BC Ferries and ViaSport announce renewed partnership to help minimize travel costs for BC athletes
Jun 18, 2014
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 18, 2014
BC Ferries and viaSport announce renewed partnership to help minimize travel costs for BC athletes
Event attendance more affordable for sport teams through travel grant initiative
Vancouver, BC – viaSport British Columbia is proud to announce a renewed partnership with BC Ferries in the effort to make travel to and from sport events more affordable for athletes and families.
The BC Ferries Sport Experience Program was developed to provide travel support to not-for-profit sport organizations by assisting with ferry costs for athletes attending competitions and selection camps. Eligible applicants can apply for ferry vouchers online and are selected on a rolling year-round intake, based on criteria outlined in grant guidelines as determined by both BC Ferries and viaSport.
“We recognize that playing organized sport, especially when competing at a higher level, can often become expensive for teams and families,” says Cathy Priestner Allinger, viaSport CEO. “With our partners, viaSport is always looking for ways to help reduce barriers to sport participation. We are thrilled to have BC Ferries’ continued support in helping us achieve this.”
Through their Sport Experience Program, BC Ferries is providing up to $100,000 annually in the form of in-kind travel to this initiative, affecting thousands of sport participants across the province every year since the program’s inception. Demand for this program remains steady, with 2013 seeing 3,790 participants supported from 47 different sports, reaching 68 communities.
“BC Ferries is proud of its association with viaSport, which enables us to help kids participate in organized championship sporting events,” said Janet Carson, BC Ferries’ Vice President of Marketing and Travel Services.
For more information on the BC Ferries Sport Experience Program including grant guidelines, eligibility criteria and to apply online, visit the viaSport website. Applications are currently being accepted for trips scheduled through to March 31, 2015, and must be submitted at least 12 business days before the first day of travel in order to be considered.
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Learn more:
- viaSport Grant Guidelines and application process: http://www.bcferries.com/about/community/sports/ViaSport.html
- BC Ferries Sport Experience: http://www.bcferries.com/about/community/sports/ViaSport.html
About viaSport British Columbia:
viaSport British Columbia is a not-for-profit organization established in 2011, responsible for providing strategic leadership to sport in BC in order to increase levels of physical activity at every stage of life, in every community. Formed in partnership with the provincial sport sector and the Province of BC, viaSport – along with BC sport partners – is shaping a new, more effective model for sport delivery and fund administration which drives increased participation, powers sport excellence and better unifies all sport throughout the province.
About BC Ferries:
Under contract to the Province of British Columbia, BC Ferries is the service provider responsible for the delivery of safe, efficient and dependable ferry service along coastal British Columbia. BC Ferries is one of the largest ferry operators in the world, providing year-round vehicle and passenger service on 24 routes to 47 terminals, with a fleet of 35 vessels. The company is an essential transportation link that connects coastal communities and facilitates the movement of people, goods and services.
In fiscal 2014, BC Ferries carried 19.7 million passengers and 7.6 million vehicles throughout coastal British Columbia.
For more information please contact:
Amanda Brkich, Manager, Communications
778 331-8657
amandab@viasport.ca
Deborah Marshall
Executive Director, Public Affairs, BC Ferries
250 978-1267
deborah.marshall@bcferries.com
