The B.C. 55-Plus Games are coming to Nanaimo next year and preparations have already started with the appointments of two key leadership positions.
Diana Johnstone has accepted the role as president and Mary Smith as vice-president to lead the formation of a board of directors. Both are volunteer positions appointed by Nanaimo city council.
The first tasks for Johnstone and Smith will be to oversee the establishment of a nomination committee which will assemble an 11-member board of directors. The team will lead the planning and implementation of the Nanaimo games.
Johnstone has been involved with several provincial-level sporting events hosted in Nanaimo, including the B.C. Summer Games in 1985, 2002 and 2014, the B.C. Disability Games in 1987 and 2005 and the B.C. Seniors Games in 2007. Johnstone was a two-term city councillor and was presented with Freedom of the City in 2014.
Smith was involved with the last two B.C. Summer Games events in Nanaimo, as city staff liaison in 2002 and then as a volunteer in 2014. She retired after a 34-year career with the city香蕉视频直播檚 parks, recreation and culture department.
The B.C. 55-Plus Games, which will be held Sept. 9-13, 2025, will encompass more than two dozen sports plus cultural and social opportunities, and could draw up to 4,000 participants as well as coaches, officials and spectators.
香蕉视频直播淭his is just the beginning香蕉视频直播ο憬妒悠抵辈 Johnstone said. 香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檒l put together a strong team to co-ordinate the activities and we香蕉视频直播檙e really looking forward to it. It香蕉视频直播檚 an amazing event for the city.香蕉视频直播�
Nanaimo already has a lot of the necessary venues needed to host the games.
香蕉视频直播淥bviously, the City of Nanaimo is a partner in this with us and so we香蕉视频直播檒l have access to parks and recreation facilities for much of the sports and activities,香蕉视频直播� Smith said. 香蕉视频直播淚n addition to that, though, there are other sports and we have already, in the bidding process, gone out to some of those facility operators and gotten their support. In past years, we香蕉视频直播檝e used private facilities for some of the sports.香蕉视频直播�
Johnstone described the games as 香蕉视频直播渞eally a mid Island regional event香蕉视频直播� and so Nanaimo may consider venues in Ladysmith and Parksville as well.
To support the games, the building that used to be the visitor infocentre, at the Nanaimo Parkway and Northfield Road, will be re-purposed as the B.C. 55-Plus Games organizing committee headquarters.
Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog, in a press release, said the city is thrilled that Johnstone and Smith will be able to bring so much passion and experience to the games leadership.
香蕉视频直播淭hese games will showcase our exceptional sport hosting facilities and the welcoming nature of Nanaimo,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淚 am confident in their leadership as we develop an unforgettable experience for athletes, officials and spectators alike. Let the planning begin.香蕉视频直播�
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