This is the fifth time that Vancouver will play host to the Canadian Championships. The City has also been the site of several international figure skating events, including the 1978 Skate Canada International and the 2001 International Skating Union (ISU) World Figure Skating Championships.

"By hosting the 2008 BMO Canadian Championships, we'll not only showcase Vancouver and our Olympic venues to thousands of people, but help athletes prepare for the 2010 Games. We're excited to work with Skate Canada in making this event a great success" said Mike Fox, Manager, Sport, Tourism Vancouver.

Approximately 150 skaters in women's, men's, pair and ice dance disciplines compete at the senior and junior levels. The athletes will vie for spots on the Skate Canada national team, the Skate Canada junior national team and the Canadian teams that will compete at the 2008 ISU World Figure Skating Championships, ISU Four Continents Championships and ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships.

It's the new Vancouver 2010 Countdown Clock, presented by Omega, Official Timekeeper. The clock was unveiled in a fast-paced noon hour celebration on February 12 - the three-year anniversary to the start of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. The lively event featured the sonorous sounds of one of the world's leading Alphorn players in honour of Switzerland-based Omega's visit to Vancouver for the clock unveiling. It also included a First Nations welcome, remarks from distinguished guests including Olympic and Paralympic athletes and video showcasing great sports finishes in Games history, culminating in the grand finale - the Countdown Clock unveiling.

The Countdown Clock will log the hours, minutes and seconds remaining until the Games begin. An impressive sculpture, it will be permanently located on the Georgia Street Plaza of the Vancouver Art Gallery - a fixture that residents of Vancouver and visitors alike will be able to enjoy both before and after the Games.

The 2010 Olympic Winter Games will be staged in Vancouver and Whistler from February 12 to 28, 2010. Vancouver and Whistler will host the Paralympic Winter Games from March 12 to 21, 2010.

In 2007 Tourism Vancouver will offset approximately 220 metric tons of emissions resulting from the organization's air travel through investing in sustainable green energy projects in Western Canada that have been approved by the federal government. The organization will not only offset flights taken by staff traveling for sales and marketing business, but also those flights purchased to bring travel influencer clients, customers and media to Vancouver.

"The staff at Tourism Vancouver felt very strongly about joining this program," said Tourism Vancouver president & CEO Rick Antonson. "Having such a spectacular destination means that we're no strangers to getting out and truly enjoying our environment, and we understand that we need to make a commitment to preserving it."

"Given the nature of our business, the tourism industry has often been at the forefront of environmental responsibility. This is the right thing to do for the environment. We encourage all of our industry colleagues and partners to take similar steps in this direction."

Through Tourism Vancouver's partnership with Uniglobe Advance Travel, the organization will also be offering the opportunity to purchase carbon offset credits to all convention delegates coming to Vancouver for conferences and meetings, further extending the impact of the program. To find our more about this program and how you can implement it for your next meeting in Vancouver, contact our team.

Fast "Green" Vancouver Facts

• The international environmental organization, Greenpeace, was founded in Vancouver in 1971. Greenpeace now has national and regional offices in 41 countries worldwide, all of which are affiliated with the Amsterdam-based Greenpeace International.
• David Suzuki, chair of the David Suzuki Foundation and an award-winning scientist and environmentalist was born, raised and currently lives in Vancouver. He was also a professor at the University of British Columbia (1969 - 2001).
• The Vancouver Parks Board maintains more than 200 parks and 11 miles of beaches in Greater Vancouver. More than 12 new parks have been added to the city in the last 10 years.
• More than half (58%) of the city's waterfront is public. The longest continuous stretch is 23 kilometres stretching from Crab Park to Kitsilano Beach Park.

Sonia Baldissera, Manager of Midwest US and Kyle Matheson, Manager of Washington DC are looking forward to seeing the Experient Staff at Experient Envision February 28-March 1 in Atlantic City.

Bronwyn Slade, Manager of Western US will conduct sales calls, attend and exhibit at the Meetings Industry Council of Colorado Annual Educational Conference and Trade Show, March 21.

Sonia will partner with Tourism Whistler, Tourism Victoria and the Canadian Tourism Commission for sales calls and spa event in Dallas, March 19-21.

Wendy Surkan, Manager of Eastern US will participate and exhibit in the Canadian Tourism Commission Booth at the 3rd Annual Pharmaceutical Meeting Planners Forum in Philadelphia, March 26-27.

Susan Graham, Manager of Convention Services will attend the World Police and Fire Games in Adelaide, Australia to assist with attendance building for their 2009 Event in Vancouver.

Rachael will be attending the PCMA - Greater Midwest Chapters' Quarterly Meeting on March 14th sponsored by Chicago Area Convention Bureau Satellite Offices (CACBSO).

• Skate Canada - BMO National Championships, January 2008, 1,500 attendees
• International Tug and Salvage, May 2010, 550 attendees
• American Society of Mass Spectrometry, May 2010, 7,000 attendees
• International Union of Air Pollution Prevention Associations, September 2010, 1,000 attendees