Three weeks to go until the Torch Run, Tall Ships Landing Opening Ceremonies, and first full day of competition of the 2010 Canada 55+ Games. Nineteen days until the first day of registration for the Games. Two weeks until we begin the construction of the Athletes Village at the Brockville campus of St. Lawrence College (SLC). But who's counting?

The reality of six years of planning, hard work, running two other Games (Winterfest 2007 & 2009), MANY meetings, lots of sleepless nights, and trying to tell people how cool this whole venture is going to be; all this  comes to Brockville, Prescott, Gananoque, Smiths Falls and Ivy Lea when 1550+ participants start to arrive on August 21 and 22. "Canada Comes to Town" has been our mantra when marketing these Games and now the "real deal" is about to happen.

We’re kicking off our final countdown to the Games with a flag-raising ceremony on Friday, August 6 at 9:00 a.m., at the flag staffs located at the entrance to Blockhouse Island. Joining me to raise the Canada 55+ Games flag will be Lois Dudgeon from Manitoba, Vice President of the Canada 55+ Games Association and her colleague Arnold Nett, the Association’s Technical Director; members of the 2010 Games Organizing Committee; our staff; some of our Games volunteers; and City of Brockville, provincial, and federal officials. The flag will fly from August 6–30, will let everyone know that Brockville and the 1000 Islands is proudly hosting this national event, and will also help to welcome our many participants from across Canada.

In addition to approving the flag-raising, at its July 27 meeting Brockville City Council also proclaimed August 22–29 as "Canada Comes to Town" week in Brockville to honour the first time that the Canada 55+ Games have been held in Ontario.

The Games are also starting to put on their “party clothes.” The two signs at the entrance to St. Lawrence College announcing the Games have been up for a few weeks now and, thanks to Tim Allen's Tree Service, they have been joined by new "pageantry" along Alumni Drive leading to SLC, as well as along part of Stewart Boulevard. Next week, we’ll add to this pageantry with Games flags at Courthouse Square.

We’re also continuing to provide information about all the activities open to the public through a variety of media, including displays at different venues and I invite you drop by our display at the Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Leeds & Grenville Ribfest from August 5–8 and say hello.

We’ve been very fortunate to have great sponsors for the Games. One of the latest examples you may have noticed is the official Games vehicle driving around the area. This Buick Enclave is just one of 12 vehicles supplied by Keith Bean, owner of Brockville Motor Sales Ltd. Keith has continued the generosity that he showed by loaning us vehicles for Winterfest 2009. Brockville Motor Sales is also our presenting sponsor for the Hotel California, a tribute to the Eagles concert at the licensed "Main Stage" marquee tent on Friday, August 27. Thanks Keith and Brockville Motor Sales for your support!

Speaking of our evening entertainment, tickets for Hotel California on August 27; The Beach Party Boys, presented by Proctor & Gamble on August 26; and the Closing Ceremonies featuring Freddy Vette and the Flames, presented by Hands Fireworks, are $20 each and are on sale at the Brockville & District Tourism Office on Market Street and at the CNIB Lottery Kiosk in the Centre Court of the Thousand Islands Mall. Even if you cannot attend the final evening of entertainment, we invite you to take in the 20-minute fireworks display on Laurier Hill on August 28 around 8:45 p.m. More details on how the public can access this great fireworks display will be coming in the next week.

In closing, I’d like to reiterate that all of the following events are open to the public FREE:
the Boost Health Zone and seminar series on August 23–24; the Parade of Athletes on August 25;  the lighting of the GreenField Ethanol Lighthouse on August 25 that officially starts the Games;the concert by Healey & Orr at the medal plaza in the Athletes Village on August 25; ALL the competitions that will be held on August 25, 27 and 28; the CIDC Active Living Day on August 26 at St. Lawrence Park in Brockville; the medal presentations in the Athletes Village on August 28; and
the Hands Fireworks display.

Please note that the Opening Ceremonies themselves ARE NOT open to the public because of the number of participants, officials, guests and sponsors who will fill the marquee tent to capacity. Although logistics prevent us from inviting the public to the Opening Ceremonies, we invite you to watch a "live streaming" broadcast of this event at www.brocknews.ca, made possible through BrockNews, one of our media sponsors.

We hope to see you this week at the flag raising ceremony this Friday, August 6 or at our display table at Ribfest in Hardy Park from August 5–8. Please keep checking our website: www.brockville2010.ca for Games updates. Until the next time, stay active!