FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THURSDAY AUGUST 12, 2004
PRESS RELEASE
MEMORIAL PROJECT RECEIVES A
BOOST
VICTORIA, BC — Representatives
of the Veterans Memorial
Committee today provided
Victoria City Council with a
report on their progress in
planning and fundraising for the
Memorial Project in the new
multiplex. Committee Chair Jack
Cockrell and co-Chair Al Fleury
confirmed they are within sight
of their fundraising targets for
the installation of a Veterans’
Memorial Wall and sculpture in
the Memorial Lobby.
“The support from the veteran
community and the public here in
Victoria and across Vancouver
Island has been outstanding,”
said Fleury. “Barring any
unforeseen expenditures, we
expect to meet our fundraising
targets.” In addition to the
Memorial Wall, a plaque will be
mounted recognizing the many
donors to the project.
In their presentation, Cockrell
also revealed that the Veterans
have been informed that
Save-On-Foods have made the
decision to add the word
“memorial” to the name of the
multiplex, making it
Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre.
“We’ve been working with the
Veterans and the City over the
past several months on
furthering our partnership for
the benefit of all Victorians,
and our decision to adjust the
name is just one example of this
evolution,” said Jerry Bried,
manager of local marketing for
Save-On-Foods.
“For the veterans and their many
supporters, the inclusion of the
word “Memorial” in the name has
answered the wishes and hopes to
ensure the “memorial” aspects of
the old Memorial Arena live on
in the new complex,” said
Cockrell. “On behalf of the
Veterans Memorial Committee and
those many veterans we
represent, our sincerest thank
you to Save-On-Foods.”
Mayor Alan Lowe also thanked
Save-On-Foods for their generous
and thoughtful gesture.
“Save-On-Foods is well-known for
their support in the communities
they serve, and their commitment
to this project is no exception.
We commend them for making this
adjustment to the name – it
further highlights the
recognition of the sacrifices
our veterans have made for us,
and the name change will be
welcomed by veterans and the
public alike.”BACKGROUND
The Veterans Memorial Project
has been a major initiative of
Victoria’s veterans community to
plan, fund raise and promote a
significant commemoration of the
sacrifices of Canada’s military
personnel in the lobby of the
new multiplex. The project
consists of a Memorial Wall and
a sculpture by renowned local
sculptor Maarten Schaddelee.
The Memorial Wall is a curved
concrete wall clad in marble, 33
ft. long and 12 ft. high. It is
highlighted by five white marble
plaques honouring Canadian
veterans’ contributions to four
major conflicts and peacekeeping
operations. It can be viewed at:
http://www.city.victoria.bc.ca/cityhall/currentprojects_multipurpose_vetmem.shtml
The Maarten Schaddelee
sculpture, entitled “When Peace
Comes” is a monument of
gratitude for Canadian Forces,
Liberators, and Peacekeepers.
Created from Vancouver Island
marble, it depicts very powerful
symbols of transition and
transformation. A hand and a
sword represent the foe and the
“Peace Comes”, represented by
the dove, are the Canadian
soldiers who liberated Holland
by offering their lives for the
freedom of the Dutch people. The
sculpture and more on the
artist’s vision can be found at:
http://www.maarnada.ca/gardengallery.html
The new logo for the
Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre
can also be found at:
http://www.city.victoria.bc.ca/cityhall/currentprojects_multipurpose.shtml
-----
For More Information:
Mayor Alan Lowe
City of Victoria
250-361-0200
Media Relations
Save-On-Foods
604-888-2079 ext. 2200
Jack Cockrell
Chair, Veterans Memorial
Committee
250-478-6033
-----
With head office in Vancouver,
RG Arenas is a division of RG
Properties. RG Arenas manage
and/or own facilities in Kelowna,
Greater Vancouver and Victoria,
British Columbia
For more information contact:
Ken Noakes
Victoria Salmon
Kings/Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre
Phone: (250) 220-7889
Email:
ken.noakes@saveonfoodsmemorialcentre.com
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