Alberta Takes the World Stage at the 2010 Winter Olympics Premier Ed Stelmach Hosts Alberta Day As Culture, Business and Tourism Join Sport in the Spotlight

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February 17, 2010 Alberta takes the world stage at the 2010 Winter Olympics Premier Ed Stelmach hosts Alberta Day as culture, business and tourism join sport in the spotlight

Vancouver... Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach joined provincial government colleagues in showcasing Alberta to an international audience as part of Alberta Day at the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Later today, Alberta artists will take the stage in front of tens of thousands of spectators for a 30-minute performance prior to the medal ceremonies, followed by a concert featuring country music star Paul Brandt. “It is a very proud day for Alberta,” said Stelmach. “I am impressed by the excitement the Olympics have generated across Canada, and around the world. Into this environment, some of the province’s finest artists and athletes are showing they can share the stage with anyone, anywhere.” During the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, the province has featured “Unexpected Alberta”, focussing the spotlight on the province’s diverse and world-class culinary arts and food products, tourism, industry, and artists and performers. “Alberta energy extends beyond oil and gas, to its people,” said Cindy Ady, Minister of Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation, the ministry responsible for the Alberta Olympic Secretariat. “Whether it’s been at Alberta House and Alberta Plaza or on the Alberta Train, this is a wonderful opportunity for the world to meet Albertans and experience the dynamic energy and spirit of our people and learn about living, working, visiting and playing in our province.” Today’s Alberta Day concert, as part of the Olympic Victory Celebrations at BC Place, includes a wide spectrum of Alberta talent: Allez Ouest, Cadence Weapon, DJ Jay Mak and Raghav, lead into the main set by Paul Brandt. Alberta Plaza will also feature free concerts by The Plain Janes, Cadence Weapon, Shane Yellowbird and Tracy Miller. The Alberta Plaza concerts will also be available through live video streaming at www.alberta.ca\vancouver2010. Starting February 17, the Traditional Alberta exhibit invites visitors into Alberta’s diverse cultural landscape from the northern forests to the southern plains, embracing the spiritual teachings, traditional designs, and techniques of the First Nations and Métis Peoples of Alberta. “The Olympics are the one of the world's most recognizable events,” said Lindsay Blackett, “The Olympics are the one of the world's most recognizable events,” said Lindsay Blackett, Alberta Minister of Culture and Community Spirit. “We want to show that Canada and Alberta have a lot to offer - from a phenomenal sport legacy and achievements to world class artists and performers.” -30- Backgrounders: Alberta Day performers’ bios and Alberta at the Olympics Media inquiries may be directed to: Tom Olsen Director of Media Relations 2010 Winter Olympics 780-718-3034 February 17, 2010

Alberta Day performers' bios Allez Ouest came together to represent Alberta’s francophone community at the 2006 Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington D.C. Their vibrant prairie sound, based in lush harmonies and acoustic instruments, won their debut album Hybride a nomination for Francophone Recording of the Year at the 2009 Western Canadian Music Awards. Edmonton’s Rollie Pemberton was rapping at 13 and released his first album, as Cadence Weapon, before age 20. Strong reviews in Canada, the US and Britain preceded nomination for the 2006 Polaris Music Prize for Canadian album of the year. In 2009, Cadence Weapon was named Edmonton’s Poet Laureate for a two-year term. A producer and performer, DJ Jay Mak is a founding member of Team Rezofficial. He is performing solo for Alberta Day. Calgary’s Paul Brandt was headed for a medical career until he won first prize at the 1996 Calgary Stampede’s Youth Talent Showdown. Today he’s an internationally renowned singer-songwriter and the most-awarded male Canadian country artist in history. Born in Calgary to an Indo-Canadian family, Raghav started his burgeoning global music career early. At 16, he won a National Songwriters Association of America Award for his first single. Now based in the UK, he performs his unique fusion of hip-hop, R&B, Bollywood, reggae, Indian classic and soul to audiences around the world. The Plain Janes began performing in 2000 and have played to audiences in Canada, the US and Japan. Their original songs combine bluegrass, country, folk and everything in between, all rendered in their trademark three-part harmony. Shane Yellowbird started singing to remedy a stuttering problem. It sure worked. The young Cree from Hobbema just released his second album, It’s About Time, and hit the US market after storming the Canadian country charts with four top ten hits. Among numerous awards, he was named 2007 Aboriginal Entertainer of the Year at the Aboriginal People’s Choice Awards. Despite natural ability that led to songwriting in her teens, Tracy Millar took a giant leap of faith when she left nursing to pursue a music career. No worries: her traditional style country has led to major Canadian dates, while her two albums get radio play in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Europe. -30- Media inquiries may be directed to: Tom Olsen Director of Media Relations 2010 Winter Olympics 780-718-3034 February 17, 2010

