Artists to Express Games Experience

HEALTH PROMOTION/TOURISM/CULTURE--Artists to Express Games Experience

While athletes take centre stage at the Canada Games next month, four young Nova Scotians will express the Games experience through theatre, music, dance and visual arts.

These members of Team Nova Scotia are among 54 young Canadians representing their provinces and territories through the National Artists Program. The federally funded program gives promising young artists a chance to display their talents and boost their budding careers.

"These artists have a chance to experience the largest amateur, multi-sport event in the country," said Rodney MacDonald, Minister of Tourism and Culture and the Office of Health Promotion. "Like the athletes who will inspire their artistic expression, these young people will have a chance to meet and work with the country's best in their age group."

The Department of Tourism and Culture administered the selection of the artists for Team Nova Scotia. All participants in the National Artist Program will be in Bathurst-Campbellton, N.B., for the duration of the Games from Feb. 22 to March 8. They are:

• Kaleigh Heide, 18, Mahone Bay -- theatre
• Colin Grant, 18, Sydney -- music
• Samantha Brooksbank, 16, Lower Sackville -- visual arts
• Angela MacDonald, 18, Glace Bay -- dance

Experienced artists will be assigned to each of the artistic disciplines. In group and individual settings, they will monitor and facilitate the young artists' projects inspired by the Games.

"I'm excited about attending the Games," said musician Colin Grant. "It's an amazing opportunity that will only come along once and I will make the most of it. I hope to learn from the other musicians and look forward to hearing different styles of music."

Mr. Grant's passion is Cape Breton fiddle music, but he can play almost any style of music on the violin. He also plays guitar and piano. Step and Highland dancer Angela MacDonald plans to dance to Colin's music in the gala performance at the Games.

The gala is the culmination of the artists' experience at the Games. The participants will present a multi-disciplinary performance in Campbellton on March 6 and in Bathurst on March 7.

Team Nova Scotia is funded by the Sport and Recreation Commission, a division of the Office of Health Promotion. The Atlantic Lottery Corporation sponsors Team Atlantic -- supporting all teams from Atlantic Canada for the 2003 Games.

For more information on Team Nova Scotia and its sponsors, visit the Web site at http://winter2003.ns.canadagames.ca .

FOR BROADCAST:

Four young artists have been chosen to join Team Nova Scotia

athletes at the Canada Winter Games in Bathurst-Campbellton, New

Brunswick next month.

They're among 54 Canadians participating in the National

Artists Program. They will express the Games experience through

theatre, music, dance and visual arts.

The artists are Kaleigh Heide from Mahone Bay, Colin Grant

from Sydney, Samantha Brooksbank from Lower Sackville and Angela

MacDonald from Glace Bay.