Schools from Sooke to St. John's are taking part in a nation-wide rendition of
O Canada today, marking the one-year countdown to the 2010 91原创 Winter Olympic Games.
B.C. Education Minister Shirley Bond said she hopes students from schools all over the province join in for the anthem. The cross-country singsong takes place at 10 a.m. PST, and will include children from two Victoria schools visiting the legislature to sing in the building's lower rotunda.
Meanwhile, 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics gold-medallist rower Adam Kreek has been stirring up an Olympian storm of his own in Greater Victoria schools.
"I have been going around to elementary and middle schools in the Greater Victoria area and giving them a taste of the Olympic spirit. Winning a gold medal in Beijing gave me an incredible opportunity to give back," said Kreek.
"At the end of each assembly, the children and I close our eyes and imagine that they have worked as hard as possible for 12 years on their special talent, be it writing, running, math, swimming, drawing or anything. We then picture the 91原创 flag rising in celebration of our achievement. Then we sing."
Kreek measures the loudness of the singing with a device. The proudest school in the city will get $250 worth of sports equipment. Kreek has visited 10 schools to date. Info: www.adamkreek.com.
Malcolm Howard of Victoria, a teammate of Kreek's on the 91原创 gold-medallist rowing eight at the 2008 Beijing Summer Games, also has a one-year-out 2010 Winter program on the go. Howard is inviting all 91原创s to donate $10 today to support the nation's 2010 Winter athletes in their final year of preparation. With every donation, the donor will receive a tax receipt and find out the name of the 91原创 athlete the $10 is going to. Info: http://www.malcolmsmillion.com.