Alberta at the Olympics Alberta House and Plaza Alberta House serves primarily as a meeting point for Alberta businesses with international businesses/sectors. The construction of Alberta House is a model of environmental sustainability. Alberta-based flooring tiles made from recycled tires, various construction materials and décor within the house will be repurposed or disposed of in a responsible manner after the Games. Alberta Plaza, just outside Alberta House, is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. every day. From 4:30 p.m. on a daily basis, 40 musical acts will showcase their talents in free concerts. The artists, both established and emerging, represent all genres of music and help to showcase Alberta’s diversity. The concerts offer the artists exposure to new audiences and a new world of opportunity. Many of the artists are using their Olympic Games appearances to book additional dates in Vancouver, or to make it part of a larger Canadian tour. In addition, Alberta musicians, dancers, sculptors and more will be featured during the Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad running from January 22 through to March 21, and at venues throughout the Lower Mainland. There will be a live feed of the performances at Alberta Plaza available online at the Alberta Olympic and Paralympic Secretariat website (www.alberta.ca/vancouver2010) On display On display at Alberta Plaza will be exact replicas (casts) of the lower jaw and thigh bone from Tyrannosaurus Rex skeletons from the Royal Tyrrell Museum. The first replica is the lower jaw bone from a skeleton nicknamed “Black Beauty” for the dark colour of the fossilized bones. The complete skeleton of this rare dinosaur is featured in the Royal Tyrrell Museum’s 25th anniversary exhibit Alberta Unearthed: 25 Stories of Discovery, opening May 22. The second replica is a thigh bone is from a skeleton discovered near the town of Huxley, Alberta in 1981. The full skeleton of this bipedal carnivore is on display in the museum’s Dinosaur Hall. Located in Drumheller, the Royal Tyrrell Museum houses one of the world’s largest displays of dinosaurs and is Canada’s only museum dedicated exclusively to the science of palaeontology. Alberta cuisine Alberta’s diverse cuisine will also be featured daily at the House, Plaza and Train. From Prairie Chowder to Wild Boar, Alberta’s varied menu will surprise and entice those who may know our province only for our world famous beef. More than 20 Alberta companies will supply food and beverage products for the Plaza, demonstrating the diversity of the province’s agriculture and food industry. Prepared under the direction of Executive Chef Brad Smoliak and his staff, the menu represents three different growing regions of Alberta: the Peace Country, central Alberta and southern Alberta. Alberta Train The Alberta train is the only rail service of its kind running from Vancouver to Whistler daily during the Games. The Alberta Train is operated by Rocky Mountaineer Vacations (RMV), the largest privately-owned passenger rail service in North America. In 2007, RMV was honoured with the World Travel Award as “World’s Leading Travel Experience by Train” for the third consecutive year. Alberta cuisine is prepared under the direction of Executive Chef Brad Smoliak. Alberta technology at work WinSport Canada and the Alberta government commissioned a free mobile application for iPhone, Blackberry and other handheld devices. Abto2010 lets users learn more about Alberta’s athletes at the Games and 40 Alberta artists performing live at Alberta Plaza. To access the iPhone application, download abto2010 from iTunes. For blackberry and other handheld devices, bookmark abto2010.com. GPS system was developed at the University of Calgary to help alpine athletes gauge accurate positioning and speed information down a course. It is a one-of-a-kind system exclusive to Canada. At the University of Alberta in Edmonton, infrared cameras installed in curling rocks help to study the mechanics of delivering a curling rock. Another curling research project involved motion analysis to measure the trajectory and spin of rocks and brooms on ice. The Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games’ hydrogen bus fleet will be fueled up using clean technology developed by a Calgarian. DyneCell fuel cylinders are used in vehicles and buses in more than 20 countries around the world, including vehicles made by Nissan, Ballard and Ford. Alberta’s Olympic Legacy More than half of the athletes on this year’s Canadian Olympic Winter Games team were born, raised or train in Alberta. Since 1988, Alberta has become the hub for Canada’s winter sports program including national sport head offices, sport training centres, leading edge sport science and hosting of numerous world class sporting events. The refurbishing of Alberta’s Olympic Legacy facilities - Canada Olympic Park, the Olympic Oval, the Canmore Nordic Centre, and the Naksika Ski Resort - has led directly to the development of Canadian World, Olympic, and Paralympic champions like Clara Hughes, Beckie Scott, Melissa Hollingsworth, John Kucera, Cindy Klassen, Chandra Crawford, Brian McKeever, Pierre Lueders, Catriona LeMay Doan and Duff Gibson. The Alberta and British Columbia governments have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to work together to attract even more World Cup events in bobsleigh, skeleton, luge, biathalon and cross country skiing, and to ensure both provinces’ Olympic legacy facilities are well used. -30- Media inquiries may be directed to: Tom Olsen Director of Media Relations 2010 Winter Olympics 780-718-3034