New to the Anniversary Celebration List – BC 2008 Rivermania

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – June, 2007 – Festivity planning is in full swing as British Columbia gears up to celebrate its 150th year, and details have just been released on the year's not-to-be-missed event - BC 2008 Rivermania. The celebrations will begin in Prince George on August 24, and will follow the Fraser River to its end on BC River's Day in Steveston (Richmond) on September 28, 2008. BC 2008 Rivermania is designed as a symbolic journey to mark the 200th anniversary of Simon Fraser's exploration of the Fraser River, and will celebrate all Peoples who have contributed to the economic growth of the region.

Participants will have the opportunity to ride segments of the Fraser River along with a flotilla of boats as part of the great explorer's journey. Communities along the river route have festivities planned including overnight stays, activities, and excursions for visitors.
 
Using a community celebration and reconciliation focus, BC 2008 Rivermania is designed to spotlight the Fraser River as the cradle of British Columbia and the Peoples along the river as the creators of the history and culture of British Columbia. BC 2008 Rivermania is a symbolic trip down the river, which will initiate local celebrations created by a local community volunteer group under the leadership of their Spirit of BC Committee.
 
Georgia Katz, the project coordinator, explains the ideals behind the event "Just imagine, long ago in Lillooet, native women sitting alongside riverbeds lined with drying salmon and weaving baskets for their communities, while the men worked on building canoes for fishing and travel. Isn't this a wonderful legacy to share with future generations?"  She adds, "Of course, we want to bring these feelings of community back, in addition to taking in the spectacular scenery and enjoying a fantastic party!"
 
River communities will host major local celebrations and festivals spotlighting their unique character. For example, at Mission where the river is calmer, the fleet will form a water parade consisting of a wide variety of boats with canoes and other non-powered boats leading the procession followed by power rafts, fishing boats, tugboats and vintage vessels. Community Celebrations will include both Aboriginal and non-native community members who will work together to honour the heritage of Fraser River and the culture of its Peoples.
 
Using the infrastructure created in 2008, BC 2008 Rivermania legacy events will be repeated in 2010 and the subsequent alternating years, with individual segment likely to be offered every year.
 
Participating communities of BC 2008 Rivermania include Prince George, Quesnel, Soda Creek/Williams Lake, Lillooet, Lytton, the Hope region, Mission, Harrison Hot Springs, Agassiz, Sto'lo, Abbotsford, Fort Langley, Surrey, New Westminster, Delta/Tsawwassen, and Steveston in Richmond.
 
For more information on BC 2008 Rivermania please email fraser2008@vcmbc.com
 
Vancouver, Coast & Mountains, Cariboo Chilcotin Coast, and Northern BC are three of six tourism regions of Super, Natural British Columbia. Visit www.vcmbc.com, www.landwithoutlimits.com or www.nbctourism.com for more information on these regions.

June 6, 2007   Posted in: Canada