May 1, 2003 (Victoria) – SportHouse Victoria, the latest initiative of PacificSport Victoria, received a huge boost from a Canadian icon as it kicked off its fundraising campaign tonight in Victoria.

At the Bay's PacificSport Benefit Gala, an evening of festivities and fundraising attended by Victoria's community and sport supporters, the announcement of a $100,000 donation from the Bay – a division of the Hudson's Bay Company – brought down the house.

The City of Victoria has amazing people who can make this dream of an athletes' residence a reality, said George Heller, President and CEO of the Hudson's Bay Company. “We are very pleased to be the first to step up to the plate as a corporate partner and we're looking to other Victoria and Canadian companies to join us in supporting SportHouse Victoria.

Heller was the President and CEO of the Victoria Commonwealth Games Society that hosted the 1994 Victoria Commonwealth Games and was the visionary behind the Canada Commonwealth Legacy Fund, the primary funding partner of PacificSport Canadian Sport Centre Victoria, home to six national and nine regional sports centers.

The Hudson's Bay Company's rich tradition of supporting its community is reflected in its commitment to this fundraising campaign and the commitment that the Hudson's Bay Company family of stores – the Bay, Zellers, Home Outfitters and HBC.com – is getting from its many suppliers, said Jim Reed, Chair of PacificSport. “On behalf of PacificSport Victoria, I'd like to thank George Heller and Marc Chouinard, President and COO of the Bay, for their leadership and support towards this evening's event.

SportHouse Victoria is a natural extension of an existing PacificSport Victoria program that assists athletes with subsidized housing in Victoria. With more athletes coming each year to Victoria to train with PacificSport coaches and athletes, the demand for accommodation is growing. SportHouse Victoria is looking to raise $3 million for SportHouse Victoria and is seeking dynamic community partnerships to reach that goal. A variety of membership opportunities is available, from an annual membership to a corporate supporter, supplier or sponsor. For more information, visit www.pacificsport.com

The PacificSport Canadian Sport Centre Victoria consists of six national training centres (athletics, cycling, rowing, rugby, swimming, triathlon), and nine regional training centres (badminton, canoe-kayak, curling, cycling, diving, field hockey, swimming, synchronized swimming, tennis). The centre is one of eight Canadian Sport Centres, including Atlantic, Calgary, Montréal, Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan and Vancouver.