Prince George, BC – The 2015 Canada Winter Games closing ceremony could mark the beginning of an educational and professional journey for Games participants.

The University of Northern British Columbia will play host to the final act in the largest sporting and cultural event Northern BC has ever hosted, and it will give athletes and officials an incentive  to return to the region to attend university. The new 2015 Canada Winter Games UNBC Tuition credit will provide  qualified athletes and officials with a tuition credit worth a total of $2,500 over the course of two semesters.

2015 Canada Winter Games chef de mission delegation, 2015 Games CEO Stuart Ballantyne, and UNBC President Daniel Weeks. Download High Resolution Image.

“We know that the athletes and their families will have a terrific experience at the 2015 Canada Winter Games in Prince George and we hope that this incentive will encourage them to come back to Northern BC,” says UNBC President Daniel Weeks. “Elite athletes must be able to balance their rigorous academics and training requirements. This program will help lessen their financial burden as they pursue their studies.”

The 2015 Canada Winter Games will showcase to the nation all Prince George has to offer, including its post-secondary education options. Graduates from UNBC and the three northern colleges account for 75 per cent of the post-secondary graduates currently working in the region. Encouraging Games participants to study in the North will increase their exposure to the region and the chances that they will stay and work in the region after graduation.

“UNBC provides tremendous value to the residents of Prince George and the surrounding regions, allowing post-secondary students the option to further their education in a world-class institution, located in one of the most beautiful regions in the province,” says Mayor Shari Green of Prince George. “The partnership between UNBC and the 2015 Canada Winter Games provides the athletes participating in these Games with the opportunity to return to Prince George and pursue their passion with respect to education. The 2015 Canada Winter Games UNBC Tuition Credit is a legacy component with a profound impact on the future lives of these young athletes.”

The $2,500 tuition credit is a reflection of UNBC’s 25th Anniversary, which is part of an exciting year in Prince George has the community hosts the Winter Games and the City celebrates its centennial year.

"We are thrilled to help announce the 2015 Canada Winter Games UNBC Tuition Credit for athletes and officials who attend the 2015 Canada Winter Games,” says 2015 Canada Winter Games CEO Stuart Ballantyne. “UNBC is an exceptional educational facility — one of the top small universities in Canada. To see this as a legacy of the 2015 Games is something we're very proud to be a part of."

Participants must sign up in person or online with a UNBC recruiter prior to March 31, 2015 to qualify. The incentive can be claimed when a student enrols and can be used for students beginning their studies between 2015 and 2019.