Newmarket receives $10K grant for Pan Am Games Torch Relay festivities
Yorkregion.com
May 12, 2015
By Chris Simon
Newmarket will receive some funding for its Pan Am Games efforts.
The town has been handed a $10,000 grant from the federal government through the Toronto 2015 Pan and Parapan American Games Community Celebrations Fund.
The money will be used to host events surrounding the torch relay and community celebration, which takes place at Riverwalk Commons June 25.
“This grant will help further our efforts in bringing our residents and all of Canada together to celebrate athletic excellence, culture and diversity at our torch relay and community celebration," Mayor Tony Van Bynen said in a media release.
Celebration communities, including Newmarket, will present cultural experiences and performances for thousands of Canadians and tourists. The torch relay will attempt to forge ties between participants while showcasing Canada’s history, accomplishments, cultural diversity and vast geography, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages Shelly Glover said.
“This funding will allow Canadians across the country to experience and celebrate the 2015 games," she said in the release. "In addition to being an international sporting event, the games will be an opportunity to put our heritage in the spotlight, promote Canadian culture, and increase Canada’s engagement in the Americas.”
The torch relay starts May 30 and concludes with the lighting of the cauldron at the games' opening ceremony in downtown Toronto July 10. The 41-day event will visit more than 130 communities.
