Five B.C. Communities Win $260,000 For Playground Transformations

Surprise Double-Win For Lillooet and Victoria In BCAA Contest

BURNABY, BC, July 11, 2016 /CNW/ - Children in Lillooet and Victoria will soon have a better place to play thanks to a surprise double-win in the first, annual BCAA Play Here initiative.

Two, $100,000 Winners:

BCAA Play Here and its partners will now deliver two, $100,000 play space transformations: at Lillooet Recreation, Education & Cultural Centre (REC) and Victoria's Torquay Elementary School.

The two winners were among over 500 play space nominations from across BC. The public cast over 300,000 votes to decide which of five finalists should receive the $100,000 play space revitalization.

"Lillooet and Victoria were neck and neck through the voting period, frequently swapping the lead. The two communities have very different stories but both have real need for a new play space," says Shawn Pettipas, Community Manager, BCAA. "We ultimately decided to declare two winners and found a way to deliver exciting new play spaces to children in both communities. We can't wait to get to work!"

Three Other Finalists Win $20,000:

To make the first year of BCAA Play Here even more special, the three other finalists will each receive a surprise $20,000 contribution towards making their play space projects a reality: Burnaby, Windsor Elementary; Crawford Bay Community Park and Vancouver, General Brock Elementary.

"We've been inspired by the passion of our finalists, and wanted to make a big impact for children in all five communities," says Shom Sen, President & CEO, BCAA. "Thank you to all British Columbians for voting, and to BCAA and Evo Members for making it possible for us to make such a positive impact for so many children."

BCAA Play Here is a multi-year, community investment initiative to protect kids in B.C. communities, by rejuvenating play areas to make them safer and more enjoyable. BCAA Play Here builds on a long-time focus on child road safety programs and recognizes the importance of play in healthy childhood development, including problem-solving, critical thinking, socializing and physical development.

About BCAA's Community Impact Programs
Part of BCAA's mandate is to protect kids throughout British Columbia. We do this by:

• Keeping children safer in school zones, with student School Safety Patrollers across the province.
• Educating thousands of people a year across B.C. on the proper use and installation of child car seats.
• Donating thousands of new child car seats over the last four years to reach families in need.
• Distributing thousands of reflective armbands around Halloween to make kids more visible to drivers.
• Providing Members with 'Slow Down, Kids Playing' signs to encourage safer driving in residential areas.

About BCAA
The most trusted organization in British Columbia by its Members, BCAA serves 1 in 3 B.C. households with industry-leading products including home, auto and travel insurance, roadside assistance, Evo Car Share and full auto service at BCAA's Auto Service Centres. BCAA has also been named an Aon Best Employer – Canada 2016, Gold Level. With more than 100,000 partners worldwide, BCAA's 840,000 Members can save up to $1,000 per year on insurance and items they use every day. To learn more about how a BCAA Membership is rewarding, please visit bcaa.com.

SOURCE British Columbia Automobile Association

BCAA Play Here Initiative enquiries: www.bcaaplayhere.com; Media enquiries: Stephanie Thatcher or Niela Melanio, BCAA, Office: 604-268-5446 / Mobile: [phone] / Mobile: [phone], [email protected] / [email protected]