be cheering for the Vancouver Canucks as they face the Dallas Stars in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs and has bet Texas Governor Rick Perry 20.10 lbs. of B.C. beef that the Canucks will advance.

PREMIER UNVEILS NEW 2010 LICENCE PLATE

PREMIER ANNOUNCES $9.5M FOR FIRST NATIONS HEALTH

VANCOUVER — The Province has appointed Dr. Evan Adams as its first-ever Aboriginal Health Physician Advisor and is also providing $9.5 million to the First Nations Leadership Council to improve First Nations health, Premier Gordon Campbell announced today at the opening of the First Nations Health Forum.

PROVINCE PROCLAIMS VIMY RIDGE DAY IN B.C.

VICTORIA — The provincial government has proclaimed April 9, 2007 Vimy Ridge Day in B.C. in recognition of the 90th anniversary of the start of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, Premier Gordon Campbell announced today.

CANADA LINE REACHES LANDMARK BREAKTHROUGH

VANCOUVER — Canada Line's tunnel boring machine (TBM) achieved a milestone today when it broke through the ground north of Pender Street at Granville, the future site of the Canada Line Waterfront Station.

PREMIER CAMPBELL CELEBRATES VAISAKHI FESTIVITIES IN SURREY

B.C. SEEKS NATIONAL LITERACY AWARD NOMINATIONS

VICTORIA — British Columbia is calling for nominations for the Council of the Federation Literacy Award. The award honours a person or group in each of Canada's 13 provinces and territories whose accomplishments have shaped the landscape of literacy.

AWARDS CELEBRATE B.C. LEADERS IN STYLE AND FUNCTION

VANCOUVER — Style and function are the focus for the five talented British Columbians named today as recipients of the 2007 BC Creative Achievement Awards by Premier Gordon Campbell and Keith Mitchell, chair of the British Columbia Achievement Foundation.

PREMIER ANNOUNCES FUNDS FOR ISLAND ECONOMIC ALLIANCE

NANAIMO — The Province is providing an additional $150,000 to support the work of the Vancouver Island Economic Alliance (VIEA) in fostering business investment and job creation on the Island, Premier Gordon Campbell announced today at a summit of regional business and community leaders.

PROVINCE TO PROTECT 996 AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS

VANCOUVER — The Province is funding 996 more units of supportive housing to reduce homelessness, Premier Gordon Campbell announced today.

FIRST-EVER STUDENT CONGRESS TO PROMOTE YOUTH LEADERSHIP

VANCOUVER — Premier Gordon Campbell and Education Minister Shirley Bond will join 120 students from public, independent and First Nations band schools around British Columbia today for the first-ever student congress.

SCHOLARSHIPS SUPPORT OVERSEAS LEARNING FOR STUDENTS

VANCOUVER — B.C.'s public post-secondary students will have a greater opportunity to enhance their education by studying overseas thanks to two new scholarships, Premier Gordon Campbell announced today at B.C.'s first ever student congress.

GOVERNMENT GRANT SUPPORTS HISTORIC SIKH TEMPLE

ABBOTSFORD — A community gaming grant of $25,000 has been provided to the Abbotsford Khalsa Diwan Heritage Society for a recently completed public square at the Abbotsford Sikh Heritage Temple, Premier Gordon Campbell announced today at the re-opening of the historic temple.