The 2018 National Skating Championships coming to 麻豆传媒映画are poised to be great news for local businesses.
Vancouver鈥檚 economy is expected to boom during the week in early January, Lisa Beare, B.C.鈥檚 Minister of Tourism Arts and Culture, said at a Dec. 7 press conference.
This will be the sixth time that 麻豆传媒映画has hosted the event and it鈥檚 expected to generate approximately $6 million in economic activity.
鈥淓vents like the Canadian Tire National Skating Championships draw thousands of people to our province,鈥� Beare said when announcing$110,000 in provincial funding.鈥淢ore visitors to our province means more business for our tourism sector, and more jobs for British Columbians.鈥�
The Nationals have an even greater significance for some of the skaters taking part. The competition is a qualifying event for Canada鈥檚 team in the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea.
Skate Canada senior ice dance pair Haley Sales and Nikolas Wamsteeker are looking forward to the Nationals taking place in their hometown.
鈥淔inally,鈥� Sales said. 鈥淥ur families are coming 鈥� aunts and uncles, everyone.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 awesome. We鈥檝e been waiting for this for years,鈥� Wamsteeker said. 鈥淚t鈥檒l be cool to see a home crowd.鈥�
The ice dance pair recently finished first in their division at the Skate Canada Challenge in Quebec and, while they already know they won鈥檛 be on the Olympic team, are second alternates for the World Championships.
鈥淚t鈥檚 even just an honour to train to be an alternate,鈥� Sales said. 鈥淎fter the Olympics are done all the big dogs are out, so we鈥檙e kind of the new up-comers.鈥�
鈥淪tepping in the shoes that have been worn by some of the greatest athletes ever in the sport, it鈥檚 awesome,鈥� Wamsteeker said.
The Nationals are at UBC鈥檚 Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre from Jan. 8 to 14 and on Ticketmaster.
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This Sunday, Dec. 10, is National Skating Day and the 麻豆传媒映画Park Board is celebrating by offering free admission and skate rentals at all of their rinks. Hours for free skating can be found on their .
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