Torchlight ceremony signals major milestone to B.C. Winter Games in Penticton

PENTICTON – The countdown to the Penticton 2016 B.C. Winter Games is underway with an official torch lighting ceremony set for next week.

The ceremony will take place on Thursday, Nov. 12, at 6:30 p.m. outside the South Okanagan Events Centre on the plaza.

Local entertainers such as Beamer Wigley, Outma Sqilx’W Cultural School Children’s Choir, Queen’s Park Choir, Keremeos Drummers, Fiddlekids with Blakey Irish Dancers, the Black Widow Rope Spinners and others will provide entertainment for the event.

Those attending are asked to bring their smartphones to participate in the 'lighting' event.

Penticton B.C. Winter Games President Bill Bidlake says the torchlighting ceremony is a major milestone in the lead up to the Penticton Winter Games, marking 100 days before the official start of the games.

Volunteers are still needed for the games, with a variety of roles available. Interested persons can sign up online, by calling 250-492-2026, or in person by stopping by the B.C. Winter Games office at 90-246 Martin St.

For more information about the games, visit www.bcgames.org.

Competition will include 17 events over four days during the games, which run from Feb. 25 to 28 next year. It’s the fourth time the winter games have been held in Penticton.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad at sarstad@infonews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.