Poster series celebrates local women in sport

January 6, 2010 (No. 2) - The Vancouver Park Board has created 12 unique posters depicting local women athletes. The posters can be found in community centres and other facilities beginning in early January and can also be viewed online.

This is the second year the Park Board has created a Remarkable Women poster series. The 2010 theme of sports was a logical choice with the Olympics and Paralympics taking place in Vancouver in February and March The women selected span the decades, from the 1920s to the present day, and feature women from diverse backgrounds, abilities and are representative of different sports and achievements.

Featured on the posters are:

• Marilyn Peterson Kinghorn (multi-sport)
• Poonam Sandhu (fieldhockey) (South Vancouver)
• Barbara Howard (track; Grandview)
• Lori Fung (rhythmic gymnastics; East Vancouver)
• Helen and Margaret Callaghan (baseball; Mount Pleasant)
• Ivy Granstrom (track)
• Vancouver Amazons (ice hockey) (West End)
• Betty Baxter (volleyball; Point Grey)
• Yuka Chokyu (wheelchair tennis; Kerrisdale)
• Leona Sparrow (multi-sport; Musqueam)
• Deanna George (multi-sport; Tsleil-Waututh)
• Pam Baker (multi-sport)
• Virginia Johnston (snowboarding) (Squamish)

The 12 posters will be displayed in Vancouver community centres, libraries, schools, and other public buildings leading up to International Women's Day on March 8, 2010.

Most of the women are still living members of our diverse Vancouver communities and include Poonam Sandhu and Yuka Chokyu who are training for World Cup tournaments and the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London.

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For more information, contact: Barb Floden, Communications Coordinator, at 604-257-8438.

The Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation maintains 220 parks and 40 major facilities throughout the City of Vancouver. The Park Board's mission is to provide, preserve and advocate for parks and recreation services to benefit people, communities and the environment.