FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(YALE) The Lieutenant Governor, the Honourable Iona Campagnolo, will preside at a special Canada Day celebration at historic Yale and give a preview of some of the events in store to mark BC150.

Her Honour will play a special role in the festivities, which will feature music, street theatre and historic reenactments with colourful characters from British Columbia’s past. A high tea will be held afterwards.

This is the first celebration organized by the New Pathways To Gold Society (NPTGS), a community-based organization dedicated to continued reconciliation with First Nations, investment in B.C. heritage and economic development. The NPTGS is working in partnership with the Yale First Nation, the Yale and District Historical Society and local residents and businesses.

“We are delighted that Her Honour is taking part in this celebration, the first of many in the months to come,” said NPTGS co-chair and Lytton Mayor Chris O’Connor.

The event runs from 3-8:30 p.m. July 1, with games and entertainment throughout the day as guests, visitors, locals and government representatives celebrate Yale’s importance to B.C. and Canada.

“I am excited to be part of this as I believe that today we are making tomorrow’s history,” said Tanya Lee-Jones, President of the Yale and District Historical Society and the Yale and District Ratepayers Association.

“I look forward to sharing our history with others during this celebration. I hope people will learn how we came to be as a community and what an important part Yale has played in B.C.’s history.”

Yale First Nation spokesman Chief Robert Hope said the event presents an exciting opportunity for the public to experience the thousands of years of aboriginal culture that preceded the events of 1808 and 1858.

“The Yale First Nation is proud to welcome everyone to this event,” said Chief Hope. “It’s an exciting celebration and we’re happy to be a part of it.”

NTGS Co-chair, Lytton First Nation Chief Byron Spinks, says 2008 is a significant milestone in B.C. history, marking the 200th anniversary of Simon Fraser’s journey downriver, assisted by the First Nations, and the 150th anniversary of the Fraser River gold rush and subsequent proclamation of B.C. as a Crown colony.

The NPTGS gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Province of British Columbia through the Ministry of Tourism, Sport and the Arts.