FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ATTENTION EDITOR

KIMBERLEY, BRITISH COLUMBIA
BUILDING NEW CONFERENCE CENTRE

Kimberley, British Columbia July 9, 2010 -- The City of Kimberley is pleased to announce the construction of the new Kimberley Conference & Athlete Training Centre. Scheduled for completion in Fall 2010, the 24,000 sq. ft centre is expected to host some of the most important meetings and events in Western Canada. The largest conference facility in Eastern British Columbia, the centre will be able to host banquets for up to 350 and theatre-style meetings of 500. In addition to the main ballroom and pre-conference space, the centre offers 4 breakout rooms. All the conference rooms will be equipped with advanced audio visual capabilities.

The City hopes the centre will attract planners with a particular interest in holding "green" events. "We've designed the centre to exceed Model National Energy Code by more than 30%, and the fact that the centre was constructed entirely of local BC timber demonstrates our commitment to sustainability", says Heather Hornoi, Kimberley's Economic Development Officer, who is managing the construction project.

And the centre is just the latest Kimberley facility built with full accessibility in mind. “The new building will also house our Athlete Training Centre which was designed specifically for paralympic skiers and other athletes", says Hornoi. The City has previously constructed a dedicated speed training run for ParaAlpine, a sledge hockey venue, a wheelchair curling venue, a Nordic skiing venue, and; "now convention delgates and Paralympic athletes alike will have a fully accessible meeting and training facility under one roof”, Hornoi continued.

Surrounded by stunning mountains, and as one of Canada’s top 3 highest cities, Kimberley is well-known throughout the Rockies as one of its most beautiful and exciting recreation destinations. Hornoi boasts, "We have 3 golf courses within city limits, and several more in the area". The centre is located in the heart of Kimberley Alpine Resort, just steps from the high-speed chair lift. "Delegates can meet into the afternoon and still get a round of golf or a few runs down the hill before dinner!", boasts Hornoi. Kimberley’s downtown core is just minutes away from the new centre. The quaint, European-style 'Platzl', with its shops, galleries and cafes, offers the meeting delegate the perfect location for shopping and sightseeing once their meeting day is over.

Now that the construction project is nearing completion, the City of Kimberley has begun its search for management and sales staff and a marketing campaign is already underway positioning the community and the new facility as: Accessible. Incomparable. Kimberley Conference & Athlete Training Centre. Sales staff plan to attend Incentive Works in August and a major media relations event will be conducted in concert with the centre’s opening in the Fall. The first major conference of 200 delegates is scheduled for April 28 to 30, 2011.

"We think Kimberley and the Kimberley Conference & Athlete Training Centre, will become one of the West's most sought after venues", enthused Hornoi.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Heather Hornoi Economic Development Officer, City of Kimberley.
Tel (250)427-9666
Email hhornoi@city.kimberley.bc.ca
Web www.meetkimberley.ca