Opening and closing ceremonies lineups announced for B.C. Winter Games in Penticton

PENTICTON – Local artists will kick off the opening ceremonies for the 2016 B.C. Winter Games in Penticton later this month.

More than 1,700 participants will be in the city for the four-day event, which gets underway with opening events on Thursday, Feb. 25, starting at 7 p.m.

Summerland-born Olympic skier Kristi Richards will share her story of how the B.C. Winter Games helped to prepare her for the 2006 Olympic Games in Torino and the 2010 Games in Vancouver. The two-time national moguls champion competed in three world championships, earning nine medals and 22 top-10 finishes in World Cup competitions.

Shanel Pratap will act as Master of Ceremonies for the games opening, with the Beamer Wigley Band leading an entertainment lineup that includes Gypsy and the Rose joining Queens Park Elementary School Choir to sing the theme song for the games. Okanagan Dance School and Balance School of the Arts will also take to the stage.

Expect to see hip hop artist Kasp at the closing ceremonies Sunday, Feb.28, starting at 1:30 p.m. Cosmic Brew, Black Widow Rope Spinners, Nikita Afonso and Rylan Wheeler round out the closing ceremonies entertainment lineup.

Tickets for the opening ceremonies are free and will be available to the public on Feb.15. Order online at: www.valleyfirsttix.com, or drop by Valley First Box Office at the South Okanagan Events Centre. Closing ceremonies are also free, based on rush seating. No ticket is required.

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.

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Steve Arstad

I have been looking for news in the South Okanagan - SImilkameen for 20 years, having turned a part time lifelong interest into a full time profession. After five years publishing a local newsletter, several years working as a correspondent / stringer for several local newspapers and seven years as editor of a Similkameen weekly newspaper, I joined iNFOnews.ca in 2014. My goal in the news industry has always been to deliver accurate and interesting articles about local people and places. My interest in the profession is life long - from my earliest memories of grade school, I have enjoyed writing.
As an airborne geophysical surveyor I travelled extensively around the globe, conducting helicopter borne mineral surveys.
I also spent several years at an Okanagan Falls based lumber mill, producing glued-wood laminated products.
As a member of the Kaleden community, I have been involved in the Kaleden Volunteer Fire Department for 22 years, and also serve as a trustee on the Kaleden Irrigation District board.
I am currently married to my wife Judy, of 26 years. We are empty-nesters who enjoy living in Kaleden with our Welsh Terrier, Angus, and cat, Tibbs.
Our two daughters, Meagan and Hayley, reside in Richmond and Victoria, respectively.

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